The old adage goes, it is cheaper to keep a customer than get a new one. Looks like someone messed up when supplying Prompt Transport with trucks and support. Usually, if you’ve been a loyal, dedicated, solus customer for over twenty years, there has to be something fairly major to take all of your business elsewhere. With 21 tractor units, the management of Prompt Transport have voted with their feet and headed off to Volvo Trucks after trialling three truck manufacturers.
The company has just taken delivery of another four new Volvo FH with I-Save Globetrotter 6×2 tractor units as part of a major upgrade that will see it switch its entire articulated fleet to Volvo Trucks. The transition is already unlocking major benefits for the Bristol-based general haulage business, including fuel savings of around 1.5mpg in comparison to the trucks they’ve replaced.
Switching Truck Brands
Lee Parker, Director at Prompt Transport, says: “We had previously run with one manufacturer for more than two decades. However, we were having one or two issues so at the start of 2022 we decided to trial demonstrators from three other marques and Volvo came out as the clear winner.
“With these four latest arrivals, we are up to nine FHs and are planning to replace the remaining 12 tractor units we operate over the course of the next few years. The drivers absolutely love them, and we are very happy with how the move has gone so far.”
Supplied by Mike Gill, Area Sales Manager, Truck and Bus Wales and West, the four new FH with I-Save trucks are fitted with Volvo’s D13TC Euro-6 Step E engine, delivering 460 hp and a peak torque of 2,600 Nm, with turbo compounding and intelligent software. This allows drivers to maintain lower revs and a higher gear for a longer time, resulting in a more fuel-efficient journey.
Fuel Economy
Also included in the I-Save package is Volvo’s predictive cruise control system, I-See, which analyses and adapts to gradients in the road ahead, and I-Cruise with I-Roll, which adjusts speed to further optimise fuel consumption.
Additional fuel economy gains are unlocked by roof and cab side air deflectors, as well as a 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox. Volvo’s popular transmission analyses factors such as speed, weight, road grade and torque demand to perfectly time every shift.
“The turbo compound engine has helped us unlock some great fuel savings – we’re around a mile and half to the gallon better off versus the trucks we were running previously,” adds Parker. “That’s a real boost for the business, both economically and in terms of reducing our carbon footprint.”
Top Specification
All of Prompt Transport’s new FHs have been designed for driver comfort, benefitting from a huge specification.
This includes Volvo’s top-tier Drive++ package, which features desirable extras such as an electrically operated interior sun visor, extended leather upholstery and fully electronic air-conditioning with an air quality sensor and carbon filter. The addition of twin armrests on both the driver and passenger seats, together with the Media package with navigation, ensures a premium onboard experience.
Safety is improved with Volvo’s Visibility+ pack, adding distinctive V-shaped LED headlights, which automatically adapt to ambient light conditions, rain sensing windscreen wipers and electrically heated rear view mirrors.
“We’ve really gone to town with the new trucks. Inside they have the microwave, fridge freezer, basically everything we can add in there to make our drivers’ job that little bit easier,” says Parker. “Then we’ve finished off the exterior with Kelsa spotlights, alloy wheels and super single tyres. They really are stunning looking trucks.”
Covered by Volvo Gold contracts for maximum uptime, the FH with I-Save tractor units will be used for general haulage work across the UK. They are expected to cover in the region of 120,000km per year, working five to six days a week.
