- In association with AIB Finance & Leasing
DAF Trucks Ireland’s New Generation XF & XG, winner of the International Truck of the Year 2023 award has another prestigious trophy to display having received the Irish Fleet Tractor-Unit of the Year 2023 title at the Fleet Transport Awards Gala Dinner, held at the Johnstown Estate Hotel, Enfield on Thursday 10 November.
At the Fleet Transport Irish Truck of the Year 2023 Awards, in association with AIB Finance & Leasing, Swedish brand Volvo Trucks also scooped two major honours with its Volvo FM 420 8×4 voted the Best Construction Truck and the new Volvo eFL200 4×2 rigid, victorious in the Irish Green Commercial of the Year awards in the Electric category.
In the Natural Gas classification in this section, the D-Wide CNG 4×2 rigid from Renault Trucks was awarded with this prize.
The adjudication jury includes commercial vehicle editors, expert journalists, transport operators, truck drivers and technicians. Together they undertook a two-day appraisal programme during which the various brands delivered technical presentations to the panel.
The prestigious Irish Fleet Tractor-Unit of the Year 2023 award was presented to John McCann, Sales Manager DAF Trucks Ireland at the event, which also hosted the Irish Haulier of the Year Awards. Jury members appreciated the many safety aspects of the new heavy-duty truck range with its excellent visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines plus the kerb-view panel. These features – along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear mirrors and the new corner view camera – provide superb all-around visibility. They also praised the performance of the new highly efficient drivetrains, based on the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines, mated to the ZF TraXon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities.
In summing up the jury vote, Jarlath Sweeney commented: “With the introduction of the New Generation series, DAF Trucks has delivered a hi-tech, heavy-duty truck range that sets a new benchmark in the road transport industry.”
Martin Tomlinson, Head of Media & Truck Demonstration at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland was joined on stage to accept the brace of awards in the Construction and Green Commercial categories with the Volvo FM 420 8×4 and the Volvo eFL200 4×2 electric rigid. Martin was particularly pleased on Volvo winning two significant awards on the night, as the brand marked five decades of involvement in the Irish market.
Renault Trucks, represented in Ireland by Setanta Vehicle Sales had Harry Nash MD., and Sharon Concarr to receive the prize in the Green Commercial classification with the Compressed Natural Gas powered D-Wide 4×2 rigid.
Based on the International Truck of the Year (IToY) rules, the awards are presented to the trucks introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, which has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. This judgement relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint,’ and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Also on the night, compared by RTE Radio 1’s Shay Byrne, special presentations were made by Jarlath Sweeney in his role as Chairman of the International Van of the Year (IVOTY) award to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland for the new ID. Buzz Cargo on winning the IVOTY 2023 and as to DAF Trucks to acknowledge the new DAF XD series, which won the ITOY 2023 and to Mercedes-Benz eActros Long Haul which scooped the IToY Truck Innovation Award 2023.
