The driver-focused working environment of Volvo’s latest model FH Globetrotter, plus the aftersales support from the local Volvo dealer, has led Walkers Transport to add a further three 6×2 pusher axle tractor units to its expanding fleet.
The logistics specialist has a long-standing relationship with the Swedish marque and returned to Volvo again for this latest order having studied the market carefully to see if any other manufacturer could offer the same combined level of product and service.
Supplied by Luke Cook, Area Sales Manager at Crossroads Truck & Bus, the three new FHs feature a re-imagined cab, including a modernised dashboard with a fully digital 12-inch, high resolution instrument display. The customer also specified Volvo’s Drive++ package to improve comfort further.
Chris Burley, Operations Director at Walkers Transport, says: “It’s a winning combination of a quality product and the top-level service we receive from Crossroads. We obviously do our due diligence whenever adding to the fleet, comparing a number of suppliers and we always end up coming back to Volvo.
“A key factor for us is considering what the drivers want, and our drivers love Volvo. The three new additions have got the new digital dashboard and we’ve gone for a high-level specification with air-conditioning, microwave and fridge freezer – all the creature comforts they could wish for.
“It’s all about delivering a comfortable environment for our team to work in. Drivers are the figurehead of the company, out there meeting customers every day, so having them happy and feeling valued when they turn up to the delivery point is so important.”
The new FHs are powered by Volvo’s proven D13K Euro-6 engine, delivering 500 hp and 2,500 Nm of torque. They will be working round the clock, double-shifted five to six days a week delivering a wide variety of palletised goods to Walkers Transport customers throughout the UK.
Supplied on hire purchase through Volvo Financial Services, all three trucks are covered by a Volvo Gold Contract to guarantee maximum uptime, with all scheduled servicing and maintenance to be carried out by the Crossroads Truck and Bus depot in Birstall.
“The standard of the truck and the parts availability is as good as you can ask for,” adds Burley. “We know we can rely on Crossroads, while the robustness and fuel efficiency of the trucks also stand out. There are multiple wins for us.”
Founded in 1979, Walkers Transport offer a complete solution for the daily management and delivery of palletised goods – providing bespoke transport and storage solutions to businesses. Operating a fleet of vehicles from depots in Leeds, Manchester and the Midlands and delivering over 1.2 million pallets a year, the company also operates the Northern Hub of Europe’s largest pallet delivery network, Palletways, from its Leeds facility.