First for Kelston Sparkes and Stuarts Truck & Bus

South West earthmoving and quarrying contractor takes delivery of first Volvo FH16 8x4 sold in UK 

KELSTON Sparkes Group (KSG) have purchased Europe’s largest truck and the first Volvo FH16 8x4 to be sold in the UK. It is also the first deal that Kelston Sparkes Group has concluded with Stuarts Truck & Bus of Exeter.

The 780hp unit was delivered to the South West-based contractor in May and has been transporting heavy loads of up to 150 tonnes to Kelston Sparkes sites around the UK. It is a replacement for the company’s eight-year-old 750hp Volvo FH16 6x4, which had amassed more than 250,000 miles during its years of service. Kelston Sparkes say that unit, which was on a Gold maintenance contract with Volvo Trucks & Buses, is still in exceptional condition and is currently up for sale.

Kelston Stark, who concluded the negotiations for the new truck with Justin Fisher, sales director of Stuarts Truck & Bus, is looking forward to increased productivity and efficiency.

‘The new Volvo offers huge torque, which will make it more productive to transport large loads, whilst also offering improved fuel efficiency,’ he said. ‘We’ve waited a year for this new, larger truck and so far it is proving a very wise investment. Our drivers find it highly responsive and easier to drive, and if they are happy, so are we.’