Supplied by Damian Kerrin, New Sales Executive, Dennison Commercials, the two new tractor units will be used to transport Pedro Pet Foods own-manufactured products – including dog, cat, and bird food, plus pet treats – across the UK, while the rigid will be used for local delivery work in Northern Ireland.
Company owner, Alan Atcheson, says: “The new Volvos look fantastic and have made a great early impression. We have tried other manufacturers over the years, but Volvo has generally come out on top. The driveability of the trucks is very good, with the I-Shift gearbox very popular with our drivers.
“On top of that, Damian and the team at Dennison Commercials always give us excellent service, which made it a straightforward decision to go for Volvo again when it came to these latest additions.”
Leading the pack of the new arrivals is Pedro Pet Foods’ flagship FH16, equipped with a Euro-6 D16K Step E engine, delivering an impressive 750 hp and a peak torque of 3,550 Nm. This is paired with an automated 12-speed I-Shift gearbox, offering seamless gear changes in a fraction of a second and smooth acceleration.
The truck stands out with its unique Shadow Flat Black livery and is named after Alan’s pet rottweiler, Guiness, who is pictured on the back of the Globetrotter cab.
“All the trucks are named after my own pets. Guiness has recently passed away, so this was a nice tribute for him,” he explains. “We also ran a competition where our customers sent in favourite pictures of their pets, with a selection of our favourite ones now on display on the bodywork of the new rigid.”
Both the FM rigid – named Mika and sporting the eye-catching registration FM15 DOG – and the FH tractor unit – called Levi, with the registration FH13 DOG – have been specified with an I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission. This allows the driver to pre-select the next gear while operating in the current one, with one clutch idling while the other is engaged. It also improves performance when tackling hilly roads.
“We first had the Dual Clutch transmission on a truck back in 2019 and have never gone back,” adds Alan. “It’s so smooth and easy to drive.”
Manoeuvrability was another important decision in the specification of the new arrivals – to improve access to Pedro Pet Foods own yard and various customers sites, the two tractor units are built with a rear-steer tag axle chassis.
All three new trucks are packed full of creature comforts for the company’s hard-working drivers – including fridge / freezers and microwave ovens – and are backed by Volvo Gold Contracts for full cost control, worry-free ownership, and maximum uptime. Operating from Pedro Pet Foods’ headquarters in Strabane, in County Tyrone, the FH16 and FH tractor units are expected to cover 120,000 km annually, while the FM will clock up around 70,000 km.
Established in 1991, Pedro Pet Foods manufactures and distributes a wide range of pet foods, delivering more than 7,000 tonnes annually. The company services the UK market, while also exporting its products to Europe and Africa.
