Volvo MOT pass rates help convince Brains to opt for FL urban artics

According to S. A. Brains’ Fleet Manager Andrew Foley, the famous South Wales brewers’ good experience with Volvo’s MOT pass rates was an important factor when it was time to purchase the latest batch of fleet replacements.

“We’ve only had one MOT failure of a Volvo in the last four years,” says Andrew. “In our opinion, the Volvo Dealer Network, including our local Dealer, Wales and West Truck and Bus, provide us with the best service levels and back up and the trucks have proved to be reliable.”

The latest Volvo’s to join the S. A. Brains distribution fleet are seven new Volvo FL-280, Urban Artic 4x2’s plated at 14 tonnes GCW. These are among the first new generation FL urban artics to go on the road in the UK and are all on Volvo Repair and Maintenance contracts.

Wales and West Truck and Bus also provide a daily ‘surgery’ service where defects are faxed through to the Dealer and a dedicated Volvo Technician visits the S. A. Brains depot and carries out repairs, on the same shift, including bodywork, on the premises.

The smart black 4x2 trucks, which feature Brains’ well known ‘Y Ddraig Coch’ (Red Dragon) livery, are being used on deliveries to the Brains’ estate of around 200 pubs, as well as Regional Distribution Centres in Mid and West Wales and the South West of England.

S. A Brains have been operating urban artics since 1999. Specification of the latest FL’s includes enhanced near-side visibility for the two-man crew via the large peeper window. Nose down articulation has been improved by dint of raising the fifth wheel height by 50 mm from standard. “You can put the new FL artics in places you would never get an 18 tonne rigid. We particularly need good manoeuvrability when delivering in the Valleys, where the roads can be both steep and narrow.” explains Andrew.

Andrew also reports that the new 280 hp FL’s are delivering better fuel consumption than the 220 hp trucks which they replaced. The six-speed gearbox was specified, as was the longer Comfort Cab. When coupled to the latest Lawrence David trailers, the FL’s deliver a payload of between 9 and 10 tonnes, depending on the type of load carried.