Volvo FH operating costs hit the mark for Fowler Welch Coolchain

Ten new Volvo FH-480 artics, which have recently joined the fleet of leading distribution company Fowler Welch Coolchain, met their operating cost targets inside three weeks. “Much faster than expected,” reports National Operations Director Lee Juniper.

The ten trucks are the first FH’s to be operated by Fowler Welch for fourteen years and were supplied by Volvo Dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus. All are on Volvo Contract Hire and are being maintained by independent Volvo Dealer A. Culpin and Son Ltd, who are located close to Fowler Welch’s national consolidation centre at Spalding.

According to Lee Juniper, the FH’s represent a ‘toe in the water’ as the company constantly challenges its transport costs. Adopting a project team approach to choosing vehicle and other suppliers, he says, is important to the company’s search for “what’s best for Fowler Welch - whether it’s trucks, trailers or tyres.”

Fowler Welch is very satisfied so far with the support received from Culpin and Crossroads and driver acceptance of the Globetrotter cabbed trucks is good. “Crossroads have delivered everything they promised without exception and Culpin have also done a remarkable job,” Juniper adds.

The trucks are double-shifted on a twenty four hours per day, seven days a week basis. They are regularly fully-freighted to forty four tonnes for both outward and return journeys. All are utilised specifically on heavy work, says Lee. This includes hauling fridge and ambient trailers as well as sea containers.

As a result of their exceeding the customer’s expectations in terms of operating costs and the standard of Dealer support received so far, thirty more FH’s are now on order for Fowler Welch from Crossroads Truck and Bus for delivery around Christmas time.