Gainsborough, Lincolnshire haulier L. & K. R. Thorpe has taken delivery of the company’s first new Volvo for over 20 years. The Globetrotter XL-cabbed FH-500 6×2 tag-axle, 26-tonnes GVW rigid is equipped with Volvo’s innovative I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission and was supplied by Crossroads Truck and Bus, Stallingborough.
L. & K. R. Thorpe was founded in 1977 by Keith and Leslie Thorpe and, according to Andrew, the new truck is expected to have an operational life of ‘at least’ ten years with the company. “We borrowed a high mileage, four year old FH ‘Classic’ that had been triple-shifted. It drove like new and convinced us that we wanted a Volvo and also I-Shift.”
He adds, “We specified the I-Shift Dual Clutch as we believe that it will help fuel economy as well as gearbox and clutch life. In our view, it should also help reduce the incidence of wear on other components such as turbos, as they are under a constant load, not spooling up and down as with a conventional driveline, where there is a pause and loss of momentum between gears.”
Although the new high-profile, high-spec, curtainside-bodied FH with I-Shift Dual Clutch has only recently gone to work, Andrew, who drives the new Volvo himself, reports that the I-Shift Dual Clutch is helping the engine deliver constant, stepless torque, even when fully-freighted. “It’s so smooth that you only know it has changed gear by watching the rev counter. The truck is doing 50 mph at only 900 rpm in top gear. At 56 mph it’s turning over at only 1080 rpm. The high torque of the 13-litre 500hp engine, with its 2,500Nm of torque, means that the FH powers up most hills without needing to drop down a gear.”
L. & K. R. Thorpe, who currently operate four trucks, work primarily out of Immingham, transporting Scandinavian groupage, for their customer DSV-Road Ltd. The relationship with DSV-Road Ltd., and their predecessors, goes back over 30 years. Although it is over 20 years since the company operated a new Volvo, they are not strangers to the marque. For many years, they ran a fleet of F12 Globetrotter tractor units on international work and were the first UK haulier to operate a Right Hand Drive, ‘S-Ride’ F12 Globetrotter Intercooler.
Specification of the 6.0 metre wheelbase new FH-500 I-Shift Dual Clutch 6×2 rigid incorporates almost every option available from Volvo, including I-See fuel saving software which combines
I-Shift Dual Clutch and GPS with Volvo’s Adaptive Cruise Control. It’s a unique system that learns the topography of the road and stores it in a central database. When, the truck is being driven, it automatically uses the shared knowledge to save fuel.
In addition to full leather upholstery, a Volvo coffee maker and fridge-freezer, the spec includes a microwave, surround sound audio, TV prep and a reclining bunk. Andrew also specified Volvo’s integrated air-conditioning I-Park Cool. With 1,000W of cooling capacity, it keeps the temperature extremely even and comfortable during the night, without running the battery flat and can be used for up to an hour to provide a massive cooling boost of up to 2,500W.
The top bunk was specified as well as lockers and Andrew reports that the cab is not crowded, saying that, “The clever design of the interior means that the amount of room in the cab is incredible.” Cornering lights are also fitted and they also operate when the truck is reversing. “It’s little things like that, that make a difference and underline why we chose Volvo,” says Andrew.
The 9.0 metre long curtainside bodywork, including a near-side mounted stainless steel tool box, was designed and built by Martin Williams of Hull. SD Truck Interiors of Whitburn, West Lothian, created and fitted the blue leather floor covering and full custom embroidery curtain set and dash cover. Four hundred and fifty litres of fuel is carried and the AdBlue tank holds 65 litres. Three ride height options are available with the air suspended rear axles.
“The FH with I-Shift Dual Clutch represents a whole new generation of truck,” says Andrew, adding, “Volvo are now far ahead of their competitors.”
