Universal Tanker Group is a waste-water specialist that operates a fleet of more than 100 commercial vehicles, working out of 21 depots nationwide.
While running with a rival manufacturer, the firm turned to Volvo for this order – a mixture of replacement vehicles and fleet additions – due to the service and back-up it has received from the team at Thomas Hardie Commercials.
Universal Tanker group director Simon Gunn said: “We’ve bought five companies over the past six years, acquiring lots of kit along the way. One of them ran Volvos, which we inherited and the level of service we received from the dealership was second to none. We added our first two new Volvos, both Tridems, around three years ago and we’ve come back to them in large numbers this time.”
The first 6x2 FMX to arrive comes with rear air suspension and a hydraulically steered tag axle. It is fitted with a remounted stainless-steel tanker and vacuum unit, supplied and fitted by RTN Clayton Valley. Powered by Volvo’s 10.8 litre Euro-6 diesel engine, producing up to 380 hp and 1,800 Nm of torque, the FMX is driven through a 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox.
“The rear steer axle is so important for our line of work,” Gunn continued. “It really is a super bit of kit and allows the driver to manoeuvre far easier when working off-road on rugged and busy construction sites. We’ve also opted for a high chassis height, which gives us excellent ground clearance.”
Expected to cover in the region of 80,000km a year, the FMX has been supplied on a seven-year Volvo Gold Contract. It will be used to remove and dispose of liquid waste from septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, pump stations and other facilities across the UK.