Chris Hodge Commercial...
Most modern European trucks are sold as standard with an automatic gearbox. This is why there are increasing numbers of automatic trucks for sale here at Truckpages. There is always the option for the new truck buyer to specify a manual transmission, but these will become a specialist order in the future. Why buy an Automatic Truck? Firstly, most trucks listed as trucks with automatic transmissions are actually robotically controlled manual gearboxes – or ‘automated’ transmissions. This means that they are similar to a manual gearbox, just that the gears are not selected by the driver, but by a computer and a series of actuators.
Fully automatic gearboxes do exist – those made by Allison are a good example, but they tend to be used in extreme urban environments, such as refuse trucks and buses, as they are not as fuel efficient as a manual or automated gearbox. Sadly, the computers on today’s trucks are able to change gear more fuel efficiently than even the best of drivers. They even know when hills are coming and will hold the truck in the gear/overspeed for optimum efficiency.
Mining services business Orica UK has continued their long-standing partnership with Volvo Trucks by adding four new Volvo FMX 460 6x4 rigids to its fleet. The new trucks are equipped with MEMU mixing tank bodies that are used to make explosives for the mining and quarry industries. The business has been using the Volvo chassis for its specialist trucks for more than 20 years, largely due to the reliability of the engines, plus the comfort of the cab and the continued support from Volvo Trucks dealer network. Ian Gregory, Specialist-Operations Support at Orica UK, says: “We first switched to Volvo…
West Cornwall Removals are well known for helping people move house, but the tragic situation in Ukraine will see its Iveco Daily 4x4 deliver medical aid to wounded animals. The seven Iveco Dailys of family-run West Cornwall Removals in their distinctive red and white colours are a familiar sight in Penzance - the company’s home of over 25 years. These 7-tonne Hi-Matic models (70C18) are also used to bring relief to those afflicted by the situation in Ukraine. Driving across Europe in convoy with other members of the West Cornwall Removals fleet, these Dailys have previously successfully delivered food and…
Family-owned operator Reason Transport has introduced the first Volvo trucks into its current fleet, acquiring two new Volvo FH460 with I-Save and three FM460 6x2 tractor units – each built to a very high specification, and with Globetrotter cabs. Supplied by Rory Kelly, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck & Bus Centre South & East, the five new trucks have been welcomed to the hauliers’ Coventry headquarters. Micheal Reason, Director of Operations at Reason Transport, says: “I’ve always viewed Volvo Trucks as being a premium brand and so, when we were in the market for new vehicles and needed to…
Bowker Transport has taken delivery of a special liveried Volvo FH 460 with I-Save 6x2 tractor unit, to mark its 50-year working relationship with Volvo Trucks. The Preston-based business – part of the Bowker Group – has been in operation for more than a century and is now one of the UK’s largest family-owned transport operations with 225 vehicles, 450 trailers and 1.2 million sq. ft of warehousing spread over 10 depots. Over its 103-year history the company has only ever acquired its trucks from three manufacturers, and for the past five decades it has worked with Volvo. Bill Bowker,…
A Birmingham-based steel stockholder has become one of the first customers in Britain for a vehicle from the latest FUSO Canter light truck range. FH Warden (Steel)’s new 7.5-tonner features a redesigned cab with eye-catching ‘face’, as well as improvements over the outgoing model in comfort and safety. The Canter 7C15 was supplied by Midlands Truck & Van, and will be maintained under a three-year Best Basic Service Plan at the state-of-the-art facility in Smethwick that was opened by the Dealer in 2020. Thanks to a newly developed, compact exhaust system, the new FUSO Canter meets the EURO VI –…