Partly to honor its 40th anniversary, and partly to comply with new Direct Vision Standards and Low-Emission Zones that will come into force later this year, transport company Brinor International Shipping & Forwarding has purchased four new Volvo FH 6x2 tractor units.
“We do quite a lot of work delivering into the areas where [the DVS and LEZ] will be enforced, so we need to make sure we have trucks on the fleet that meet the standards and allow us to continue to deliver for our customers,” says Gill Thomas, Fleet Manager of the Levington, Suffolk, firm located just southeast of Ipswich.
The trucks will run five days a week hauling shipping containers from the docks of nearby Felixstowe to their destinations in all corners of the UK. “We are Volvo through and through and they were the only manufacturer we considered for this order,” Thomas says. “We are also looking forward to seeing what miles-per-gallon figures they will give us, especially the FH with I-Save, which we have heard quite a lot about.”
Bright Yellow FHs
The aforementioned 44-tonne tractor with I-Save has special fuel-saving features such as I-See predictive cruise control to reduce its operating costs and extend its range. Its turbo-compounding, 460-horsepower (343-kilowatt) D13TC Euro 6 Step D engine generates up to 300 newton metres of additional torque, which helps it maintain roadway speeds without burning as much diesel fuel.
Brinor’s other three Volvo FH trucks are 500-hp (373-kw) models with I-Shift automated gearboxes and 13-litre, D13K Euro 6 engines. All four new tractors have a 3,900-mm wheelbase, a single-bunk Globetrotter sleeper cab, and upgraded driver comfort features for long hauls. They bring Brinor’s fleet of mostly Volvo trucks to a total of 20.
“The drivers are all thrilled with their new trucks,” says Thomas. “The upgrade is great for them, so we’re pleased they’re happy.”
A Look At The Volvo FH
Volvo designs the FH series for minimum air resistance and maximum uptime. The truck comes with a selection of five sleeper cab configurations ranging from a flat top to high-roof Globetrotter variants. Besides the tractors mentioned above, the FH is also available as a rigid truck. Engine options include six-cylinder diesels with power levels from 420 to 540 horsepower (313 to 403 kilowatts) and 2,100 to 2,800 N-m of torque. The truck comes in axle configurations ranging from 4x2 all the way up to 10x4.
Find The Right Volvo FH
Truck Locator’s online marketplace hosts a broad array of new and used FH series and other Volvo trucks from sellers throughout the UK, Ireland, and the world.