A&F Haulage, an asphalt and aggregate specialist based in Bolton, recently added 10 new Volvo FM 8x4 rigid tippers to its fleet and another 20 are expected to follow in early 2022. The trucks join 54 Volvos already in the company’s fleet of 104. The FMs were supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials Customer Solutions Manager Paul McNicholas.
“When our owner, Liaqat Ali Majeed, set up the business, he was a Volvo man through and through—so we have always maintained a strong Volvo fleet,” says A&F Haulage Senior Transport Manager Paul Southwell. “And while we have run trucks from other manufacturers, we find none can compete with Volvo when it comes to reliability, or the strength of its dealer network.”
Under The Bonnet
The FMs have Volvo D11K Euro 6 engines capable of up to 430 horsepower (320 kilowatts) and 2,050 newton-metres (1,512 pounds-foot) of torque. Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox evaluates information about speed, weight, road grade, and torque demand to shift with precision. The trucks are spec’d with sleeper cabs and are mounted with aluminium bodywork from Wilcox Commercial Vehicles. A&F drivers will benefit from the new, fully dynamic 12-inch high-resolution digital instrument display and separate 9-inch side touchscreen for access to infotainment, navigation assistance, transport information, and camera monitoring. Each FM has also been fitted with low profile beacons and a full SM UK camera system to improve visibility and remove blind spots for increased safety. The trucks will operate up to seven days a week and cover approximately 50,000 kilometres 31,000 miles per year.
A&F Haulage signed a five-year contract for Volvo’s Dynafleet driver coaching system. The on-board tool encourages fuel-efficient driving techniques focusing on optimal engine usage, braking, cruise control usage, hill driving, and engine idle times.
“Very Impressed”
“The new trucks are a combination of fleet additions and replacements and, so far, I have been very impressed,” says Southwell. “In particular, our drivers love the high-spec cabs. It’s fair to say we are really looking forward to taking delivery of a further 20 FMs in the new year.”
Find Volvo Trucks
You’ll find a large selection of new and used Volvo trucks, including FM tractors and rigids, for sale on Truck Locator.
Source: Volvo