West Lothian-based, Dechmont Forklift Trucks Ltd has put its first Volvo commercial vehicle into service. The FE 6×2 rigid was supplied by Sean Merrick, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland, Edinburgh and is fitted with a 30-foot plant body supplied by local company, Lothian Vehicle Bodybuilders Ltd (LVB). Powered by Volvo’s D8K Euro-6 engine producing 320hp, the chassis also features an I-Shift automated manual transmission and a Day cab.
“Volvo Trucks has an established brand reputation for quality, safety and reliability,” said Davey Forrest, Managing Director at Dechmont Forklift Trucks Ltd. “The location of the Edinburgh dealership of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland also proved attractive, as it’s only a few hundred yards from our own premises,” Davey added.
The FE-320 chassis, with a twin tyre tag axle, was selected for its weight capabilities. “Our largest CAT forklift truck model weighs in at 13½ tons, which is well within the payload factor of our new Volvo FE. Smaller forklift truck moves across the whole of Scotland are the norm however and most days our driver can legally carry three forklift trucks. After just a few weeks in operation, I already have a favourable opinion of the Volvo’s performance and the truck is doing exactly as Volvo said it would,” Davey noted.
The FE-320’s LVB beavertail body comes with an engineered sub-chassis that delivers a low bed height and a double hinged, heavy-duty powered ramp provides a shallow approach angle for safe loading or unloading. A 15,000lbs pull winch is also fitted immediately behind the FE’s day cab.
