Unique Volvo FM rigid improves Prima fleet efficiency

Fashion logistics and garment processing specialists Prima Distribution have taken delivery of a unique Volvo FM rigid truck, which offers seamless transition between pallet, carton and hanging garment transport. The FM-300 4x2 vehicle features bespoke bodywork by Ekeri of Finland and will act as proof of concept for the Crewe-based operator, whose customers include New Look, Arcadia, Tesco, Asda and Debenhams.

The truck is the brainchild of Prima’s owner and Managing Director, Ray Halford. “All our customers have different delivery requirements,” he explains. “Some want pallet, some want carton, some want hanging garments – so, effectively, you have to run two fleets to handle it all. It occurred to me that, by adapting some of the features used in refrigerated bodies, you could combine it all in one vehicle. You’d have a moisture-proof, insulated floor for carton work and rigid sides to allow for instant installation of garment rails – but you could also have fully folding sides to allow for pallet loading with more security than a traditional curtainsider.”

At the 2007 Commercial Vehicle Show, he assembled a team from Volvo, Ekeri and a finance provider and work began. “This will allow us to cover more routes with one vehicle,” says Ray, “and ultimately to provide the same excellent service to our clients with a smaller fleet.”

The Globetrotter-cabbed truck’s specification also includes a specially-designed DHollandia tuckaway tail-lift whose emergence angle has been tailored to the unique bodywork.

In such a complex project, support from Volvo was crucial. “Volvo were great,” says Ray. “They were happy to ship the chassis to Finland for bodybuilding, they offer good prices and they work with their customers. And you can’t fault the service you get from our local Dealer, Hartshorne Motor Services in Newcastle-under-Lyme. They bend over backwards for us – they’re just fantastic people. We’ve tried plenty of marques over the 20 years we’ve been going and some have had good trucks – but you’re only as good as your local presence and that’s where Volvo and Hartshorne really score. I wish to God I’d gone with Volvo 20 years ago!”