Logistics unit manager Chris Hanson-Jones said: “After a lengthy national procurement exercise by Viridor, we chose a mixture of Volvo FMX and FE skip loaders and roll-on roll-offs, plus one Volvo FM front end loader.” The new group of rigids was supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, which also provides full repair and maintenance for the Trafford Park fleet.
The Volvo choice, he added, “comes down to suitability of the vehicle for the job, which comes ahead of cost. The Volvo product is reliable and operates particularly well on landfills.”
One of the major aims of the current fleet replacement project is to improve driver safety. “If you are a Viridor Trafford Park driver and you're driving a skip vehicle it will now always be a Volvo chassis cab with a Boughton Engineering skip loader on the back so you'll always be familiar with the vehicle and controls,” Hanson-Jones explained.
This should also eliminate one basic cause of driver injuries; missing their footing when entering vehicles, because the steps are in a different place to their usual truck. He added: “It sounds silly, but that's actually a big cause of accidents, especially now that drivers are increasing their efficiency and moving from truck to truck throughout the day.”
The other big attraction of Volvo for Viridor is its green credentials, including the D8K and D11K Euro 6 engines and I-Shift transmission. “We deal with big brands like Manchester United and Media City, so ecological concerns are a big part of the tender process we do with them,” he points out.
