Commercial vehicle recovery specialist, Alpha Recovery in Northumberland, has taken delivery of a range-topping 150-tonne GTW DAF XF eight-wheeler with Super Space Cab and ultra-high specification recovery equipment from Boniface Engineering. An order for a further identical truck, through local DAF Dealer, Evans Halshaw in Stockton-on-Tees, is expected shortly.

Alpha Recovery says its latest £340,000 investment represents excellent value-for-money given the DAF XF’s projected ten-year life-span and the assurance of a high residual value. With relatively low mileage associated with recovery work, the vehicle is expected to deliver a total of 30-years of service on the road.

The truck is based on DAF’s proven ‘FAD’ 8x4 axle configuration – for 150-tonnes GTW – twinned with the market-leader’s top-of-the-range Super Space Cab, to provide high levels of space and comfort for its driver on overnight operations. Boniface’s Recoverer Trident bodywork boasts extensive capability for a wide range of recovery jobs, including a 45-tonne boom rating, 33-tonne capacity under-lift with Maxireach K Boom. This class-leading innovation delivers full-load power in / out capability to enable the operator to lift, extend or retract under fully loaded conditions. Custom-built stainless steel bodywork is designed to integrate with the cab and give a smooth finished appearance front to back . The truck is also spec’d with Snap-On tooling.

The new flag-ship vehicle joins an existing 69-plate DAF XF 530 with an ‘FAT’ 6x4 axle configuration and a Dyson CL500H Commander Recovery Unit conversion by Roger Dyson Group. Alpha Recovery also operates smaller 10- and 16-tonne GVW DAF LF vehicles, and also a 21-year-old ex-military 8x6 Leyland DROPS, converted for recovery operations and described by Michael Burke at Alpha Recovery as the company’s favourite truck despite its cab offering ‘zero comfort’ as a result of its stripped-back military cab specification.

Alpha Recovery’s lighter weight DAF LFs feature sliding-bed bodywork for 3.5-tonne van and LCV recovery jobs. A further 16-tonne GVW DAF LF is also on order for the Cramlington and Peterlee-based operator.

Michael Burke described the partnership between DAF Trucks, Boniface and Evans Halshaw, and the willingness to deliver a completely bespoke truck, as making the whole acquisition easy and transparent. “The simplicity and clarity of the deal was a real bonus for us,” he said, “ and the technical support from DAF and Boniface ensured we took delivery of exactly the right tool for the job. And the service we always get from Evans Halshaw at Stockton and Birtley is second-to-none.

“The new DAF XF Boniface combination really is built to last,” said Burke, “the build quality is unmatched and we’ll have the truck working on our fleet for ten years. It’s a significant initial outlay, but it’ll certainly earn its keep and the used market for recovery equipment like this is very strong, so we’ll get an excellent return on it.

“It’s great to have such an amazing new piece of kit on the fleet,” he added, “and next to the old 8x6 Leyland DROPS truck, the XF looks so modern. But the Leyland is my favourite truck. The cab is basic, to say the least, because of its military past, so it has absolutely zero comfort. But, it’s a brilliant performer with excellent off-road capability, and it’s still a working truck for us. Someone offered to buy it recently,” he said, “but it’s not going anywhere!”