According to Brenntag UK & Ireland’s Operations Director Fred Worle, Volvo’s reputation for safety and the manufacturer’s environmental credentials, together with the level of ongoing support from dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials, Middlewich, were key to the decision to place an order for twelve Globetrotter cabbed, FM-460, 6×2 tractor units with the company.
Brenntag UK & Ireland is the market leader in specialty, bulk and packaged chemical distribution.
“Safety is our foundation principle,” explains Mr Worle: “We are constantly considering ways how to contribute towards greater sustainability in all industries and applications we serve and striving to minimise the ecological impact of our business activities. Logistics is a big part of what we do, so sustainability is a very important factor. Volvo’s core values in the areas of safety and environmental care align with those of Brenntag UK & Ireland, which helped influence our purchase of these twelve tractor units.”
“Other key factors in placing this order,” says Mr. Worle, “were that, in our opinion, Volvo offered value for money and the fact that we have had a positive experience of service and serviceability with the existing fleet of Volvo trucks. Our relationship with the local dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials was also an important factor.”
Brenntag UK & Ireland operate a fleet of 100 trucks, of which approximately 50 per cent are Volvo.
The new FMs provide traction for a variety of road barrels that carry bulk liquid chemicals for use in just about every market sector. They also service Brenntag UK & Ireland’s distribution sites, where the product is diluted, packed and distributed. Although they are mainly based at Brenntag UK & Ireland operating centres in North West England, they have a UK nationwide operational brief, says Fred Worle.
Occasional international work is also undertaken and each truck will cover in the region of 140,000 kms each year. While a number of the vehicles are double-shifted, all work with a variety of road tanker trailers.
The 3.9 metre wheelbase, ADR specification trucks were specified with the 13-litre, DK13 engine rated at 460 hp, I-Shift gearbox (with Long Haul fuel and economy software) and Volvo Engine Brake + , delivering up to 375 Kw of retardation. They are also fitted with upgraded communications, a forward facing and side view camera system and additional driver comfort options. Maintenance is carried out overnight and at weekends by Thomas Hardie Commercials, Middlewich on a Volvo R&M contract.
