Volvo Trucks sweep up with Connor Construction
Special order includes three Volvo FH 4x2 road sweepers and two FH Globetrotter 4x2 spray tankers
BASED in Crees Quarry, Frome, surfacing and civil engineering experts Connor Construction (South West) have taken delivery of five new high-spec Volvo FH trucks. The order comprises three Volvo FH 4x2 road sweepers and two FH Globetrotter 4x2 spray tankers, all of which are built for maximum driver comfort.
The new rigids see the business continue its long working relationship with the manufacturer, with around 90% of its 31-strong commercial vehicle fleet now supplied by Volvo Trucks.
Alex Arthur, operations manager at Connor Construction (South West), said: ‘We are big admirers of all the products Volvo build, but these five new additions are a little bit special. Our drivers spend lots of time out on the road in their trucks, so we wanted to make them as comfortable as possible.
‘These are really high-spec units. For the sweepers, we’ve upgraded from the Volvo FM cab and chassis that we normally opt for to the FH with the low sleeper cab, so there is plenty of space for the guys to operate in. They are all right-hand drive as well, which is perfect for the road planing work they will be used for. These are probably some of the best sweepers you’ll find on the road in the UK.’
Supplied by Russell Woof, area sales manager at Truck and Bus Wales and West, the three FH road sweepers are fitted with Bucher Municipal V80 bodies.
The pair of new spray tankers – equipped with Schafer Technic hybrid equipment, including 3,500-litre capacity bond coat tank and a 250-litre joint sealant reservoir – are wrapped in an eye-catching light green livery, decorated with bees as a hint to the vehicles’ added focus on the environment.
‘Most spray tankers like these will run the engine to power the bodywork on diesel, but these are electric on the back, helping us to cut the overall emissions,’ explained Clive Cook, the company’s head of spray tankers. ‘Again, we have spec’d them to the max to ensure our guys have the best tools for the job.’
All five new trucks are powered by Euro-VI compliant D13K Step E engines, producing 420hp and a peak torque of 2,100Nm. They are driven by Volvo’s ever-popular automated 12- speed I-Shift transmission.
Inside the cabs, the driver’s working environment is improved further with additions such as I-Park Cool. This intelligent air-conditioning system helps to keep the cab at a perfect temperature overnight, whatever the weather.
Each truck is equipped with 360° safety cameras, LED beacons, and air horns to help protect vulnerable road users.
The new arrivals will be used on the company’s own construction projects, as well as additional customer work, predominantly across the south-west of England. They are covered by Volvo Blue Contracts, which cover all preventative maintenance for more uptime and better cost control.
‘Russell and the team at Truck and Bus Wales and West have really looked after us and delivered exactly what was promised,’ said Ian Webb, chief executive officer at Connor Construction (South West). ‘The drivers couldn’t be happier with their new trucks, they absolutely love them.’
