The company has completed a five-year deal with Thomas Hardie Commercials Ltd of Middlewich for the supply of Volvo’s new generation FH model which will be in production from April.
The new contract, worth around £11 million, will be for the supply of 127 vehicles on a two-year roll-out programme, with the first 25 being delivered by the end of May. A further 48 vehicles will be supplied by the end of the year.
We will be one of the first companies in the UK to take delivery of the new model of the Volvo FH 13-litre 460bhp Euro 6 model. Driver comfort and safety were high on the agenda for the design of the upgraded model. On-the-road driver benefits include a 33-litre under-bunk fridge, a microwave fitted in overhead locker and a flat-screen TV, to be located above the driver door which can be viewed from a swivel passenger seat.
As part of its programme to evaluate current trucks on the market, our Group Fleet Engineer, Paul Brimelow, led year-long fuel trials, running the current Volvo FH model alongside two other manufactures’ vehicles. As he explains:
“We conducted extensive trials with the three vehicles over a 12-month period to scrutinise fuel economy and the Volvo vehicle performed the best. Using telematics data and ensuring the trucks were consistently driven by nominated drivers, we were able to build-up a comprehensive performance record. Fuel usage for all three vehicles was collected and analysed over the twelve-month period to enable us to compare actual fuel usage from the tank to the figure provided by the telemetry. We also compiled feedback from the drivers too on the general performance of the vehicles.
Two other key factors also contributed to the selection of the Volvo model. “We were offered a fixed five-year repair and maintenance contract by Thomas Hardie, a first for us, and one we viewed very favourably,” said Paul. “Dealer aftermarket support is very important to us and we have an excellent working relationship with Thomas Hardie which spans more than 20 years.”
Speaking about the new contract, Steve Wilson, Thomas Hardie’s New Vehicle Sales & Marketing Director said, “Securing the order for 127 units is a fantastic achievement for the team at Thomas Hardie, Middlewich and I’d like to extend sincere thanks to Boughey Distribution for this significant opportunity and for the confidence they’ve placed in our total offer.
“We are extremely proud of how the new Volvo FH tractor unit has performed during the demonstration period by delivering high fuel efficiency, maximum uptime and ensuring that the specification meets the requirements of the Boughey Distribution drivers. “Our business partnership goes back many years and we look forward to further strengthening this relationship over the next five years and beyond.”
The company last ran Volvo vehicles in 2010.