One of Volvo’s longest established and premier customers in Scotland and the UK, Dumfries & Galloway-based Hayton Coulthard Transport Ltd., have celebrated the company’s 100th anniversary with the acquisition of a ‘top-of-the-range’ Volvo FH16-750 tractor unit. The truck features a unique livery to celebrate the firm’s ‘Big Birthday’.
Managing Director Duncan Coulthard explains that the company purchased its first Volvo truck, an F86, in 1967. “As far as I am aware, we were the second operator in Scotland to place an order for a Volvo truck. We have since operated most Volvo models, including F86, F88, F7 and F10 as well as all versions of the FH. We continue to run Volvo vehicles because they are popular with the drivers, who like their comfort. We have always found Volvo’s running costs to be competitive and the fuel economy to be good. The residual values hold up well too.”
“We have opted for the rear lift axle on the new FH16-750 as we have on the other trucks in the fleet. Although the FH16-750 is primarily used on long-haul deliveries of recyclable materials, we also carry out farm deliveries, where good traction and manoeuvrability are vital,” added Duncan Coulthard.
Duncan Coulthard confirms that Volvo trucks make up 70% of the Hayton Coulthard Transport Ltd fleet. A replacement policy of three years keeps the average age of the fleet down. Like their other Volvo trucks, the FH16-750 will be maintained under a Volvo R&M contract at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland dealerships at Carlisle and Blantyre.
Established by Peter Coulthard in 1916, Hayton Coulthard Transport Ltd is still a family run business that is nowadays operated as a joint venture, with 50 per cent owned by GDL (Holdings) Limited, which also encompasses Gregory Distribution Limited.
Hayton Coulthard Transport Ltd operates a fleet of around 120 vehicles which carry a tartan trimmed, traditional Scottish livery applied by AstSigns Limited of Penrith.
The new FH16-750 is coupled to a smooth-sided, Legras walking floor trailer. It is the first on the Hayton Coulthard walking floor trailer fleet to be painted in the company’s distinctive shade of red.
