ND Young Transport has calculated its new Volvo FH 540 6×2 tractor unit will save it roughly £7,600 per year in fuel costs versus the truck from a rival manufacturer that its driver was working in before.
The haulier and sand and gravel merchant has recently added the FH, equipped with Globetrotter XL cab, to its 11-strong fleet. Paired with a Fruehauf bulk tipper trailer it will deliver aggregates across the UK, clocking up roughly 80,000 miles per year.
Norman Young, who owns the Dorset-based business with his wife Madeleine, says: “The driver is averaging 8.27 mpg in this new Volvo and he was getting around 7.4 mpg from the 520 hp truck he has just come out of. With diesel prices as they are, we’ll save around £7,600 each year in fuel. Obviously, we are delighted with that.”
Supplied by Russell Woof, Area Sales Manager, Truck and Bus Wales and West, the new FH features updated styling, enhanced fuel-saving features and a driver-focused interior incorporating a fully digital 12-inch high-res instrument display.
“We have been using Volvos on and off since 1981. Over the years, we’ve tried most manufacturers but have now made the decision to stick with Volvo moving forward,” explains Young.
“We put a FM eight-wheeler on the road in November 2020 and that is a super truck, plus the support we have had from the team at Truck and Bus Wales and West in the last couple of years has been nothing short of superb. So, it was quite an easy decision to select Volvo again for this new FH.”
Supplied on a hire purchase agreement through Volvo Financial Services, the new FH will be working five days a week.
To ensure the driver is extra comfortable in the Globetrotter XL cab, it has been specified with Drive+ and Living+ packages with twin bunks, featuring fully electric air conditioning, twin armrests on the driver’s seat, adjustable steering wheel with neck-tilt and spacious rear cab upper storage.
Additional customisation was carried out by Tor Trucks, which fitted the full chassis infill, grille mounted Hella light pod and colour coded the truck in the business’s red and white livery.
Other features added include Alcoa Dura-Bright aluminium rims, 33-litre under-bunk mounted fridge / freezer, microwave, as well as the Media package with navigation and DAB radio.
“The driver is very happy,” adds Young. “He can often be out all week, and he is very pleased with the comfort and space in the Globetrotter XL cab.”
Established in 1972, ND Young supplies sand, gravel and other quarry materials to commercial and private customers across the UK from its base in Blandford Forum, Dorset.