CJ Hurford & Sons take UK’s first Volvo FH Aero tipper
New truck provides Bristol-based family business with ideal solution for contract work with Dragon Asphalt
CJ Hurford & Sons have taken delivery of a new Volvo FH Aero 8x4 Tridem tipper, the first truck of its kind to be put into operation in the UK.
Combining superior fuel-efficiency and top-of-the-range manoeuvrability, the new arrival is providing the Bristol-based family business with the ideal solution for its contract work with Dragon Asphalt.
Chris Hurford, owner of C J Hurford & Sons, said: ‘Our fleet is mostly high-end kit, and we wanted something a little special again this time. It’s nice to know we have the first FH Aero tipper in the country.
‘Where we are based, out on the Mendips, the terrain is very hilly, and we always get good fuel [efficiency] on the Volvos, but this Aero should be even better. We’ve gone with the mirror cameras on this one too – it’s all down to aerodynamics and to save on fuel. That’s the main cost for our business, so anything we can do to reduce that is a huge help.’
Supplied by Truck and Bus Wales and West, the tipper is powered by a D13K Euro-6 engine which delivers 540hp and a maximum torque output of 2,600Nm between 1,000 and 1,450 rev/min, for driveability, efficiency, and performance.
The new FH Aero – liveried in the white and red colours of Dragon Asphalt – delivers substantial energy consumption and emission reductions of up to 5%, in comparison with a standard FH, through a refined, sleek, aerodynamic design. This includes Volvo’s Camera Monitoring System (CMS) which replaces the traditional exterior mirrors. As well as reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency, the CMS also increases the driver’s field of view to boost safety.
The tipper body was built by George Neville, and the paint job was completed by Merlin Car & Commercials with Naked Signs adding the vinyl. RBF Auto Electricals added a comprehensive electrical installation.
Replacing a truck from a rival manufacturer, the FH Aero is driven through Volvo’s proven 12-speed I-Shift gearbox which features construction software to help with performance on challenging terrain, while the Tridem chassis makes accessing sites far easier, and also reduces tyre wear.
‘The turning circle of the Tridem is unmatched, you can get a 20-tonne payload into sites where usually only a six-wheeler can go,’ added Mr Hurford.
Expected to cover roughly 80,000km per year, the FH Aero 8x4 rigid is covered by a Volvo Blue Contract, including all preventative maintenance.
CJ Hurford & Sons employ 16 members of staff, running 12 trucks on a variety of different contracts. Based just south of Bristol, with good access to the motorway network, the firm’s modern fleet of six and eight-wheel tippers are used to deliver asphalt and aggregates across the South West.
