M.R. Horn Transport Ltd of Devon is celebrating its 35th anniversary of transporting hay and straw with the purchase of a special gold-hued Volvo FH 6x2 rigid. The 500-horsepower (373-kilowatt) truck, supplied by Stuarts Truck and Bus Ltd in Exeter, is currently the fourth maximum-length FH drawbar combination in M.R. Horn’s fleet and the firm’s second with an I-Shift Dual Clutch.
“The I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox is an amazing component,” says M.R. Horn Managing Director Martyn Horn. “The increased traction is immediately apparent when driving off-road and it changes gear like a racing car.”
The Golden Volvo FH
Besides its commemorative gold livery, the hauling company’s Volvo FH features a full air suspension, a rear-steer axle, and a platform body provided by Turners Commercials in Beaminster, Dorset. Turners also makes the 24-tonne, tri-axle flatbed trailers for the FH drawbar combinations. M.R. Horn’s truck features three driving height settings and a load indicator located on the dashboard.
“We’re definitely enjoying better access to sites thanks to the rear-steer axle, and fuel-wise our I-Shift Dual Clutch FHs are constantly around 3% better than the traditional I-Shift gearbox FHs,” Horn says. “Our high, square loads of bales are probably the worst in the business for aerodynamics, but I’m happy with the Volvos’ fuel returns.”
Volvo FH Trucks
Volvo designs the FH series for minimum air resistance and maximum uptime. The truck comes with your choice of four sleeper cab configurations ranging from high roof to flattop. Notable features in the cab include Volvo’s new neck-tilt steering wheel option and a high-backed seat with extra adjustment travel.
Engine options for the Volvo FH include six-cylinder diesels ranging from 420 to 540 horsepower (313 to 403 kilowatts) and 2,100 to 2,600 newton metres of torque. The truck comes in axle configurations ranging from 4x2 all the way up to 10x4.
Find The Right Volvo
You’ll find an enviable variety of new and used Volvo trucks for sale every day on TruckLocator, including a big selection of FH500 models.