The DVS is a safety standard for all heavy goods vehicles over 12 tonnes. It indicates how much a driver can see directly from their cab in relation to other road users.
The tippers feature the latest generation of FM cabs, which are said to aid the safety of other road users.
The FM cab has raised A-pillars that give it up to one extra cubic metre of space and more light. A large windscreen, low door line and modern mirrors ensure all-round visibility which is improved further with an added lower window on the passenger door.
The new Volvo FM 460 8x4 tippers will work out of the building materials supplier’s depot in Greenwich and be used to deliver aggregates and sand to construction sites across the capital.
Powered by Volvo’s D11K engine, which is said to provide up to 454bhp and up to 2,200Nm of torque, the FMs are expected to clock-up around 80,000 km per year.
Each truck is equipped with Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission, with added construction software for off-road applications.
According to Cemex, this enables timed gear-changes for an easier and safer drive.
Nigel Ponton, national fleet engineer at Cemex, said: “We’ve had these fleet additions specifically built with lightweight bodies to reach the 20-tonne payload, which is kind of the golden number in the aggregate world for an 8x4 tipper.”
Built on a 5,100mm wheelbase, the FMs have been specified with a high chassis to aid ground clearance on rough terrain and come fitted with Wilcox tipper bodywork.
The 10 FMs are covered by five-year Volvo Gold Contracts which are claimed to guarantee maximum uptime, with all servicing and maintenance work being carried out at the MC Truck & Bus depot in Thurrock.