East Kent Recycling Expands Fleet With New Volvo Trucks

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East Kent Recycling recently added a mixture of 23 Volvo trucks to its fleet, including FL, FE, and FMX models, to support its operations throughout Kent. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

East Kent Recycling recently acquired 23 new Volvo trucks, including 10 FL 4x2 and eight FE 4x2 skip loaders, four FMX 8x4 hook loaders, and one FMX 6x2 tractor unit. Volvo now makes up 25 of 26 trucks in the Dover-based company’s fleet.

“We’ve always appreciated Volvo Trucks’ reliability and build quality, so when it came time for a major fleet refresh, it was a natural contender,” says Ky Campion, director of East Kent Recycling. “We did look at other marques, but ultimately none could offer as compelling a package as Volvo.

About EKR’s Volvo Trucks

East Kent Recycling has over 45 years of experience in waste management, serving commercial and household customers in Kent. Its two recycling centres handle over 250,000 tonnes of waste each year.

The rigids will handle construction and demolition operations for East Kent Recycling’s customers, while the tractor unit will transport waste from sites to recycling plants in Tilmanstone and Faversham. Each of the 23 vehicles is expected to work five days a week and cover 60,000 to 80,000 kilometres (37,300 to 50,000 miles) per year.

The FLs are equipped with 280-horsepower (206-kilowatt) DK8 engines, while the FEs have 350-HP (257-kW) DK8 engines and a 12-speed I-Shift transmission. The FMX models are also equipped with an I-Shift transmission along with a 540-HP (397-kW) engine. The hook loaders have either 420- or 460-HP (309- or 338-kW) D13K engines.

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The new Volvo trucks will help East Kent Recycling handle over 250,000 tonnes of waste each year. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

Unique Skip Loaders

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Executive approved the skip loaders' stacking of two full skips at a time with cross chains installed between the skip arms on the Boughton bodies. The modification is the first of its kind to get legal approval in the UK.

“We've worked closely with HSE and DVSA to develop a system that has been legally authorised to double-stack full skips—this is approval that currently no other company in the UK has,” adds Campion. “This modification has given us a real edge in the market. It means fewer journeys, reduced fuel consumption, and better turnaround times for our clients. The fact that the FL and FE could be adapted to meet these requirements was a major factor in our decision to go with Volvo.”

Find Volvo Trucks For Sale

Explore TruckLocator.ie to find new and used Volvo trucks for sale, including FE and FMX models in a variety of configurations.