First Euro 4 Volvo in R & D Harvey Fleet goes to longest-serving driver

R & D Harvey, the Bedfordshire haulier, has put the family-owned company’s first Euro 4 Volvo truck into service with their longest serving driver.

The FH-480 6x2 tractor unit, which features an I-shift gearbox and a luxurious Globetrotter XL cab in ‘Prestige’ trim, has been allocated by partners Ron and Doug Harvey to Peter Kemp, who has clocked up 35 years proud service with the Sandy-based company. In fact, he drove the first Volvo truck - an F86 - to join the fleet in 1971.

Despite the ‘Celebration Truck’ tag, the new Volvo is already hard at work on Harvey’s specialist service, delivering semi-mature to mature trees for use in prestige landscaping and urban renewal projects for customer Deepdale Trees Ltd. in Potton.

R & D Harvey’s drivers and staff are skilled in the delicate job of delivering and safe handling of specially grown ornamental trees, often up to 15 metres high. Many of the trees have been growing for upwards of 20 years before they are planted at their final location. Recent projects they have been involved in include plantings at Canary Wharf, the grounds of Arsenal’s new Emirates stadium and even the well-tended gardens of some UK rock-stars.

Indeedt, the vehicle will soon be delivering mature oak trees to the ground-works for the Liverpool City of Culture 2008 events and plans are afoot for a number of projects associated with the 2012 London Olympics site.

When asked why he continues to operate Volvo’s, Doug Harvey has this to say. “We’ve never dropped a load or been let down at the roadside by Volvo. The back-up from the Dealers is excellent.”

The latest addition to R & D Harvey’s seven vehicle fleet was supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s depot at Ely, Cambridgeshire.