The new vehicles join our predominantly Volvo fleet and will operate across Scotland, supporting our quarrying, construction and road surfacing operations.
Based between our depots across the Central Belt, the new FMX tippers will transport a wide range of materials including aggregates, road surfacing products and road planings, replacing older Volvo FMX vehicles as part of our ongoing fleet replacement programme.
The investment is about maintaining the capability, reliability and flexibility required to support customers across an increasingly broad range of operations.
Our transport fleet works across demanding environments and plays an important role in connecting our production sites, contracting operations and customers throughout Scotland. Vehicles need to be equally capable operating within quarries, supplying construction projects or supporting road surfacing works, often across extended operating hours, nightshifts and weekends.
Caroline Woodburn, Operations Manager Transport & Distribution at Hillhouse Group, said:
Our fleet operates in some demanding environments so we need vehicles that can handle tough workloads day in, day out. Whether operating in quarries, on construction projects or supporting road surfacing contracts, the trucks provide the capability and versatility we require to maintain high levels of service for our customers. Driver feedback has also been encouraging. Comfort is increasingly important when recruiting and retaining drivers, and the response from those using the new vehicles has been very positive. Combining driver appeal with operational performance makes the FMX an asset to our business and an important part of our fleet replacement strategy.
Each of the new Volvo FMX vehicles is powered by a 430 hp engine producing 2,050 Nm of peak torque and paired with Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift transmission.
The trucks have been specified for the demands of our operations, with insulated Thompson tipper bodies and Hardox floors providing durability when transporting quarry materials, asphalt and road planings.
Brushed alloy wheels have also been selected in place of steel, helping to reduce vehicle weight and improve available payload.
The vehicles will typically operate at least five days each week, with additional weekend and nightshift duties undertaken where required to support customer demand and maximise utilisation across the fleet.
Our latest investment also continues a longstanding relationship with Volvo Trucks. The new vehicles were supplied by Sean Merrick of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland and are covered by Volvo Gold Contracts to support vehicle uptime throughout their time within the Hillhouse fleet.
The 15 vehicles are expected to remain in operation for at least five years.
Transport and distribution is a critical part of Hillhouse Quarry Group’s vertically integrated operations.
From our quarries and production facilities through to major construction and road surfacing projects, having the right vehicles, people and infrastructure allows us to maintain control over the movement of materials and provide a dependable service to customers.
The arrival of the new Volvo FMX tippers forms part of our continued programme of investment across the Group as we strengthen the operational capacity required to support our customers and the future growth of the business.