According to MCL Logistics Managing Director James Howells, Volvo is at the ‘top of the league’ when it comes to driver appeal. “In our experience, the Volvo FH is the truck with the most ‘driver appeal’ today. We collect and deliver automotive parts throughout Europe and our drivers can be away for up to three weeks at a time.”
“As a company, we are working to encourage young people into the industry and we compete very hard to attract the best quality drivers. The FH is a luxury truck. It has the best cab interior. The seats and the dashboard layout are excellent. The lockers and storage space are very good too. Drivers know it is a better truck and they want to drive the FH. Our Volvos also have a slight advantage on fuel economy compared to other marques in the fleet doing the same job and we regularly see averages of 10mpg from the FHs,” reports James, adding: “We use Volvo’s Dynafleet telematics, which we find to be very accessible and user-friendly.”
The FH-500, X-Low Height tractor units join a fleet of 110 trucks, of which around one third are Volvos. The trucks were supplied on a contract hire package via Truck and Bus Wales & West at Newport and Volvo Financial Services (VFS). “VFS is very competitive,” says James. “They are very flexible and the FH’s residuals are strong.”
James praises Truck and Bus Wales & West for their ‘can-do’ attitude: “They give us great support, are very efficient and work with you on pulling the spec together. Their support in the West Country and South Wales is superb.”
The two new, 3.8metre wheelbase, FH X-Low Height 4×2 tractors feature Globetrotter XL cabs, 13-litre 500hp engines and I-Shift automated transmissions. They operate at 40 tonnes GCW. The air suspended drive axles are fitted with 295/55R 22.5 tyres that contribute to an X-Low fifth wheel height of 950mm. Twin fuel tanks carry 900 litres of diesel.
The Volvos are coupled to new Schmitz Cargobull trailers specified with sliding, variable height roofs, as well as a coil well. The trailers’ specification enables an internal height of just 2.95 metres to be attained. This increases to 3.5 metres when the full depth of the coil well is included.
