Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Milton Keynes, the 12-tonne FL vehicles are a renewal for a third of the operator’s fleet and the trucks ticked all the boxes for Waterline, including on safety, environmental impact, fuel performance, driver comfort, reliability and network support.
“We started with a blank sheet and looked at all the options,” says Matt Elborough, group logistics manager for the Newport Pagnell-based business.
“Through this exhaustive process, it was the Volvo FL that stood out as the only truck that met all of the criteria we’d defined at the outset.”
The day cabs are fitted with Super Sky Cab conversions by Hatcher Components, of Framlingham, and feature ‘Cheetah’ fast back bodies from Cartwright Group of Altrincham for enhanced aerodynamics.
“We take the environment extremely seriously,” explains Elborough. “Everything about these new trucks – from the fuel-saving curved roof through the highly responsive and effective six-speed overdrive I-Sync automated mechanical gearbox to the high torque at low revs 210bhp engines – is about efficiency and limiting our impact on the environment.
“This attention to detail has already been borne out in fuel figures that show we’re returning over 16mpg. This has really impressed.”
The trucks are all specified to FORS and CLOCS standard, with forward, rear and nearside cameras. Additional lighting illuminates the loading area and the trucks have Dhollandia tuck-away tail-lifts.
They are being maintained on a three-year Volvo Gold R&M contract.