Plantforce grow fleet with first Euro 5 Volvo

Plantforce (Leeds) Limited, one of Yorkshire’s largest heavy fleet operators, based in Wortley, Leeds, has taken delivery of their first Euro 5 Volvo. The FM 480 8x4 rigid is an additional truck in the Plantforce fleet and was supplied by Crossroads Truck and Bus at Birstall.

Keith Walker, Director and Transport Manager for Plantforce said. “We already have 4 Volvo’s on the fleet and continue to specify them because we’ve not lost any time off the road with any of the vehicles. We’ve lost no downtime and if there is ever a need to call the dealer out, they’re out straight away ‘at the drop of a hat’. The aftersales response from Crossroads is very good.”

He added. “The two-year Repair & Maintenance is also built into the chassis cab price, so it’s effectively ‘free’. Then after 2 years we’ll go for the Volvo Gold Maintenance contract and extend 3, 4 and 5 years. We’ve got to replace another truck soon and when that arrives, it’ll be an all Volvo fleet. Crossroads maintain and service the trucks 24/7 which we utilise weekends and nights which help us to minimise the costs in the long run and the residual value will be really strong in 4 or 5 years time when we come to sell with a full service history.”

The 8x4 FM 480 features a Globetrotter single sleeper cab in ‘Comfort’ trim, Alcoa aluminium wheels, built-in reversing camera with pop up in-cab screen (when reverse gear is selected), with Trafficmaster smart sat-nav, hands free kit/phone and additional light bars.

The back-of-cab mounted Palfinger 45 tonne-metre crane can lift 9 tonnes at the side of the truck or 3.5 tonnes 40 feet from the truck and is tested for a 25% overload eventuality. In addition it has a full remote control which can operate up to 100m away from the truck.

Keith added, “The salesman from Crossroads came out to see us and spec’ed the truck to our specialist operational requirements. Image is important to people and this is supported by the high spec’ and good build quality. Customers comment on the smart appearance of our fleet and Volvo trucks help to support this image. The drivers are in their trucks for up to 10 hours per day and are happy driving Volvo’s. We also keep the same drivers in the same trucks where possible because they look after them.”

Operating predominantly in the Yorkshire and Midlands Regions, but covering the whole of the UK when required, the FM is expected to cover up to 100,000 kms per year. The ‘cheesewedge’ shaped body with a beavertail is used to transport specialist heavy plant and equipment including 20’ and 30’ containers, gen-sets, submersible pumps and various plant for hire companies. Plantforce also transport Volvo construction equipment including excavators and dumpers nationwide.