Supplied by Rory Kelly, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the full order consists of two Volvo FMX 8×4 rigid tippers – mounted with Abba and Thompson bodies respectively – alongside an FH 540 Globetrotter 6×2, which will be paired with a STAS tipping trailer and plated for 44-tonne operation.
Nathan Smith, Director at RS Transport, said: “Having assessed the whole market, we concluded that Volvo delivered the best overall product at the most competitive price point. They’ll certainly be right at the top of our list as we look to add more trucks to our business in the future.
“Though our fleet is predominately made up of rigids, we wanted a unit that could both carry more payload and was more suited to longer distance work. Having worked closely with Rory and his team, the FH proved the ideal solution to our needs.”
Decked out in a sleek grey livery, the FH is powered by Volvo’s fuel-efficient D13K Euro-6 compliant Step E engine, producing 540 hp and a peak torque of 2,600 Nm. RS Transport has also opted for Volvo’s Fuel Package, adding I-See Predictive Cruise Control to maximise sustainability and economy.
Expected to clock up to 100,000km annually, the tractor unit has been spec’d firmly with comfort and practicality in mind. It benefits from a Volvo Media package with navigation, adding a 12-inch dynamic instrument cluster, a secondary colour display and DAB radio. A 33-litre fridge, microwave and two bottle holders are also included in the build, as well as dual armrests, leather upholstery and a suspended driver’s seat.
To increase driver vision, a Visibility+ package adds LED headlamps, electrically heated and operated mirrors and rain-sensing windscreen wipers, complemented by a selection of Volvo’s active safety technologies such as Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Emergency Brake systems to boost overall safety.
Key to Volvo winning the business was the strong performance RS Transport has witnessed from its existing FMX rigids, with these units living up to the model’s strong reputation of confidently handling the toughest conditions and most demanding assignments.
“Our drivers are big Volvo fans,” added Smith. “When you buy Volvo, you know you’re guaranteed to get a good quality truck and these latest units certainly live up to those expectations.”
RS Transport’s FMX tippers are similarly spec’d to the FH, albeit powered by a D13K Euro- 6 Step E engine which produces 420 hp and a maximum torque output of 2,100 Nm.
All three trucks are equipped with Volvo’s I-Shift automated gearbox, which constantly evaluates information such as speed, weight, road grade and torque demand to perfectly time each gear shift.
Founded in 2019, RS Transport provides waste disposal, aggregate supply and transport services across the UK from its Warwickshire headquarters.