Ralph Davies International’s latest Volvo’s appeal to hospitals

Ralph Davies International is using six new Volvo FH16-540 STGO Cat 2-rated tractor units to transport a fleet of mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) medical scanners between hospitals around the country. These FH16’s bring the Ralph Davies Volvo fleet up to 40 in strength.

The scanners are housed in air-conditioned mobile clinics and the long load results in an overall length of 23.5 metres for the impressive looking rigs which have a gross weight of 71.5 tonnes. Tag-axle 6x2’s were specified for optimum manoeuvrability and traction while delivering and collecting the scanners to and from hospital grounds where they are parked during use.

Ralph Davies, Managing Director and founder, has operated Volvo trucks since 1991 when the Cheltenham-based company bought two Volvo F10 Globetrotter-cabbed tractor units. Since then, they have bought more than 200 Volvo’s. For the last two years, all new trucks have been specified with Volvo’s automated I-Shift gearbox.

The trucks have to be at their destination hospital by 6 am. It then takes 2 hours to set-up the trailer by removing protective covers and extending the sides.

The mobile scanners need to be operational by 8 am and usually work a 12 hour day. After an 8 pm finish, the trailer is set up for the move to the next hospital, which is made overnight.

Although, as the company name suggests, Ralph Davies International are well known for their TIR operations, they are now building a name in the UK haulage industry for specialist services such as the scanner transport contract.

As Ralph says, “In haulage you have to move with the times and be versatile. We looked for new work in the U.K. and only 15% of our work is now overseas. This is what got me into my first contract of this type. We also worked very closely with the supplying dealer, Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Wales and West, who advised on all aspects of specifying the trucks for such a special operation. We ran with existing Volvo’s at the start of the contract in 2007 and as we only keep trucks for a maximum of 4 years, they’ve now been replaced with the new one’s you see. Image is such an important factor and the Volvo’s really look the part. They’re top class.”