With the production of its 200,000th LF chassis, Leyland Trucks, the Lancashire-based manufacturer of UK specification right-hand-drive DAF commercial vehicles, has reached a significant milestone this week.
The truck, an LF City 170 7.5-tonne GVW rigid is being delivered to local customer, EVTS, in Blackpool. The truck is also fitted with PACCAR curtain-side bodywork, designed and manufactured at Leyland Trucks on a dedicated production line. LF City specification includes a manual five-speed gearbox and the lightweight PACCAR PX-4 engine with 170 bhp to provide optimum power and efficiency.
LF number 200,000 is part of a fleet order for EVTS including two further LF City 7.5-tonners, two CF tractor units and four top-of-the-range XF tractors with Super Space Cabs.
EVTS was established in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Eric and Barbra Vallance. In 1997, the company became a founder member of major pallet network. More recently, in 2009, EVTS acquired shares in leading overnight pallet specialist, Palletforce. Today, EVTS is managed by Steve Vallance, and, in addition to its pallet operation, also offers next-day, groupage and storage services. The 35-truck fleet comprises 32 DAF vehicles.
The DAF LF range, from 7.5- to 18-tonne GVW, comprises light and middleweight chassis to suit a wide range of applications. Leyland Trucks is also home to the manufacturer of right-hand-drive DAF CF and XF models, in addition to producing chassis for overseas markets.
Recognised as the benchmark urban distribution truck for UK operators, the LF boasts all the prerequisite attributes for local distribution work; exceptional manoeuvrability, nimble handling, a spacious cab and a chassis platform offering great flexibility for bodybuilders. The LF provides a number of options for vocational requirements too, including a dedicated ‘LF Sweeper’ specification.
With LF production commencing in 2001, Leyland Trucks is home to the design, development and manufacturer of all right-hand-drive DAF LF chassis. 2006 saw production peak at 11,868 units, with 2014’s introduction of Euro-6 emissions standards seen as another landmark moment both for Leyland Trucks and for the evolution of the LF range.
The DAF LF picked up the International Truck of the Year award in 2002 along with multiple Fleet Truck of the Year titles, most recently in 2019. Today’s LF product offering includes engine ratings from 150 to 320bhp, manual and automated gearbox options, day, extended day and sleeper cab variants and an extensive selection of wheelbases.
“We are, of course, very proud to have reached this important landmark in the history of not only the LF product, but also of Leyland Trucks,” said Leyland Trucks Managing Director, Brennan Gourdie, “The milestone represents the excellent characteristics of the truck itself and is also a reflection of the industry-leading quality of our 1,000 dedicated employees who deliver to our world-wide customers every day.”
