Baldwins get heavy with Volvo

Baldwins Crane Hire has taken their first pair of heavy haulage Volvo tractors to move mobile crane components and their ballast blocks, bringing their truck fleet to seven.
 
The FH-540 13-litre 8x4 tractors will be operating up to150 tonnes gcw and are category 3 STGO. Specified with 12 speed manual gearboxes, they will be working with Nooteboom six axle semi low loader, and table top trailers.
 
Transport Manager for Baldwins, Tony Wilson, speaking after the new Volvos had been in service for just three weeks, said, “They are joining a growing fleet and if they prove their worth, we will look at taking considerably more.”
 
Ballast blocks are a vital part of mobile crane construction, balancing the structure and the new Volvos will be operating at over 100 tonnes all the time. Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Hayes, the new FH’s are on a four-year Volvo service contract and they will be working from Baldwins’ Langley, Bucks operating centre, to service contracts in and around the Capital.
 
Baldwins provide lifts of up to 1,000 tonnes, yet fuel remains a key performance criteria. Tony Wilson concluded, “With the high gross weights, ours is thirsty work, but I’m hoping for around 6 mpg from the new Volvos, which is very productive in relation to a 44-tonner.”