Volvo FE 2nd gen
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"The first Volvo trucks to join the fleet of Roberts Bakery, a 12-tonne GVW FL and an 18-tonne GVW FE, have entered service with the company. Both trucks are Euro-6 compliant.
Based in the Cheshire market town of Northwich, the company was established in 1887 and is still very much a family business. The Frank Roberts and Sons group comprises three main business divisions; Roberts Bakery and The Little Treats Co, based in Northwich and Aldred’s The Bakers, located in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
Both trucks were supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, Middlewich. The dealer is also providing an on-going programme of driver development to support this major new customer.
“We chose Volvo on the basis of the total package,” reports Fleet & Transport Manager Nick Crank. “Dealer location and support are very important to us, as is a dealer’s first time MOT pass rate. Roberts Bakery has achieved 100% in the last three years and we were pleased to see that Thomas Hardie has a current first time MOT pass rate of 98.5%.”
“We also monitor fuel usage very closely,” reveals Nick Crank, adding that “Volvo’s Dynafleet telematics package has been installed to verify the trucks’ efficiency.”
The 5.1 litre, four cylinder Volvo D5K engine in the 12-tonner is rated at 210hp. The Volvo FE is equipped with Volvo’s six cylinder, 8-litre D8K engine, rated at 250hp. Maximum torque (developed between 1100 and 1700 rpm) for the D5 and D8 at these power ratings is 800Nm and 950Nm respectively.
Expected annual mileages are in the region of 100,000kms for the Volvo FL and 200,000kms for the Volvo FE respectively. Both trucks will deliver to a comprehensive list of retailers, convenience stores and sandwich makers.
Roberts Bakery operates a fleet of eighty-two vehicles, from 3.5 tonnes GVW to 40 tonnes GCW artics hauling double-deck trailers.
Specification of the new Volvos includes the I-Sync automated transmission in the 12 tonne FL and the recently-launched automated option of I-Shift in the 18 tonne FE. I-Sync in the FL has 6 gears with an overdrive top ratio and gear selection mode is made via a stalk located on the steering column. The clutch and gearbox are fully-automated and there is no clutch pedal.
Fleet replacements are made at 1.2 million kms, or six years, at the latest, reports Nick Crank.
While the double-shifted FE 18-tonner is engaged on mixed operations, including multi-drop deliveries, and will be driven by any of the company’s drivers, whereas the FL will have the same driver for most of the time."