If you could improve from 8mpg to 12mpg by changing trucks you would not believe your good fortune – or regret not changing the old truck sooner. That’s the case with Elegant Stone, a company that is already noticing significant fuel savings from its new model Volvo FM 8×2 rigid.
The architectural cast stone manufacturer has upgraded its two-truck delivery fleet with the new Volvo FM, equipped with a Globetrotter cab and featuring a fully digital 12-inch high-res instrument display, that replaces an older truck from a rival manufacturer.
50% Fuel Saving
Rory Davis, Sales Manager at Elegant Stone says: “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 6×2 axle configuration in the past, but we’ve gone for 8×2 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.”
Supplied by Jason Robinson, Area Sales Manager at Crossroads Truck & Bus, the FM rigid is powered by Volvo’s D11K engine, producing 330 hp and 1,600 Nm of torque. Elegant Stone will be using the truck to transport deliveries from its factory in Bradford down to building sites in London and across the south east.
The FM has been fitted with a curtainside body by Micra Truck Bodies and benefits from Volvo’s drive plus package, as well as the long haul fuel package which includes I-See predictive cruise control.
Volvo’s latest version of the FM is packed full of improvements and clever innovations that deliver a higher level of comfort, safety and productivity for the driver. A lowered door line, new rear-view mirrors and a passenger corner camera improve visibility, while the new Globetrotter cab – featuring a 28-litre rear upper wall mounted fridge – has raised A-pillars that give it up to one extra cubic metre of space and more light than its predecessor.
“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,” says 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.”
Elegant Stone is a family run business established in 1998. It is a bespoke manufacturer of cast stone, making both wet cast and semi dry components.