Eagle Plant Hire has expanded its commercial vehicle fleet to 65 trucks, supporting continued business growth and a long-term replacement strategy following its 50th anniversary in 2025.

The expansion builds on a 15-year partnership with Mac's Truck Sales, which has delivered 12 trucks to the company over the past year alone. The latest additions include four new DAF XF 480 32-tonne 8x2 rigid crane trucks fitted with FASSI F710RA.2.26 cranes.

These follow earlier deliveries in late 2025, including three DAF CF/XD 26-tonne 6x2 plant beavertails and three DAF XD450 26-tonne flatbed trucks equipped with FASSI F545RA.2.25 cranes. All vehicles were designed and built in-house by Mac’s.

"Our business has grown, and we've added extra trucks to the fleet, but we also have a strategic replacement schedule that works for us," said Nick Barrow, Managing Director at Eagle Plant Hire.

Operating primarily Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend demand, the company's fleet now spans 65 LGVs and HGVs ranging from 7.5-tonne vehicles to 44-tonne articulated and low-loader units. The newest trucks serve distinct operational roles, with 6x2 beavertails used for transporting heavy plant machinery, while the 8x2 flatbeds are fitted with cranes and specialist securing systems to handle site accommodation and welfare units.

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"MACS has always been willing to work personally with our business, and with our Engineering Director, Alan Cradock, in particular," Nick added. "Between them, they have designed a body that will accommodate every configuration of the cabins within our fleet. This allows the safe and efficient transportation for the delivery and collection of plant machinery or site accommodation to our customers’ requirements, every time."

Vehicle selection has also been a key strategic decision for the company, particularly given its nationwide depot network.

"We consider DAF to give good value for the money and have one of the best dealer networks of any manufacturer, which suits us," Barrow explained. "We have 30 depots from Bury to Truro, and Pontypool to Bournemouth, so having DAF within reach of all of these sites is very important to us." Barrow added that the residual value of the beavertail units "is never as strong as a truck with a decent crane on it, so we feel DAF to be the correct vehicle for us."

To further improve operational efficiency, Eagle Plant Hire has also refined its crane specifications on the latest vehicles.

"We have been using the Fassi F820 crane on the 32-tonne trucks but have taken the decision to drop back to a Fassi F710 with the addition of Mac's patented hidden front stabiliser legs, which increase the use of the crane over the front of the vehicle," Barrow said. "Having the extra front reach does help with being able to set up and complete a job without the need to keep moving the truck on site." With the F710's capable of lifting 3280kg at 16.1m, paired with the trucks 10t payload, these trucks offer a great level of versatility, however Barrow noted "It's very difficult to have a 'one cap fits all' truck for our drivers, and there will always be something extra we could have added... but with the requirements to stay compliant, we feel that MAC'S have done a great job of getting it right, and making changes or listening to our issues and creating a very well received truck for our drivers."