Volvo Trucks pass the Albion Chemicals ‘litmus test’

Sandbach Cheshire based Albion Chemicals has purchased 11 Volvo FM12 tracker units from Thomas Hardie Commercials in Middlewich with a further 5 vehicles to be ordered for delivery in March 2006.

The £1m investment marks a significant commitment by Albion to maintaining its UK market leadership in operator-owned chemicals supply-logistics services at a time when competitors are looking to reduce their transport costs.

It is also the first time the Volvo marque has been introduced to Albion’s dedicated fleet resource.

Albion Chemicals Sandbach depot handles a range of industrial strength Chlor-alkalies, as well as sulphuric acid, chlorine and sodium hypochlorite products, so vehicle safety and reliability is a major purchasing consideration.

Essential safety features offered by the Volvo FM12 include fully automatic operation and integrated, hands-free phone system, which means the driver never, has to take their hands off the wheel.

"We are the heart of the Albion UK distribution network", says Paul Burrows, General Manager for Albion Chemical’s. "From Sandbach we manage around 35,000 road tanker deliveries per year which equates to distributing around a million tones of product so we are extremely conscious of all safety aspects."

With rising fuel cost, performance economy is an equally important factor in vehicle choice for the operator, however, for Albion it was Volvo’s extensive after-sales and customer support service that proved decisive.

"Thomas Hardie Commercials operates a service centre just a few miles up the road from our Sandbach depot," Paul Burrows continues.

"As each vehicle undertakes its six-week service, we get a full report on not only its mechanical state, but is mpg usage, time spent loading and unloading and general use, which is invaluable support for our fleet management programme."