Reason Transport’s drivers are excited to put the firm’s two new Volvo Trucks FH 460 tractor units and three new FM 460 6x2 tractors through the paces. They’ll get their chance, as the Coventry-based haulier expects the trucks will log 60,000-plus kilometres (37,282 miles) annually. The trucks, all specified with Globetrotter cabs, are the first from Volvo in the company’s 25-vehicle fleet, but potentially not the last.
“My drivers’ comfort and safety are top priorities for me, so we worked really hard to tailor the specification to deliver the best possible blend of comfort and performance,” says Micheal Reason, director of company operations. “If these new trucks perform as well as we expect them to, then I genuinely can’t see us considering another brand going forward.”
The Volvo FH & FM
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East supplied the trucks, which all include a Volvo I-Shift automated transmission. I-Shift automatically times gear shifts to make shifting and driving smoother, easier, and safer while enhancing fuel efficiency. As a provider of pallet collection and delivery services across the UK and into continental Europe, Reason Transport had fuel efficiency on long-haul operations in mind when it purchased the trucks.
The FH 460s also include Volvo I-Save, a solution that includes a Volvo D13KTC (Turbo Compound) engine that generates an additional 300 newton-metres (221 pounds-foot) of torque and can cut fuel costs by up to 10%, Volvo says. Working in conjunction with Volvo I-See predictive cruise control, the engine allows for taking on hills and gradients in higher gears to create fuel savings without losing speed. The company specified the FM 460s with D13K engines rated for 460 horsepower (338 kilowatts) and 2,200 N-m (1,622 lbs-ft) of torque and added a Volvo Long Haul Fuel Economy driving package to the mix.
First Name On The List
Reason Transport choose multiple optional packages for the FH 460s that added features like an extended leather interior, more cab storage, a luxury sleeper control panel, a 33-litre (1.16-cubic-foot) fridge, satellite navigation, and adaptive LED headlamps. Volvo’s Active Safety+ package provides such safety systems as Dynamic Steering, Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Brake, Lane Departure Warning with corrective steering, and Lane Change Support. There’s also a Stretch Brake system that helps prevent jackknifing when travelling downhill in slippery conditions.
“I’ve always viewed Volvo Trucks as being a premium brand and so, when we were in the market for new vehicles and needed to consider an alternative supplier, Volvo was the first name on our list,” Reason says. “Our drivers are very excited about this switch. They can’t wait to put them to the test!”
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Source: Volvo