Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia, the Poole-based operator’s latest additions are all rigid car transporters fitted with bodywork by Belle Trailers of Great Dunmow.
The 4x2 medium cab chassis comprise three FL-250 16-tonners and one FE-280 18-tonner, along with a pair of 6x2 axle FM-330s with low sleeper cabs operating at 26 tonnes.
All are based at the operator’s Rugby depot and are specified with seven-year Volvo Gold R&M contracts, backed by a 100% uptime guarantee.
“Volvo’s ordering and specification process was truly excellent. I’ve nothing, but praise for the attention to detail and communication levels,” says Laurance Wateridge, fleet manager at Charles Trent.
“Early performance indications on the Volvos look good,” he adds. “The 26-tonne FM rigids and the FE are all equipped with Volvo’s I-Shift automated transmission system. We also specified Volvo’s additional passenger door glazing on the FLs and the FE for extra safety levels.”
The FM vehicles are also fitted with Belle Trailers’ stop-start technology, said to save up to 5% on fuel consumption.
All the transporters are expected to be in service for at least eight years and will cover 80,000km a year.
The vehicles will be maintained at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s Coventry site, as it is open 24 hours a day. “Overnight servicing means no interruption to our business and maximises each trucks’ productivity level,” says Wateridge.