Russell Stone Merchants buys its first ever Volvo truck

Russell Stone Merchants has taken delivery of its first ever Volvo truck.

The Bradford-based business has chosen a new crane-equipped 4x2 Volvo FL rigid with lightweight dropside bodywork by Micra Truck Bodies. Plated at 18-tonnes it will be used to help keep up with growing demand for stone in the building sector.

“We had our old truck for 12 years and it never let us down, but there’s no doubt this is a step up,” said Paul Jackson, technical director at Russell Stone Merchants.

“As it’s our only truck, it was absolutely vital we got the decision right. We looked closely at four different manufacturers and did our research. The overriding feedback was that Volvo was the best product and could give us the mileage and payload we needed to do the job.”

Supplied by Crossroads Truck and Bus, the FL was specified with a 250hp engine and 6-speed I-Sync automated transmission. It also has an Atlas 105.2 crane and Volvo’s Drive Package, which includes air conditioning, cruise control, an electric roof. hatch and roof-mounted amber beacons.

“We go up as far as Berwick maybe once every couple of weeks, but the majority of the work is closer to home,” continued Jackson. “Business is very busy at the moment and most days the truck will go out at its full capacity. We put the crane on the back of the truck, which gives us a bit more length to get the pallets on, and we specified a lightweight body, to maximise payload potential.”