The firm’s new FM, delivered by Thomas Hardie Commercials in Trafford Park, also runs with a Plus 11 drawbar EVO8 trailer, from Transporter Engineering, of Halstead, Essex, which can hold 11—12 cars.
The 21,450kg gvw Volvo FM prime-mover has a 3.9m wheelbase with rear air suspension and has been equipped with the low-height sleeper cab designed for car transporter applications. Axle ratings are 9,000kg on the front, 4,500kg for the small mid axle and 11,500kg for the drive axle.
“Volvo has a strong heritage in this specialist field and this latest model suits my business better than anything else out there,” comments company owner Paul Molyneux.
His new flagship truck was also specified with Volvo’s D13K engine rated at 460hp and driving through the I-Shift automated gearbox.
Molyneux also went for Volvo’s Dynamic Steering on the new FM - the first time it has chosen this feature.
“It’s very precise,” he says. “It limits kick-back through the steering wheel and helps enormously in dealing with ruts in the road. I will definitely specify it next time around too.”
Molyneux says his drivers like the new truck, adding that all-round visibility is good, manoeuvrability ecellent and the power, even on hills, plentiful.
“I would say the I-Shift transmission, the eco-Roll and the driver training, supplied by Thomas Hardie, combine to enhance our productivity, efficiency and safety,” he enthuses.
“When fully loaded, the weather can cause a huge level of wind resistance [so] taking this into consideration along with the terrain we cover, I would say the 13-litre engine was absolutely the right way to go.
“It provides more torque over a wider rev band and that ultimately helps our efficiency.”