Colin Barnett
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The fact that tractors identically specced to this example are such a common sight around the RDCs and supermarkets throughout the nation tells its own story. This is the Ford Focus or the HP printer of the road transport world, and you’ll never be sacked for populating your fleet with it. You’ll never face a driver walk-out, either.
Despite not having the highest glamour rating in the business, there’s certainly no shame attached to its image. And with more relevant considerations, the attention to detail that Volvo incorporates into the driving experience continues unabated.
We, and we suspect Volvo, expected a bit better on the fuel front, and with better weather, our expectations would certainly have been met.
The test highlighted, once again, the importance of matching driveline specification, especially axle ratios, to the job in hand. Failure could be expensive.
Gone are the days when having to drive a fleet-spec truck was a penance, maybe residual values are a greater incentive than driver satisfaction, but whatever the reason, everyone’s a winner.