Mac’s Truck Sales embraces innovation to lead the UK in fuel-efficient truck solutions
With a rich history spanning over five decades, Mac’s Truck Sales (Mac’s) has established itself as one of the UK’s leading family-run commercial vehicle dealers and body builders. From its state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Yorkshire, the company proudly manufactures over 500 vehicles a year. Additionally, thanks to its ready-to-go stock of more than 500 trucks, customers can expect delivery of their next vehicle within just a few weeks, rather than months. Unlike some competitors, all of Mac’s vehicles are manufactured in the UK, utilizing only the most advanced materials and proven manufacturing techniques. Andy Hall, Technical Director, retraces the company’s early days and evolution.
“The business was founded about 53 years ago by the father of our current Managing Director, who still contributes part-time even at the age of 85. My son is also involved in the business, as are the sons of the operations and managing directors, highlighting our family-oriented values. We originally started in the transport industry and gradually transitioned into truck sales, including the sale of second-hand trucks. Over the years, we have evolved into what we are today, with 98 percent of our sales being brand-new vehicles. We have a wide range of options, but focus predominantly on the crane truck sector, which is why I joined the company nearly 15 years ago – I came in to develop that side of the business. After about 5 years, we’d gained significant traction in this area and decided to expand further. Presently, we are the leading company in our marketplace for crane trucks, a position we have achieved through continuous development and innovation. We are constantly building new concepts and prototypes, pushing the boundaries of what we can do, which I personally really enjoy. With around 110 employees across four sites and plans for future expansion, we always uphold our motto: ‘keep going forward, and do not stand still.’ Developing new products is crucial for us, as it allows us to address industry challenges and provide effective solutions, hence why we continue to move forward,” he opens.
Mac’s dedication to moving forward is exemplified by its keenness to embrace technology to boost the design and build processes of its vehicles. Andy offers examples: “Four years ago, we established a small subsidiary within the business focused on laser cutting and CNC pressing. This is because we had reached a turning point where we were outsourcing a significant amount of work, and we wanted to bring more of it in-house which gives us 100 percent control of quality. Since then, we have continued to develop our capabilities, implementing the full SolidWorks suite. Today, we have engineers who utilize this software daily, which helps us design new products in a virtual environment. This allows us to visualize concepts, conduct stress analyses, and determine functionality before any physical prototype is built. Constantly looking to improve, we leverage as much modern technology as we can to enhance and accelerate our processes.”
Equally, industry partnerships are paramount to the company, and such investments in technology enable Mac’s to work more efficiently and deliver better results for its partners. “We have a close relationship with FASSI Cranes, for example, and this collaboration is highly beneficial, as we communicate our specific needs for both the European and UK markets, and we work together on developing solutions tailored to those needs. This year, we are launching a brand-new range of crane trucks, which has been quite a challenge as it required the development of numerous new sub-frames to support the cranes. It is an exciting time for us as we collaborate closely with FASSI to develop and refine our offerings while also streamlining our operations. Currently, we are producing over 100 t/m cranes that provide payloads of 6.5 to 7 tons, figures that no one else in the UK can get close to. 
“Additionally, we work closely with many of the main truck manufacturers and have just developed a new hidden front leg stabilizer system for Volvo’s latest FH Aero, which launched about a month ago [at time of writing]. This initiative garnered significant online attention, with approximately 70,000 hits over a single weekend, even catching the interest of Volvo in Sweden and their customers. Two to three years ago, we collaborated with DAF on their new XF, XD and XG ranges to develop a similar system, with Mac’s holding the European patents for both. When working hand in hand with these manufacturers, we are dedicated to respecting what they have spent time designing and engineering while enhancing the efficiency of their products,” Andy enlightens.
Always striving to develop better products, Mac’s continuously re-evaluates its vehicles to align with customer demand, ensuring they are not only more efficient but also greener. “At the moment, we are focused on creating lighter trucks, which allows us to increase payload capacities, thus reducing the number of vehicles on the road. This results in improved fuel efficiency and a lower environmental impact. In terms of crane trucks, we have been working hard to accommodate larger cranes with greater lifting capacities. Our collaborations with Volvo and DAF have been instrumental in integrating front axle systems behind the grille, ensuring we do not compromise the fuel efficiency of these trucks. For us, sustainability is an ongoing commitment that reflects our core values. We are at the forefront of innovation in our industry, and achieving our sustainability goals requires significant time, investment, and rigorous testing.
“This year, we are proud to have developed 16 new products, a feat that sets us apart in the industry. Our focus is on pushing boundaries to meet the demands for eco-friendlier options from our customers. In my opinion, it is exciting because I am interested in sustainability and enjoy being in a position to offer something nobody else in the industry can. This not only supports our sales but also enhances our green credentials. For instance, we were the first company in the country to incorporate bamboo into the flooring of our trucks, an innovation that has truly taken off. We meticulously tested this project for nearly two years before launching it, once we were confident enough. This initiative is a significant step toward sustainability, as bamboo is a completely renewable resource. We believe that exploring such innovative materials should always be a priority,” Andy ends.