British Salt continue to replace their fleet with Volvo

Cheshire-based, British Salt has recently taken delivery of 11 new Volvo FM-440 6x2 tractor units to replace the majority of their 13-strong fleet. The purchase, which is part of a two-year vehicle replacement programme, allows the company to remain on target in becoming an all-Volvo fleet by the end of the year.

Contracts Manager, Chris Scarratt of Wincanton, who manage the logistics and distribution process at British Salt, explained, “We made a strategic decision last year to begin replacing the British Salt fleet with Volvo. From our studies we have found their performance to be exceptional, particularly with regard to fuel efficiency and payload capabilities.”

The vehicles were all purchased locally from the Middlewich depot of Thomas Hardie Commercials, where the Volvo fleet will also be serviced and maintained as part of a three-year contract hire agreement.

Chris added, “Another key factor in the purchasing decision has been our effective working relationship with Thomas Hardie Commercials. Not only has their 24 hour, 7 day a week operation played a vital role in our success, but we also feel that their attention to detail and their ability to go the ‘extra mile’ has been imperative.”

All the vehicles have been specified at Euro 5 using SCR technology, together with I-shift automated gearboxes.

Mark Lingard, Area Sales Manager at Thomas Hardie Commercials, commented, “Due to the corrosive nature of salt products, all the vehicle chassis have been coated with a unique rust protector from Geveko Industri AB of Sweden, the world’s leading manufacturer of rust protection products.”

The vehicles will operate from British Salt’s Middlewich plant, which supplies over half of the pure white salts produced in Britain every year. The latest additions to the company fleet can be seen across the country as they deliver pure dried vacuum salt of different grades for the food, water and chemical industries.