UK – One may wonder how a company remains the market leader for 30 consecutive years. Well, this is the reality for DAF Trucks UK Ltd which has maintained market supremacy in the UK truck (trucks >6t) market for 360 consecutive months. David Kiss, Managing Director of DAF Trucks UK told members of the UK media at an event held in Oxford late last year that much of this success is a direct result of DAF’s aftermarket network in the United Kingdom. The territory boasts 13 dealer groups with 146 dealer locations, which include 102 service locations and 34 sales locations.

DAF, in partnership with its dealer network, has upgraded multiple service sites over the last few years, resulting in an additional 132 workshop bays since 2018. More than GBP 100 million has been spent on upgrading certain dealer premises with new sites planned, including the Ford & Slater Stockton site (2026 costing GBP 12 million) in Stockton-on-Tees and the Motus Bellshill site in Scotland (Q2 2025 costing GBP 5.5 million).

DAF UK dealer network

Dealer group consolidation

2024 saw consolidation in DAF UK’s dealer group representation with the HTC Group, acquiring Barnes DAF, which included its Guildford and Shoreham servicing stations that were subsequently rebranded under the HTC banner. This acquisition means the number of HTC dealer locations is now at 10 across England, joining existing sites in Oxford, Park Royal, Reading, Croydon, Belvedere, Hemel Hempstead, Heathrow and Dunstable. All staff at the Guildford and Shoreham stations were retained, ensuring continuity across Sales, Service and Parts distribution services. This acquisition and subsequent transition was overseen by John McMenamin, Dealer Development Director at DAF Trucks UK.

More trucks mean more technicians

To sustain the rising number of DAF trucks on UK roads, 114 new technicians were hired last year on top of the 169 in 2023. This brings the national number of DAF technicians to 1,663 (1,549 in 2023). In large part, this has been a result of the Heros of Tomorrow Apprentice Programme, Fast Track Training Programme and recruitment at Military Recruitment Career Fairs.

Kiss maintains that to keep growing the business the company has been on an apprenticeship drive. The DAF Apprentice College in Bristol is one such place that trains students in a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to developing the next generation of skilled technicians for DAF Trucks. This program has been training apprentices for over 20 years, combining hands-on workshop experience with theoretical knowledge. Apprentices spend 26 weeks at the Bristol facility, engaging in block-release training that complements their practical experience gained at DAF dealerships. The college is equipped with modern workshops, classrooms, and the latest diagnostic equipment, providing a comprehensive learning environment.