With a head office in Wakefield, plus three more retail outlets in Manchester, Sheffield and Warrington, used car specialists The Car People, now part of the Sytner Group, need reliable in-house transport. For this requirement the company has just taken delivery of two new Volvo trucks, both fitted with custom-built car transporter bodies by Belle Transporters.
Supplied by Steven Brown, Area Sales Manager at Crossroads Truck and Bus Limited in Birstall, West Yorkshire, the Volvo trucks are part of a fleet renewal programme, with the next vehicle pencilled in for later this year.
The larger of the two Volvos is an FM11-330 with an 11-litre engine and I-Shift automated gearbox. This 6×2 rigid has a seven-car body and will be used primarily for inter-branch transfers.
“Our sites are encouraged to sell each other’s’ stock, as well as their own, to keep a healthy balance across the business. The new vehicle will be double-shifted where needed to facilitate that,” says Buying Manager, Richard Westerman, who was responsible for the purchase and specification processes.
“I chose Volvo’s long haul package because it puts the drivers in the right environment with all their creature comforts,” he adds.
The second Volvo is an FL814 with an 8-litre 250hp engine and a three-car body. This 4×2 rigid has a dual function that includes the ability to collect customer’s cars for warranty work. It has been carefully chosen to cope with loads its smaller predecessor found a struggle.
“Cars are getting heavier now,” Richard explains. “That’s why I opted for 14-tonnes; you can put up to three cars on it and never be anywhere near challenging the maximum weight, whilst at the same time it’s still compact enough to collect from customers’ houses.”
There’s an extra feature too, as Richard continues, “the Volvo FL has a 100% galvanised body, the first of its kind in the country, which means there’s no paint at all, no more rust or coming off the road for a week for an annual paintwork touch-up! The uprights are liveried by means of a thin veneer, which should outlast the vehicle.”
The whole project was co-ordinated by Crossroads Truck & Bus at Birstall and Belle Transporters, on behalf of The Car People. “It was easy. Belle Transporters gave Crossroads the chassis specifications and they just dealt with it,” Richard enthuses. “All I had to do was sign the cheque! Here’s to the next one, which will be a Volvo too. We wouldn’t have anything else now.”
