New Volvo FH’s mean more mpg for Hills Waste Solutions

Wiltshire-based waste management contractor Hills Waste Solutions, part of the Hills Group Limited, has taken delivery of three new Volvo FH tractor units on five years’ contract hire. Servicing a contract with Wiltshire Council, the FH-500 6x2 vehicles are plated at 44 tonnes and are already returning significantly better fuel figures than their Volvo FM12 6x4 predecessors.

“The trucks run constantly, hauling United Trailers’ bulk ejector trailers at maximum capacity,” says Hills Waste Solutions’ Transport Operations Manager, Peter Moore. “They shuttle between Salisbury and the Lakeside Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at Colnbrook near Slough, carrying a full 24 tonne payload and, whilst it’s early days, they are already showing an improvement of around 8% in fuel consumption.”

All three vehicles are equipped with Volvo’s Dynafleet ‘Operate’ package, allowing monitoring of fuel usage and vehicle location as well as driver management and fleet scheduling. They are also fitted with Volvo’s I-Shift automated transmission and have Globetrotter cabs – a result of Hills’ consultation with its drivers over the specification.

“We spoke extensively to our drivers during the specification process,” explains Peter, “and the Globetrotter cab was one of the things they specifically requested. The contract calls for continuous running and to best utilise and schedule the trucks the drivers are required to do overnights. Our drivers are very happy with the new Volvo’s and the ability to adjust the specification to include drivers’ requests is important to Hills.”

Peter is equally satisfied with the quality and back-up that Volvo offer. “We’ve used Volvo reliably since day one of this contract, and the service back-up we get from Wales & West Truck and Bus is magnificent. Apart from the tyres – which we’ve opted to source ourselves – all we have to do with a new Volvo is insure it, fuel it and put a driver in it!”