DAF Pledges Aftersales Support During Coronavirus Outbreak
DAF Trucks has pledged its full support for DAF Dealers and their customers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to the DAF Dealer network, DAF Trucks’ Managing Director, Laurence Drake, said, “I wanted to write to you and our customers to provide reassurance that DAF Trucks and the DAF Dealer Network have plans and a structure in place to continue delivering support.
“Firstly,” he said, “DAF Trucks is committed to providing employees with a safe working environment, so that our people can continue to deliver exceptional levels of supply, service and support to you and all our customers. To this end, and in line with UK Government advice, we have already implemented wide-ranging measures.”
Presently the DAF Dealer network, which comprises 134 locations across the UK and Ireland, is operating at, or very close to, normal levels; undertaking inspections, fulfilling R&M contracts and delivering parts, not just for DAF trucks, but also for other makes and trailers through its extensive TRP parts programme.
DAF Trucks is monitoring the parts supply chain on a daily basis to ensure stock levels and frequency of deliveries are maintained. Action has been taken to put in place additional stock at Parts Distribution Centres across Europe, including in Eindhoven and Leyland, while critical parts have been identified and protected to be made available for every DAF Dealer if and when required. The DAF Parts distribution service which replenishes parts stock daily is currently running without delays.
DAFaid continues to provide breakdown assistance. The DAFaid control centre remains fully operational and DAF Dealers across the UK are responding to call-outs. Priority is given to calls relating to roadside breakdowns.
While service levels for maintenance, breakdown and parts support are currently at, or very close to, normally high levels, DAF Trucks is preparing for potential disruption due to staff sickness or self-isolation, leading to the possibility of priority being given to vehicles delivering essential supplies such and food and pharmaceutical products.
“Following the latest Government advice,” said Drake, “our teams are working from home where possible. We have cancelled all business travel and non-essential face-to-face meetings. Many non-essential events and activities are also being cancelled or rescheduled for later in the year. The coming weeks are undoubtedly going to put pressure on our customers and I’d like to reassure our DAF Dealers, and our customers, of the DAF Trucks commitment to supporting them throughout this extraordinary time.”