Volvo is Pickfords’ pick of the crop

Pickfords, the UK’s leading removal company, has recently taken delivery of a left hand drive, low height Volvo FH–440 rigid truck, specified with a tandem-axled drawbar trailer.

Pickfords’ latest 4x2 FH-440 18-tonne prime mover has been specified with a 13-litre 440hp Euro 5 engine, using the latest SCR technology and a Globetrotter cab in ‘Prestige’ trim. The vehicle also includes other extras including a 22-litre fridge, secondary Air Conditioning and Volvo’s celebrated I-Shift automated manual transmission. The body has been built by Transport Enterprises of Leicestershire.

The vehicle is part of an order for four identical units, all of which are being supplied in an agreement with Volvo Dealer, Thomas Hardie Commercials in Trafford Park, Manchester and Volvo Trucks, based in Warwick and will be used to complement the existing dedicated European Department fleet based at the company’s Head Office in Enfield, near London.

Pickfords currently have a fleet of over 400 vehicles nationwide - 180 of which are Volvo.

Pickfords Maintenance Control Manager, Ian Stevens said of the decision to purchase yet another vehicle from the top marque, “The company looked at a number of manufacturers for this operation and the decision to order Volvo was based on reliability, overall operating costs and back-up coverage throughout Europe. In addition driver comfort was taken into consideration as drivers are typically away from home for three weeks at a time.”

The vehicle will be maintained on a 5-year repair and maintenance contract with the Enfield depot of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London and will be seen throughout the roads of UK and Europe, as it relocates goods and property for a variety of corporate and personal customers.