Mitchell & Mayle director Steve Mayle says he and business partner Brian Mitchell first heard about the tridem concept from local dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia.
"Having been told about it by the dealer, we first saw a Tridem in action on Volvo Trucks' UK YouTube site," says Mayle.
"Both Brian and I were amazed at the manoeuvrability and knew it would work supremely well in the domestic tank side of the business, where access can sometimes be challenging," he continues.
"From that seed being sown we now find ourselves the proud owners of this quite remarkable truck. And in one week we've already noticed speedier turn-around times," he says.
Mitchell & Mayle's Volvo FM tridem has been fitted with a 4,300-gallon Whale Tankers stainless steel tank equipped with a vacuum pump.
"We wanted stainless steel because it is more robust and resists corrosion. Quality is important to us and I think that is reflected through our choices in both the Volvo truck and the Whale tank," explains Mayle.
The firms' new FM was specified with a sleeper cab and the Volvo D13K 420bhp engine (delivering 2,100Nm of torque), mated to the I-Shift transmission.
"One feature we've noticed that shows incredible thought is the rear-facing camera for reversing," comments Mayle.
"It sits facing forward in its own shroud during normal operation and only unmasks itself when reverse is selected. This helps keep it clean. Brilliant in its simplicity."
The new truck, financed through Volvo Financial Services, joins two FM rigids and one FM tractor unit at the Ely, Cambridgeshire based company and is covered by a five-year Gold R&M contract.