J&P Vehicle Deliveries Ltd of Bolton has taken delivery of a Volvo FM-460, short-long car transporter from Thomas Hardie Commercials, Trafford Park.
The FM is fitted with the latest generation short-long transporter bodywork, with a ‘Plus 11′ Draw-bar EVO8 trailer from Transporter Engineering of Halstead, Essex, which can hold between 11 and 12 cars, depending on the models being carried.
Company owner, Paul Molyneux says, “Volvo has a strong heritage in this specialist field and this latest model really suits my business better than anything else out there.”
The 21,450kg GVW Volvo FM prime-mover has a 3.9m wheelbase with rear air suspension and boasts a low-height Sleeper cab designed specifically for car transporter applications.
“Our drivers are generally away from Monday through Friday so it is important to provide a comfortable living and working environment for them,” says Paul. “And, when it comes to driving the new truck, the drivers are unanimous in their verdicts.”
“They really like this truck,” adds Paul. “All-round visibility is great, the manoeuvrability is top class and the power, even on hills, is plentiful and reliable. I would say the I-Shift transmission, the eco-Roll and the driver training, supplied by Thomas Hardie, combine to enhance our productivity, efficiency and safety.”
The company specified Volvo Dynamic Steering on the new FM – the first time they have used this feature, “It’s very precise,” reports Paul. “It limits kick-back through the steering wheel and helps enormously in dealing with ruts in the road. I will definitely specify it next time around too.”
Axle ratings on the company’s new flagship truck are 9,000kg on the front, 4,500kg for the pusher axle and 11,500kg for the drive axle. J & P Deliveries’ FM is equipped with the D13K engine rated at 460hp and the I-Shift automated gearbox.
“When fully loaded, the weather can cause a huge level of wind resistance,” says Paul. “Taking this into consideration along with the terrain we cover as a national service, I would say the 13-litre engine was absolutely the right way to go. It provides more torque over a wider rev band and that ultimately helps our efficiency.”
J&P Vehicle Deliveries was started back in 1990 with a single tractor unit and has grown over the past 26 years to the extent that it now operates eight trucks, all of which are Volvos.
“We ran a mix of Swedish makes for a while early on, but gravitated towards Volvo over the years and since 2000 we’ve been 100% Volvo,” says Paul. “The way the trucks work, the overall performance and the superb back-up we receive from Thomas Hardie Commercials at Trafford Park – and from the Volvo network nationally – mean I find Volvo to be the best for my business and that’s the bottom line.”
