Supplied by dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus, the two FH 8x4 rigids are equipped with the D13K 533bhp engine and Weightlifter aluminium tipping bodies. The order also comprised eight FH 6x2 mid lift tractors with D13K engines rated at 494bhp, and one FH16-750 6x2 tractor with a tag-axle to be used at up to 80 tonnes.
The FH16-750 tractor unit was selected as a fleet flagship and to reward a driver for 20 years’ service.
It was also specified for versatility, as Richard Mills, director at North Lincs Aggregates, explains: “We have a four-axle low loader for moving our own plant machinery, so we bought the FH16-750 to go up to STGO2 operations at 80 tonnes, but 90% of the time it pulls a lighter weight tipping trailer, so we had to find a balance. Having the tag-axle keeps the weight down while also giving you a better turning circle for plant work.”
The operator buys the vehicles outright, keeping them in service for three years before selling them and this policy was another reason for choosing Volvo, says Mills: “We opted for Volvo because we’ve always got an eye on residual values, and at the moment, they’re maintaining a much higher price after three years. We’ve gone for the bigger engine because we believe they’ll be more of an owner-driver’s vehicle when we come to sell them.”
The company now has eleven more vehicles on order with Volvo, all FH-540 tractors with mid-lift axles.