A family-run truck dealership which began in Suffolk in 1982 has scooped an international award.

Ipswich-based Chassis Cab - which operates across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire  - was crowned DAF's top UK dealer at an international awards event held in Malaga, Spain.

The business was founded in Bury St Edmunds by David Ruffles and is still owned and managed by the same family.

It started as a repair and maintenance service for the business community and became a major DAF Dealership with sites at Addison Way in Great Blakenham, Northern Way in Bury St Edmunds, Hall Barn Road in Isleham and most recently at Ruffles Park in Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire.

The company - which employs 174 staff - recently invested around £6m in its facilities and has plans for "further and significant" facility investment.

The business has seen annual sales increase from 99 trucks in 1999 to 800 trucks in 2023. 

Its customers include high-profile companies in the region such as Turners of Soham, Seven Asset, Greene King and Glasswells.

East Anglian Daily Times:

Managing director Robert Baxter said they were "hugely proud" to receive a gold award for excellence at the annual awards at the DAF International Dealer Meeting.

The awards recognise the best-performing dealers in Europe which excel in customer satisfaction, business performance and after-sales achievements - with the top title going to the dealer surpassing standards in all areas.

Chassis Cab was awarded the title after a consistently strong sales performance as a result of close relationships with key customers.

"This is a significant award for our business to be placed the gold winner within DAF dealership network in the UK and we are hugely proud of this achievement particularly as we are still in the middle of challenging economic conditions," said Robert.

"Our aim is always to provide exemplary service in order to keep our customers businesses running smoothly, efficiently and as greenly as possible.

"The success of our business is very much down to our loyal and hardworking team of people who always want the dealership to be the best it can be.’

"We match customers with the trucks that will help give them the competitive edge and the award-winning DAF truck range with its excellent driving properties always delivers."

East Anglian Daily Times:

The company's name came from its ability to repair chassis and cabs using what was the only chassis-straightening jig that was able to take full length trucks in East Anglia.

Fully electric and hybrid trucks are fast coming on stream which was "hugely encouraging news" - with new types of fuel becoming available, said Robert.

"We have already supplied two fully electric DAF trucks to businesses from the region.

"The future of trucking is exciting with the development of new types of fuel like Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

"Whatever comes next, we will be at the forefront of the newest technologies as a DAF distributor – and we are looking forward to the future as a pioneering family business helping to improve the fleet fitness of so many growing businesses from the region."

DAF Trucks has a network of more than 1,100 locations across Europe and beyond.

Robert received the gold award for top dealership in the UK from Bart Bosmans of DAF Trucks.