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DAF is selected for the team by Brisbane's largest taxi truck hire company

4th July 2008

A growing number of DAF heavy-duty prime movers are playing integral roles in Brisbane's largest taxi truck hire company, Team Taxi Trucks & Couriers, as fuel efficiency, driver comfort and low maintenance costs become more crucial to the business operation.

Established 27 years ago, Wacol-based Team Taxi Trucks & Couriers operates a fleet of more than 200 trucks. They range in size from one tonne urban transporters to extendible semi trailers, crane trucks and B-double prime movers which service south-east Queensland.

Over the past 12 months, the company has purchased nine DAF CF85s and plans to add more throughout this year to replace older trucks and expand its stable.

General Manager Peter Brown says seven of its DAFs have been configured as single trailer crane trucks and two operate as B-doubles hauling container freight to and from the port of Brisbane.

"We operate a range of models. We use European trucks for heavy duties and Japanese models for light work," Peter said. "We are very pleased with our DAF CF85s. They have filled a niche in both our taxi truck fleet and our container stable. They are flexible vehicles - perfectly suited to both our urban crane work and B-double line haul."

Peter says Team Taxi Trucks & Couriers has used a variety of American, European and Japanese brands over the years. He says premium European trucks, like DAF, have proved to be the most durable and efficient vehicles for their versatile operations.

"We are very impressed with DAF's performance over the past 12 months," Peter said. "They have a greater longevity than both the American trucks we've used in the past, and our Japanese models. The CF85s have comfortable cabs and are effortless to operate, and they're very manoeuvrable. Our DAF crane trucks can handle narrow metropolitan streets and tight spaces, such as building sites. And our DAF B-doubles with side loaders have no trouble hauling heavy containers to and from the port."

The pride of the company's DAF fleet is its latest addition - the new Euro 4 CF85 purchased two months ago. The fleet spec 6x4 prime mover crane truck is rated at a GCM of 45,000 kg. It is powered by a 12.9 litre PACCAR MX engine, producing 410 hp and 1410 ft/lb of flat torque for excellent performance and low fuel consumption. The state-of-the-art engine incorporates SCR technology, which delivers reduced emissions that meet ADR 80/02 standards and extended service intervals, which lowers operating costs and maximises on-road time.

The Team's CF85 vehicle also features a ZF 12-speed AS Tronic automated transmission, Meritor MT23-165 rear axles as well as PACCAR Airglide 200 eight-bag rear suspension with shock absorbers and stabiliser bars. The truck has been fitted with a Palfinger PK 15002 medium capacity boom crane on the rear.

"One of the best features of the low maintenance CF85s is that they are extremely fuel efficient - that's crucial these days with the rising cost of fuel and tight margins," Peter said.

"Our DAF B-doubles and crane trucks don't do a lot of kilometers but a lot of work on-site. That can be quite taxing on both the driver and the truck - but not when you're operating a DAF. Our drivers are very happy with them. And so am I. The only time our trucks are off the road is for a regular service," he added.

The company's DAFs are purchased from and serviced by Brown & Hurley's new Yatala dealership, mid way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

"Finding the right dealer is just as important as finding the right truck," Peter said. "I am delighted with Brown & Hurley. They always have good advice and their after-sale service has been second to none."

Extensively tested and modified to suit Australian conditions, DAF's CF85 series is designed for a wide range of urban, regional, intrastate and specialist applications - delivering improved driver comfort, safety, performance and reliability.

The CF85 is available with a new range of powerful, efficient and cleaner PACCAR engines rated from 360 hp to 460 hp, and can be specified to meet either Euro 4 or Euro 5 emission standards. The model comes in a range of chassis and axle configurations to suit a multitude of applications.

DAF Trucks Australia, a division of PACCAR Australia Pty Ltd, distributes a range of medium and heavy-duty trucks throughout Australia. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light, medium and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and information technology and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.