It is testament to a solid product and business relationship with the truck dealer when buying a new truck requires almost no deliberation.
That’s the case at Wellingborough-based Global Delivery Solutions with their recent acquisition of two Volvo FH500 I-Save ‘Unlimited’ special edition trucks.
The general haulage firm placed the order after trialling a demonstrator which highlighted the performance of Volvo’s most fuel-efficient tractor unit in the 44-tonne market.
“We’ve been running Volvo trucks ever since we’ve been going and we’ve always been very happy with the product,” says Satpal Bains, one of the owners of the family-run business. “The FH with I-Save is talked about as one of the best trucks on the market when it comes to fuel economy, and we were certainly impressed with the results we saw from the demonstrator.
Dealer Service Vital
“The support we get from our local dealer has always been really good so, in the end, it was quite a straightforward decision to go with Volvo for this order.”
Supplied by Oliver Wright, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the two 6×2 Unlimited Edition trucks are finished in a striking metallic ‘ice-white’ paint with blue decals and feature a luxurious Globetrotter XL cab interior.
Volvo Trucks has made a £1,000 donation to “NHS Charities Together” for every FH Unlimited Edition vehicle sold in the UK, raising £70,000 to support the collective of NHS charities. The range benefits from an enhanced exterior finish, chrome detailing, Alcoa Dura Bright alloy wheels and Conger Black premium chassis paint.
The FH500 Unlimited Specification
Also setting the model apart is premium black leather upholstery embossed with the Volvo iron-mark, a black leather steering wheel, black seats and black door panels – for enhanced looks and a comfortable driving environment. Other features include an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, 7” touchscreen, single bunk living package and a high level of standard equipment including under bunk fridge, microwave and television preparation.
Global Delivery Solutions opted for the FH with I-Save model to ensure maximum fuel economy. This combines the D13TC Euro-6 Step D engine with turbo-compounding and updated fuel-efficiency features, with the engine producing up to 300 Nm of extra torque, which means less acceleration and fuel is required in steady motorway traffic.
Additional software such as Volvo Truck’s predictive cruise control, I-See – that analyses and adapts to gradients in the road ahead and includes gear-shifting software optimised for long-distance applications – add to I-Save’s fuel saving potential.
Expected to cover roughly 140,000km per year, the two new 500 hp trucks join a 25-strong commercial vehicle fleet and will be used for a variety of general haulage work.
“The drivers absolutely love them,” adds Bains. “They’ve both driven Volvos in the past but they say these trucks are a real step-up. We’ve gone for these high-spec, Globetrotter XL cabs so they are very happy to say the least, and the ice-white colour looks fantastic.”
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East supplied the new vehicles with a Volvo Blue Contract which covers all preventative maintenance, enabling the customer to know its planned service costs upfront. All maintenance will be carried out by its dealership in Wellingborough.
Read about the launch of the ‘Unlimited’ here.
