Greenhous Commercials pride themselves in the customer service provided to their clients which leads to long-standing business relationships. This is certainly true of over 20 years of supplying DAF trucks to K Transport Services (Midlands) Ltd.
K Transport Services (Midlands) Ltd is owned by brothers David and Andrew Kay, with over 35 years’ experience, offering a complete service in transport, warehousing and specialist distribution. K Transport operate a fleet of over 80 vehicles and more than 130 trailers from their company owned sites in the West Midlands and from various customer premises.
Dave Preston is the Fleet Maintenance Manager for K Transport. He reflects on the size of the fleet saying: “Probably 98% of our fleet are DAF trucks mainly XF tractors and CF 26T rigids. We are looking to renew our fleet as investment allows and this will have a marked effect on the effectiveness of the vehicles, emissions and fuel efficiency and comfort for the drivers. We are moving the fleet towards automatic transmissions.
“The comments that have come back from our drivers have been very complimentary. They report the cabs are more comfortable and the DAF trucks are more responsive at junctions with the gear box being a marked improvement. The drivers are competitive with their driver performance scores and the new DAF’s deliver a much better fuel consumption through the technical improvements that in turn aid the driver to be more efficient.
“A saving of half a mile per gallon of fuel on a vehicle can be worth as much as £5,000 a year. Our drivers are shaving over a mile a gallon off on average which all helps the bottom line. The new DAF’s are proving to be very reliable.”
Dave has had 20 years in the job and respects the partnership with Greenhous, dealing mostly with Rob Binnion, Greenhous Commercials Truck Sales Manager, for truck sales and the body building. The latest DAF vehicles received by K Transport are six FTG XF 480 SPACE CAB tractor units and two FAS CF 340 26T SPACE CAB Rigids with Fred Smith Slidaflex Body. All of which have the new DAF Driveline incorporating the latest ZF Traxon Automatic Gearbox to improve fuel efficiency.
Fred Smith body builders and Truck Engineering who have provided the recent new livery wrapping are both Greenhous Commercials customers.
With 6 inspection pits and 11 service technicians working in the K Transport workshop, which is IRTE accredited and fully computerised, the availability of parts is essential to keep the fleet operational. Working with Scott Westwood, Greenhous Commercials Fleet Parts Sales Manager, Dave ensures that there is always a full complement of spares in stock and Greenhous operate a multiple delivery per day of requested parts from their depot in Wolverhampton.
Scott explains the Impress stock system that is in place at K Transport: “By working with K Transport we have a daily check on the levels of parts they have on their parts shelves.All parts are booked in and out on computer and popular parts are replenished more frequently on a daily basis by our parts van drivers. I can also come in and audit the stock and recognise which parts are not being used as often and adjust the stock levels for K Transport. DAF inspect and audit our attendance figures against KPI’s.
“K Transport are one of our largest truck and trailer parts customers. We have developed a close and trusted relationship with them and it works keeping their trucks on the road with minimum delay on parts availability, day or night.”