Phil Moore, a truck driver working for manufacturer EBC Brakes in Northampton, has just completed his one millionth kilometre on the same clutch.
Moore's seven-year old Volvo FM tag-axle six-wheeler achieved the magic number while he was returning from making a delivery to Holland. With a regular schedule that takes in deliveries as far afield as Leiden in Holland, Bristol, Leeds and Hawick, Phil does about 2,700km a week.
"When I'm driving, I never ride the clutch," explains Moore. "When I stop at traffic lights, I always put the handbrake on. It's a great achievement, because, according to the Volvo dealer, a truck like this could have had three or more clutches in the same period."
The FM, which is Phil's second Volvo, is equipped with the 9-litre engine, rated at 300hp. The truck, which was purchased from new in 2003, is maintained by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia's Kettering Dealerpoint.
