Liam Connolly grows DAF fleet

Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, has added 10 new DAF XF 510 FTP Super Space Cab tractor units to it now 70-strong DAF fleet. The operator bought its first DAF truck in 2004.

The Euro-6 6×2 units are almost all fleet additions, as the operator sees continuing growth in business with both its pallet-network duties and general haulage activities. All ten of the new vehicles have been supplied through local dealer, TBF Thompson, and funded through PACCAR Financial.

Whereas other recent DAF additions have all been specified with extended five-year R&M packages, the company’s managing director, William Connolly, says the latest group will have three year packages.

He explains, saying, “The pace of change in modern commercial vehicles is getting faster and faster, especially with the arrival of Euro-6 and the growing technologies available. Whereas a few years ago you could afford to invest in five-year life cycles,” he said, “now, there is a very real chance that by doing so you will find yourself with noticeably older technology much sooner. We prefer to keep up to date with what is happening with vehicle advances and keep our options open to renew as we go forward.”

liam-connolly-grows-daf-fleetThe family-run business was founded in 1981 by Liam and Bridget Connolly, with day to day running of the operation now resting with William and his two brothers Darren and Andrew.

Today, Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) has significant contracts with a number of blue chip companies nationwide. “We’re busy, business is brisk,” William is happy to report, adding, “and that has resulted in the steady growth of the fleet – and the DAF focus in particular. We started in general haulage and ran other marques at the start, but our drivers wouldn’t change back now, that is certain. So, yes, with the support we get from TBF Thompson, who have been good on both sales and service from start to finish, we are settled on DAF. They have been a major part of the decision-making process to go with DAF over the years. I am told the whole of the DAF network is good, but as we have only had to call on DAFaid for roadside assistance five times in the last 12 years, I am probably not the right person to judge!”

Alongside the DAF XF tractor units, the operator also runs DAF CF 18-tonne rigids on its groupage service. The operator has both the CF65 and LF55 on the fleet, vehicles chosen, says William Connolly, “for their versatility and low tare weight.”

Like most forward thinking operators, the Liam Connolly (Roadfreight) team is watching developments following the Brexit vote. Based in Lisnaskea,  just a short distance from the ‘border’, they clearly hope the early noises about an open border policy will prove to be the case. “We will just have to wait and see,” says William, “It will bring challenges if it goes the wrong way, but we would hope they will not be insurmountable and we can plan ahead for whatever the final outcome delivers us all.”