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One of the most unusual
and highly specialised fleets in the UK has taken delivery of four new
Euro 5 compliant Volvo FH-440 4x2 tractor units - part of a total order
for six.
CARS, the initials
stand for Classic Automotive Relocation Services, store, transport and
arrange shipping for some of the most valuable and collectable cars in
the world.
The new trucks’ Euro 5
compliance is achieved using Volvo’s SCR technology and, because of the
predominance of Continental work, all feature left-hand drive. AdBlue is
readily available for the fleet via a 1,000 litre IBC on CARS’ Suffolk
site as well as through the Volvo Dealer Network across the UK and
Europe.
Specification is high
and includes Globetrotter XL cabs, Office Pack and independent
air-conditioning units that can be used without running the engine –
vital for CARS drivers, who can be away from base for several weeks at a
time, working in Continental summertime temperatures of more than 40º C.
The trucks venture as far afield as Russia and all areas of Eastern
Europe as they collect and deliver cars for clients.
These are the company’s
first Volvo’s and were supplied to the Suffolk-based operator by Volvo
Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia. All the trucks are on the Volvo
Financial Services Contract Hire programme for a five-year term with R&M
carried out by the supplying Dealer’s Chedburgh depot.
Much of the company’s
work involves transporting individual cars or even entire private
collections to just about anywhere on the planet the customer requests –
door to door. CARS also offer a full customs clearance and temporary
vehicle registration service as well as storage in two large,
high-security, bonded warehouses owned by the company.
Handling and
transporting such precious cargo is a delicate job and customer’s cars
are carried in a fleet of custom-designed and built, double-deck,
fully-enclosed Löhr trailers fitted with hydraulically operated sides
and roof – plus a race-car spec tail-lift. It is believed there are only
10 such trailers in Europe.
Continental height
restrictions, especially for vehicles transiting the Frejus and Mont
Blanc tunnels, mean that the trucks must comply with the 4.0 metre
overall height rule. This is aided by the ultra-low coupling height of
950mm and by running on 295/60R tyres. The trucks are plated for 28
tonnes GCW operation.
CARS Director Jay
Bullock says that the company chose Volvo and Euro 5 for safety and
environmental reasons and the fact that Volvo had Euro 5 compliant
engines readily available to order. Presenting a high-quality company
image is also vital to the operation, he says. “Not normal is our
business! Our customers demand very high quality service and the image
of our vehicles is very important.”
“The Euro 5 Volvo’s are
state-of-the-art and we have good personal service from the Dealer. If
one of our customers asks us to collect a three million dollar car at a
certain time, we have to be there. These trucks could be meeting an
Antonov cargo plane at Stansted one day to unload the cars belonging to
the competitors returning from the Beijing to Paris rally and delivering
a unique, classic car to a collector in Barcelona for a film shoot the
next. We need top class trucks with best in the business back-up. That’s
why we chose Volvo.”
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