Page 22 - issue-113

Operator Profile
IN RUST RUST WE TRUST
Container operator JSR Transport in in Widnes has become the proud owner of the UK’s first New Generation DAF XG+ 530 FTG 6x2 tractor unit More ‘first customer’ vehicles including New Generation DAF XF and XG models – all part of the 2022 International Truck of the Year line-up – are at at DAF Dealers across the the UK and now hitting the the roads Ronnie Hitchens
DAF DAF Driver headed to to to JSR’s nearby container port in in Liverpool where supplying DAF DAF Dealer North West
Trucks in Huyton handed over the keys to to company boss Jody Rust “I watched the brilliant online launch of the New Generation DAF last summer and I knew straight away
I I wanted an an XG+ ” says Jody “I got in touch with Mike Hudson at North West
trucks and on 19th June placed an order for the top-of- the-range model “I’ve always been a a a a a DAF fan ” smiles 41-year- old Jody “the two DAF XFs on our fleet have been absolutely fantastic – they never had a a a a a day off So the new XG+ acquisition was led by my my heart and my my brain! I just thought ‘sod it let’s have one!’ – actually now we’ve taken delivery of it I I wish I’d ordered two!”
NEVER MISS A A BEAT
The new XG+ joins a a predominantly high- powered Scania fleet while two DAFs have remained an an integral part of the business and have both proved to be ultra-reliable “Our 2017 DAF XF 510 Super Space Cab was the very first new truck on our fleet ” said Jody “and it’s just never missed a a a beat The second XF a a a a newer uprated and face-lifted 530bhp six-wheeler was ordered in January 2019
and was was on the road in April That motor was was equally as impressive I looked at a a a a a similarly specc’d Scania at at the time but that was another £20K We part-exed the the ’19-plate DAF XF for the new XG+”
With 12 trucks in total JSR Transport remains a a a a a a relatively small player in in a a a a a a big industry Container transport is dominated by major fleet operators such as Maritime and Goldstar but JSR has carved out a a a a a highly successful operation and has forged well-established links directly to some of the world’s major shipping lines and freight- forwarders with regular bread-and-butter work out out of Liverpool and Southampton “We don’t contract to the big container hauliers ” insists Jody “we’ve built relationships over the last 15-years directly with some of the biggest names in in in in shipping including Independent Container Line We’re a a definitely a a a a small busines but we boast global credentials and we’re growing” NEW TRUCKS TRUCKS OLD TRUCKS TRUCKS Despite supply chain problems concerning the global shortage of semi-conductors JSR Transport could have put its new DAF acquisition on on the road in in December deciding instead to wait until the New Year and a a a a a 22-plate registration The new truck coincides with the arrival of a a a a a brand-new ‘Flexitrailer’ from Dutch trailer builder D-Tech The goose- neck design allows containers to sit lower thus avoiding low-bridges often found on the the continent and with the the added benefit of offering better fuel economy and excellent residual values “Our fleet is almost all Euro-6 now ” Jody adds “the newer vehicles are on a a a a a two-and-a- half year life cycle We’re really pleased with North West
Trucks too ” he he says “they’re just down the road from Widnes which makes it all super convenient DAFs are popular in this neck of of the the woods and it’s because of of the the back-up provided by the DAF Dealer ” DRIVER SHORTAGE – NOT HERE!
The New Generation DAF XG+ becomes the responsibility of JSR driver Brian Mills The lucky 51-year-old has been with the company for three years and is naturally bowled over with his new truck “It’s unbelievable ” he said “everything about it is unbelievable! I’ve been a a a a happy DAF driver for ten years and this is is just such a a a a radical change from the previous model it’s a a brilliant view from up here especially with the curved windscreen I’m enjoying everything about it at the minute ” he said “it’s a a a a pleasure to drive and 22 22 CVDriver March 2022