Established in August 1974, DAFaid marks its 50th anniversary this year.
Commercial Motor covered its launch 50 years ago, describing it as: “a 24-hour, 365 days a year get-you-out-of trouble service.” Today, the roadside assistance service still works 24/7/365 on roadside repairs and recoveries across the UK.
Andy Mudie has been appointed DAFaid and aftersales systems manager. His predecessor Matt Coates will now head DAF’s training portfolio at the company’s head-office in Haddenham. Mudie has been promoted from managing DAF’s aftersales help-desk.
Andy Mudie, DAFaid and aftersales systems manager, said: “It’s quite humbling to see how far DAFaid has come in 50-years. DAFaid today is a huge and complex organisation, and a pivotal part of the overall business for DAF in the UK. For me, DAFaid is the epitome of the DAF brand and indicative of the good name DAF enjoys in the UK. Commitment and passion exist in abundance and a sheer determination to do what’s right by our customers. I’m enormously proud and privileged to be handed such an important role within the business, and my firm intent is to maintain DAFaid’s potion as the UK truck industry’s number one roadside assistance service.”
DAFaid is delivered by the DAF dealer network, which has 129 locations and more than 500 roadside technicians. This mobile service is supported by more than 1500 IRTEC-accredited workshop technicians.
Founded as an extension of DAF’s European international truck service roadside support, DAFaid was developed specifically for the UK market. When DAFaid was launched, there were just 1185 DAF vehicles registered in the UK and the team received 133 calls from August to December 1974. By 1977, there were 4142 registered DAFs on the road and 1,283 calls in that year. Now, it’s estimated DAFaid deals with around 100,000 jobs every year which includes non-DAF vehicles, trailers, buses and agricultural equipment.
DAFaid’s call centre is based in Walsall and has been operated by the RAC since 1992. Average call pickup time is eight seconds and average travel time to jobs is around 50 minutes. More than 80% of call outs are completed at the roadside and average turnaround time to get people back on the road is 110 minutes.
