D.E.M. Brown’s lightweight Volvo FM delivers heavyweight results

Continuing a 15-year history with Volvo, feed and grain transporters D.E.M. Brown Ltd of Bedale, North Yorkshire, have taken delivery of an FM-440 tipper from Volvo Dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus at Boroughbridge.

The 8x4 rigid, which is equipped with I-Shift automated transmission and Volvo Engine Brake (VEB), has been specified for its light-weight and high payload, and supplies livestock feed and brewers grains across the North East of England.

The lightweight specification, which includes an aluminium body by AliWeld, gives an unladen weight of 11,420kg which, at a GVW of 32 tonnes, means a payload of 20.58 tonnes. “I run at as near maximum gross weight as I can,” says owner David Brown,” using the PM Onboard weighing system.”

He remarks on the frequent compliments he gets from customers on the smartness of his truck with its metallic blue finish and Eminox vertical stainless steel exhaust and Penta tipping gear.

“I’ve had nothing, but Volvo’s for the 15 years I’ve been in business,” says David. “I’ve looked at others but, when you take into account the high specification of a Volvo truck; it still costs less than taking a ‘cheaper’ make and then specifying it to the same level.”

In that time, he says, he has seen considerable development and improvement of trucks, but perhaps the most important for him is the Volvo Engine Brake. “It’s a safety question,” he says. “In hilly terrain, you’re not just dependent on the wheel brakes; you can use the VEB and know you can still count on the others.”

Hilly terrain comprises much of David’s business area – lately expanded, hence the sleeper cab in ‘Comfort’ trim with climate control and CD player. The Volvo FM, however, copes admirably with both the inclines and the twisting roads thanks to its B-ride suspension and I-Shift gearbox. “Other trucks roll with a high load,” explains David. “The Volvo doesn’t roll and the I-Shift is brilliant. I was apprehensive at first, but even on Sutton Bank, where you wouldn’t want to shift in a manual, you can just let it select the right gear.”

Maintenance and an understanding of customer requirements is another reason that David has stood by Volvo. “The truck’s got to be working,” he says. “Other makes’ networks want to take it away and hang onto it; but our local Volvo Dealers work until the job’s done.”