Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia, the two FEs are specified with 355/50 R22.5 tyres and a lower chassis rail, helping to reduce the loading height by 85mm compared with the larger of the two trucks they replace.
Rear air suspension also ensures the new trucks can use TMJ’s existing loading bay, despite it being designed for use with 12-tonners.
Other features include auxiliary lower windows in the passenger door, a full-size Anteo tail-lift and curtainside bodywork by Bell Coachworks. The D8K Euro VI diesel engines produce up to 316bhp and 1,200Nm of torque.
Both trucks feature Volvo’s Dynafleet telematics system, which is saving the operator 15 minutes of administration time per vehicle, per week, by automatically downloading tachograph data as each truck drives into and out of the yard. Previously, this information had to be manually downloaded.
Dynafleet’s fuel and environment reporting also provides TMJ with much of the information it needs to maintain compliance with its FORS Gold accreditation.
The trucks come with a five-year Volvo Gold R&M contract, and will be in operation up to six days per week, being double-shifted when required to meet demand.
A third, identical Volvo FE is due for delivery later this year. Once in service, TMJ Interiors will have three FEs operating at 18 tonnes, replacing a fleet which previously comprised a single 26-tonner and two 12-tonners.