Volvo Trucks supply FH16 750 six-pack for AB2K
Scottish heavy plant provider upgrades fleet with six new FH16 750 Globetrotter XL tractor units
AB2K, one of Scotland’s largest providers of heavy plant and now part of Quattro Group, are upgrading their fleet with six new flagship Volvo FH16 750 Globetrotter XL tractor units. The deal follows on from the delivery of 16 FH16 750 tractor units to Quattro Plant in 2019 – at the time one of the largest orders of its kind received in Europe.
Delivered by long-term Quattro Group supplier Truck and Bus Wales and West, the new arrivals include one STGO Category 3 6x4 double-drive tractor unit for gross combination weights of up to 120 tonnes, and five STGO Category 2 6x2 tag-axle tractor units for operation at up to 80 tonnes.
They each benefit from Volvo’s range-topping D16K engine, which produces up to 750hp and 3,550Nm of torque, ensuring optimum power to cope with the heaviest payloads across both challenging terrain and demanding conditions, as encountered by the AB2K fleet. The engine’s flat torque curve also means the driver can stay in high gears during climbs, for greater driving comfort and lower fuel consumption.
In addition, the trucks feature Volvo’s durable I-Shift with crawler gears – a gearbox designed to provide power, manoeuvrability and extreme startability, all of which are crucial to heavy-duty assignments, whilst also reducing wear on the driveline.
John Murphy, chief executive of Quattro Group, said: ‘We have invested in one of the largest fleets of FH16s in the country with more than 20 now in service across the business. Our trucks play a critical role in delivering heavy plant wherever and whenever it’s needed, from city centres to remote corners of the Highlands.’
Mark Kirkwood, service manager at Cambuslang-based AB2K, added: ‘We demand a lot from our heavy-haulage tractor units, and the FH16s soak it up all day, every day. Nothing else comes close. When you combine their sheer pulling power with Volvo’s reliability and service levels, and the comfort and visibility they offer for the driver, it is a very tough combination to beat.’
The new medium-chassis-height tractor units replace four older FH16s and a pair of trucks previously supplied by a rival brand. They have been built with front steel suspension and rear air suspension, plus heavy-duty SAF Holland fifth wheels for maximum durability.
The six new vehicles also feature a roof-mounted light bar and beacons, a Direct Vision Standard safe system kit and personalized registration plates, whilst the cab features a leather interior, Drive+ package and two-bed living package for on-board driver comfort.
All six vehicles have been provided on four-year contract-hire agreements through Volvo Financial Services, each backed by a Volvo Gold Contract which will see all maintenance taken care of by local Volvo Trucks dealers in Blantyre, Inverness and Aberdeen.
AB2K expect the new trucks to cover up to 120,000km a year and to be on the road between five and seven days a week, supporting their work within a range of sectors, including quarrying.
