Bolton-based MJ May Transport has invested in a new DAF XF 530 FTP 6×2 tractor unit, marking the company’s first purchase of a brand-new truck in almost a decade.

The latest addition joins an exclusively DAF fleet of 12 vehicles and will support the company’s growing bulk flour transportation operations, delivering powdered products to customers across the UK.

The investment also represents a change in purchasing strategy for the family-run business, which has traditionally sourced three-year-old, ex-contract DAF trucks rather than buying new.

However, the specialist requirements of bulk powder transportation prompted managing director Mick May to reconsider that approach.

Specialist equipment drives new truck purchase

MJ May Transport has operated in the haulage industry for more than 50 years, developing from a family business into an established general haulage and specialist tanker operator.

The company expanded into bulk powder transportation approximately 10 years ago following its acquisition of Alan Hindle Transport.

That diversification followed earlier growth through membership of the Pall-Ex pallet distribution network.

Today, powder tanker operations represent an important part of the business, with the new DAF XF 530 specifically configured to transport bulk flour.

According to Mick May, finding suitable second-hand tractor units for this type of work has become increasingly difficult.

“Trying to source a tractor unit that could accommodate blower gear for bulk powder transportation is nigh-on impossible,” he explained.

“Before this truck, our formula has been to buy used trucks from DAF that have been maintained by the company and are coming off contract at three years old.”

The need for a vehicle capable of accommodating specialist unloading equipment therefore played a significant part in the decision to purchase new.

Gardner Denver blower installation

The new XF 530 has been fitted with a Gardner Denver TR20 Tornado Power blower unit, supplied and installed by Gardner Denver.

Blower equipment is used in bulk powder tanker operations to provide the compressed air required to discharge products such as flour from the trailer into customers’ storage facilities.

Installing this equipment requires careful consideration of chassis space, component positioning and weight distribution.

On MJ May Transport’s new DAF, the blower equipment is mounted on the driver’s side of the chassis, with the diesel tank relocated to the passenger side.

The XF FTP’s longer wheelbase provides the necessary space for this configuration.

According to DAF, the arrangement avoids the payload or chassis weight penalties that can occur with alternative equipment installations.

For a bulk tanker operator, retaining payload capacity while accommodating the necessary unloading equipment is an important consideration, particularly where vehicle utilisation and operating costs directly influence profitability.

DAF XF 530 technical specification

The new tractor unit is powered by DAF’s PACCAR MX-13 Euro 6 diesel engine, paired with a 12-speed TraXon automated transmission.

The XF 530 FTP uses a 6×2 chassis configuration and has been specified with a high-roof sleeper cab to provide accommodation for drivers undertaking longer journeys.

Additional equipment includes LED lighting at the front and rear, an electric roof hatch and Alcoa brushed alloy wheels.

The truck also features DAF’s Corner View technology, designed to improve visibility around the vehicle, together with the manufacturer’s City Safety package.

These systems are particularly relevant for vehicles operating in busy distribution environments, where drivers regularly encounter vulnerable road users, restricted access and complex manoeuvring situations.

The specification reflects the vehicle’s intended role in nationwide bulk flour distribution, combining long-distance capability with the equipment required for specialist tanker work.

Why MJ May Transport operates an all-DAF fleet

The latest purchase continues MJ May Transport’s longstanding commitment to DAF Trucks.

Its 12-vehicle fleet includes a 7.5-tonne DAF LF, alongside CF and XF models operating at weights up to 44 tonnes.

Although the business has previously operated vehicles from other manufacturers, Mick May believes concentrating on a single marque offers practical advantages.

The company prefers to own its vehicles rather than operate them through contract hire arrangements.

It also maintains a stock of DAF replacement parts, while its technicians have developed extensive experience working with the manufacturer’s vehicles.

This familiarity can simplify maintenance, reduce the need to hold parts for several different truck brands and support workshop efficiency.

May recalled that the business previously operated a truck from a Swedish manufacturer but found it more expensive than the equivalent DAF.

He explained that introducing another marque into an otherwise standardised fleet offered few operational benefits.

“We keep DAF parts on the shelves and our technicians know the trucks really well,” said May.

The company also maintains relationships with several DAF dealers, including North West Trucks, Lancaster DAF and Motus.

The latest XF 530 was supplied by Simon Davis-Rice, Fleet Sales Director at North West Trucks.

May praised the support provided by the manufacturer and its dealer network, describing the relationships as an important factor in the company’s continued loyalty to DAF.

A 2005 DAF XF with nearly one million miles

MJ May Transport’s connection with DAF extends beyond its current working fleet.

Among the vehicles retained by Mick May is a 2005 DAF XF, which holds particular significance in the company’s history.

The truck was the first brand-new DAF that May was able to purchase during his time as an owner-driver.

Having covered nearly one million miles, approximately 1.6 million kilometres, the vehicle has since been refurbished and preserved.

May explained that the truck underwent restoration work around three or four years ago and now spends most of its time in storage.

It occasionally appears at truck shows, providing a reminder of the company’s earlier years.

“It was my first DAF and the first new truck I could afford to buy when I was an owner driver,” May recalled.

Despite its age and mileage, he has no intention of selling it.

Investment supports continued fleet development

The purchase of the new XF 530 demonstrates how specialist operating requirements can influence fleet investment decisions.

Although MJ May Transport has successfully relied on used DAF vehicles for much of the past decade, the difficulty of sourcing suitable tractor units for powder tanker operations has encouraged the company to return to the new vehicle market.

The new truck provides a purpose-configured solution for bulk flour deliveries while retaining the benefits of operating an established, single-manufacturer fleet.

For MJ May Transport, the investment supports existing customer contracts and the continued development of its specialist tanker business.

It also reinforces a relationship with DAF that has accompanied the company’s growth from owner-driver operations to a 12-vehicle haulage fleet.

More Information

Operator: MJ May Transport, Bolton, Greater Manchester

Vehicle: DAF XF 530 FTP 6×2 tractor unit

Engine: PACCAR MX-13 Euro 6

Transmission: 12-speed TraXon automated gearbox

Specialist equipment: Gardner Denver TR20 Tornado Power blower

Application: Nationwide bulk flour and powder tanker transportation

Supplier: North West Trucks

Fleet: 12 DAF vehicles, including LF, CF and XF models

Website: DAF Trucks UK

Source: DAF Trucks press release, 21 October 2026.