Van der Heijden Transport sets course for a quiet, clean future
Transport company G. van der Heijden & Zn. B.V., better known as Van der Heijden Transport and based in Ridderkerk, has taken another step towards sustainable transport. Recently, the company added its first fully electric tractor unit to the fleet: the DAF XF 350 FT BEV — a silent force preparing the family business for the future.
“This is an important step,” says managing director Bert van der Heijden. “The transport sector is changing rapidly, and we are moving with it. Not because we have to, but because it fits who we are as a company.”
The electric DAF will be deployed for regional operations in and around the Port of Rotterdam. The truck is equipped with a 525 kWh battery pack, providing an estimated range of approximately 460 to 500 kilometres. Charging takes place at the company’s own premises at Scheepmakerstraat in Ridderkerk, where the first charging facilities have recently been installed.
The introduction of electric transport aligns with the company’s broader CSR policy, in which continuity, responsibility and innovation go hand in hand. With the addition of this electric truck, Van der Heijden Transport takes a symbolic step towards its 100th anniversary in 2027 — a future that will be quiet, clean and strong.
The relationship between G. van der Heijden, dealer BEST Trucks, and DAF goes back many years. It is therefore no surprise that the majority of the logistics service provider’s fleet consists of vehicles from the Eindhoven-based manufacturer. Bert van der Heijden explains: “In addition to our excellent experience with DAF, the strong relationship with the dealer is of decisive importance. We have been doing business with BEST Trucks for many years, and it works very well. Communication lines are short, and we understand each other.”
