Volvo FH With I-Save Tractor Units Cut Fuel Costs All Week For Haulage Company PD Bannister
Family-run haulage firm PD Bannister of Bradford, West Yorkshire, has taken delivery of seven very fuel-efficient Volvo tractor units with another five on the way over the next year. The new trucks are 6x2 Volvo FH with I-Save 460 models with Globetrotter cabs. The vehicles will see service seven days a week, chiefly hauling foods and beverages such as Princes Soft Drinks.
“Our vehicles cover a lot of miles, so—as our new trucks’ specification reflects—minimising fuel consumption is a must,” says PD Bannister Fleet Compliance Manager Chris Smith. “We’re already seeing strong returns from our new arrivals, and we’ll certainly look to welcome more Volvos in the future.”
I-Save For Fuel Efficiency
PD Bannister specified its new FH tractors with the optional I-Save package, which combines technologies with engine and transmission improvements and roof and cab side air deflectors to significantly increase fuel economy overall.
“We run a variety of manufacturers and were a bit disappointed by the performance of some of our non-Volvo tractors in recent years, so when the time came to refresh those vehicles, Volvo was the first name on our list,” Smith says.
The I-Save package starts with a high-efficiency, turbo-compounding engine. The turbo-compounding technology allows drivers to maintain lower rpms and a higher gear for a longer time for more fuel-efficient travel. The D13TC Euro 6 Step E engine in PD Bannister’s new Volvo FH tractors produces 460 horsepower (345 kilowatts) and 2,600 Newton-metres (1,918 pounds-foot) of torque.
Another piece of the I-Save package is Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox, which times gear shifts through analysis of speed, weight, road grade, and torque. “The I-Shift was a big selling point for us, and to date it has been absolutely stellar—our drivers have nothing but praise for it,” says Smith. “It gives a lovely smooth drive, making for a very satisfying and fuel-efficient driving experience.”
I-Save also includes I-See predictive cruise control, which adjusts to gradient changes ahead, and I-Cruise with I-Roll, which adapts the truck’s speed for lowest fuel consumption.
Driver Amenities
PD Bannister also spec’d its FH with I-Save trucks with heated leather driver’s seats, a media package with navigation, 33-litre (8.7-gallon) refrigerators, and Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels. The vehicles’ Visibility+ and Drive+ package options include automatically adjusting V-shaped LED headlights, heated electric mirrors, an adjustable steering wheel with neck tilt, and dual armrests on the driver’s side.
Dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus supplied the new Volvos to PD Bannister, which has ordered three more of the FH with I-Save trucks with identical specs for this year along with a pair of Volvo FH 540 models.
The Volvo FH
Volvo’s FH tractors and rigid trucks are designed for aerodynamic efficiency and reliable service. Its 420- to 540-horsepower (313- to 403-kilowatt) engine options support diesel, LNG, biodiesel, and HVO fuels. There are also FH Electric models in both tractor and rigid configurations.
The FH offers five cabin options from a low sleeper cab to a high-roof Globetrotter XXL configuration. The user-adjustable Volvo Dynamic Steering feature reduces steering effort, helps to avoid skidding and unintentional lane changes, and even allows for remote-controlled steering.
Find The Right Volvo Truck
Truck Locator serves up shedloads of new and used Volvo trucks for sale, including FH models such as the FH 460.
Source: Volvo