Elegant Stone has upgraded its two-truck delivery fleet with a new Volvo FM 8x2 rigid and has seen significant fuel savings over close to 4mpg.
The architectural cast stone manufacturer opted for a 330hp engine to transport deliveries from its factory in Bradford to building sites in London and the south east.
Rory Davis, sales manager at Elegant Stone said: “This is our first Volvo truck and it’s really hit the ground running. We considered several manufacturers for this order but Volvo gave us the best combination of quality product at a good price. The old unit was doing around 8 mpg but the FM is currently delivering 12 mpg – a big saving for us in the long run.
“We’ve always opted for a 6x2 axle configuration in the past, but we’ve gone for 8x2 this time which allows us to get another four and a half tonnes on. We’re carrying architectural cast stone, a very heavy product, so this gives us some additional flexibility to increase the load when we need to.”
The FM has a curtainside body by Micra Truck Bodies and was supplied by Crossroads Truck & Bus.
“Probably about 80 per cent of our goods are taken down south, mainly to big one-off properties in the home counties and the surrounding London area. So, quite long journeys,” continued Davis.
“The driver is very happy with the new truck. His maiden voyage was an overnighter and he fed back to us how much more room and storage there was. The digital dashboard was a big hit as well. Driver shortage is a big issue at the moment, so it’s important we do what we can to improve the quality of life out on the road.”
