To get a fully-built 8×4 hookloader inside a few months is no mean feat – especially a top brand with a Multilift hookloader body and VBG drawbar coupling. Thanks to a cancelled order and supplied by Paul McNicholas, Customer Solutions Manager at Thomas Hardie Commercials, that’s exactly what Manchester-based D Hughes Demolition managed in adding a new Volvo FMX 420 8×4 rigid to its fleet following nearly a decade’s worth of sterling service from an older FMX it replaces.
Ryan Hughes, Director at D Hughes Demolition, says: “Our Volvo FMX 500 has served us well for nine years, but the time had come to sort out its replacement. We did look at what other manufacturers were doing when considering a replacement but having experienced Volvo’s reliability and performance first-hand for so long, we didn’t want to go with anything else. We are looking forward to seeing what the new model FMX can do.”
Complete with a striking crimson red pearl livery, the new truck’s workload will see it moving stone and cobble from the company’s own stone yard, as well as transporting wood, waste and scrap from demolition sites to merchants, and also helping to safely dispose of asbestos.
“It’s going to be a real workhorse for us,” says Hughes. “We’ve no firm estimate as to how many miles it will eventually do, but we’re very confident that it will more than earn its pay, wherever our work takes us.”
The FMX is powered by a 420 hp Volvo D13K Euro-6 engine, capable of producing 2,100 Nm of torque. Expected to be in service for at least the next four years, it is also equipped with a 12-speed I-Shift transmission which makes driving easier, safer and more comfortable and can also deliver improved fuel economy.
Its day cab benefits from the latest design offering superior comfort, with distinctive V-shaped LED headlamps with headlamp protectors, new anti-slip footsteps and a striking digital dashboard display.
Another key factor behind the latest order was the strong working relationship the business has built with supplying dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials.
“Over the years, we have always received great service from Paul and the team at Thomas Hardie,” adds Hughes. “They didn’t disappoint again this time and, thanks to a cancelled order, were able to get us a truck within just a few months, tailored to our specification. It certainly looks the part.”
Founded in 1980, D Hughes Demolition operates primarily in the North West of England, with a client list comprising of several major development companies, local authorities and NHS Trusts. It welcomes its new Volvo FMX into a diverse fleet with vehicles ranging from high reach excavators to a fire engine.
