26-Tonne Volvo FMX With Andover Trailers Plant Body Moves Heavy Equipment For Shorts Group

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Shorts Group’s 26-tonne FMX 380 6x2 is outfitted with Andover Trailers low-profile plant body with double crank beavertail bodywork. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

A cancelled order for a Volvo FMX chassis turned into a major opportunity for Volvo Truck & Bus Centre South & East. The dealer was looking for a truck to join Shorts Group’s fleet, one capable of moving plant equipment across the firm’s operating areas of Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Buckinghamshire. And when new 26-tonne (28.7-U.S.-ton) Volvo FMX became available, the dealer quickly picked it up. Shorts Group was also impressed with the dealer’s sales support team.

“I’ve bought many trucks in my role across the last eight years and can confidently say that Volvo’s communication has been second-to-none,” says Bryony Morten-Short, operations manager at Shorts Group.

The First Of Many

The responsive service and immediate success of the new Volvo FMX 380 led Shorts Group to order 16 additional Volvo trucks. The upcoming fleet additions will include 15 Volvo FL skip loaders and a Volvo FE sweeper. Meanwhile, the new Volvo FMX 6x2 rigid is already hard at work and putting its bespoke Andover Trailers low-profile plant body with double crank beavertail to good use.

“It’s definitely turning heads,” says Morten-Short. “Our driver has been out working in the truck practically since the moment it arrived. The positive early impression we’ve had has pushed us to want to expand and extend our relationship with Volvo Trucks moving forward because everything has been so easy.”

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The new Volvo FMX hauls heavy plant across Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Buckinghamshire, and has been such a positive addition that Shorts Group has ordered 16 more Volvos. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

The Volvo FMX

Volvo’s FMX is available in tractor and rigid variants with two to five axles in 4x2 to 10x6 configurations. The truck’s six cabin options range from a low day cab to an extended crew cab. The Shorts Group selected a 10.8-litre, 380-horsepower (280-kilowatt) engine that produces 1,800 newton-metres (1,328 pounds-foot) of torque; the FMX range is available with 330- to 540-HP (403-kW) engines. The Shorts Group also specified Volvo’s fuel-saving I-Shift automated transmission; Volvo’s Powertronic planetary gearbox is available as an alternative.

Find The Right Volvo Trucks

Truck Locator lists hundreds of new and used Volvo trucks for sale from a wide variety of sellers, including a number of FMX tippers, grab loaders, and more.

Source: Volvo