First new Volvo FH truck for M&J Plant & Transport

Welsh plant hire business strengthens fleet with new FH 6x2 tag-axle tractor unit

M&J Plant & Transport have taken delivery of their first ever brand new tractor unit – a Volvo FH 6x2 tag-axle model supplied by Pontypridd-based Truck and Bus Wales & West.

Kevan Hares, owner of the Phillipstown-based plant hire business, said: ‘When it came to purchasing a tractor unit, I turned to the Volvo Used Trucks network, but what I wanted wasn’t available.

‘As such, I bit the bullet and following great advice and support from Volvo Truck and Bus Wales & West, I decided to buy new.’

The new truck has been plated for 80 tonnes gcw operation giving M&J Plant the capability to carry loads up to 55 tonnes via a Faymonville four-axle semi-trailer.

With a fleet of 38 excavators ranging from 1.5-tonne to 30-tonne units, as well as backhoe loaders, Mr Hares envisages that much of the workload for the Volvo FH unit will be on the transport side of the business, including moving heavy equipment for its customers.

The FH truck is powered by a 12.8-litre Volvo D13K engine producing 540hp and 2,600Nm of torque, and features a 12-speed I-shift automated gearbox. The fuel efficiency of the new Volvo FH unit has already impressed Mr Hares.

‘We’re very pleased with the miles per gallon,’ he commented. ‘Drivers are getting between 7 and 9 miles/gal, rather than the 4 miles/gal we were getting with the old truck.

‘Furthermore, the comfort of the new truck is fantastic. You can get out after a long run and don’t feel fatigued. The I-shift gearbox is a dream to use and with each day that passes I feel more and more at ease about the truck’s reliability.’

Mr Hares added: ‘We elected not to take an repair and maintenance contract as we have four fitters, a welder and an apprentice in-house who can handle the maintenance and any repairs, as well as carrying out our regular compliance checks.

‘That said, the support from Truck and Bus Wales and West is very good, so if we do need anything we know assistance is never far away.’