Barr boosts reliability with move to all-Volvo fleet

[kscarbel2]

Transport Engineer  /  June 5, 2019

Scottish waste management business Barr has added five more Volvo trucks to its fleet, after its first Volvo vehicles “rewrote the book” on reliability and service.

Supplied by dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland, the Killoch, Ayrshire-based operator’s new additions are two FM tractor units, two FM hooklift rigids and an FE rigid skiploader.

The pair of FM 6x2 pusher axle tractor units feature Volvo’s 13-litre engine producing 454bhp, I-Shift automated transmission systems, sleeper cabs with air kits and sliding fifth wheels. Vertical exhaust stacks were also specified.

The FM 8x4 day cab rigids come in 8x4 configuration, this time with 415bhp versions of the D13K engine and I-Shift gearboxes. The 32-tonne chassis are fitted with Multilift XR26T.55 hooklift bodies, supplied and fitted by Hiab Scotland.

Completing the line-up is a Volvo FE 4x2 rigid with Hiab skip gear. This 18-tonner is powered by a 247bhp D8K engine connected to a nine-speed manual gearbox.

Gordon Whiteford, Barr’s operations director, says: “Our first Volvo tractor units rewrote the book on reliability and back-up. There was no downtime to report and the back-up service was excellent. The servicing schedules are carried out either on back shifts or night shifts, and that lets us maximise the trucks’ productivity levels.”

He adds: “Another plus is that Hiab Scotland travels to the Volvo dealerpoint for any bodywork servicing or maintenance, making the depot a real one-stop shop. The whole experience has been a very positive learning curve for us.”

All five vehicles are supplied on five-year, full-service contract hire, and the operator’s 10-strong fleet is now 100% Volvo.

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[james j neiweem]

Nice looking COE's. Would make a nice replacement for the MR. I wonder if that's in the works. It should be. The fourth one from the right looks a little MRish.

Edited June 9, 2019 by james j neiweem