All 28 of the new Volvo FH tractors unit are fitted with Globetrotter XL cabs and D13K engines producing 500hp. I-Shift automated manual transmission systems, rear air suspension and Volvo RSS1360 drive axles with a ratio of 2.64:1, are also part of the group specification.
Hayton Coulthard Transport has deployed 22 FHs into its general haulage operation. These vehicles work from the company’s Cumbernauld and Ecclefechan depots and were specified in 6x2 mid-lift configuration with standard height, 4,100mm wheelbase chassis.
The remaining six FHs are tag axle tractor units with super single tyres on both the front and fixed tag axles. A shorter 3,200mm wheelbase, high height chassis was selected for these, which are used to haul the firm’s fleet of walking floor trailers. The tag axle prime movers are fitted with gearbox driven, medium speed Power Take Offs (PTOs) to power Gardner Denver hydraulic packs with coolers.
The top option Globetrotter XL Cabs all include Driving and Two Bed living packages, in addition to leather interiors, fridges and microwave ovens. Hayton Coulthard Transport’s traditional Scottish livery sees factory painted red cabs, finished with an AST Signs wrapped graphics.
“Our 28 new Volvo FH tractor units are all on a three-year contract hire agreement with MC Truck & Bus. The latter 36 month period is our standard vehicle retention period,” notes Duncan Coulthard, Managing Director at Hayton Coulthard Transport.
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland’s Blantyre and Carlisle dealerpoints will be utilised for the new group’s Volvo Blue Service Contracts and the company estimate that the general haulage vehicles will average around 170,000 kilometres per year.
“The tag axle group will be worked seven days a week on alternate, ‘four on : four off’ driver shifts. Their annual mileage should be around the 220,000 kilometre mark,” Duncan adds.
The latest Volvo FH-500s are direct replacements for the company’s Volvo FH-460s, which arrived back in 2015.
“Our drivers like the new FH-500s and they’re reporting positively on the extra power available. The Globetrotter XL Cabs and high specification interiors are also proving popular,” Duncan concludes.
For more information, please contact :
Nigel Hanwell, Press Officer, Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland
Tel: +44 (0) 1926 414210
Mobile: +44 (0) 7831 817083
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 414386
E-mail: nigel.hanwell@volvo.com