Friday 25th March was a momentous occasion for Moira, Co. Armagh-based haulier, Bradford Transport, as it was the day that they purchased their first-ever brand new truck in over 30 years of operation. The stunning Volvo FH540 XL Globetrotter was supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Dealer for Northern Ireland, Dennison Commercials Ltd, and all paintwork was carried out by Dennison Bodyshop.
The truck was actually purchased as a birthday present for a long-serving employee of the firm, Tommy McCrory, and was a complete surprise to him on the day of delivery. In fact, Tommy thought that he was simply returning a Dennison’s FH Euro-6 demonstrator, only to find the whole Bradford family and his wife waiting to surprise him with the arrival of this top secret new truck !
The eye-catching Volvo FH, which was ordered by Chris Bradford, Owner of Bradford Transport, on the day of Tommy’s birthday, is one of a kind featuring a variety of bespoke livery, all of which was meticulously designed by the Bradford family. It has certainly caused heads to turn and has somewhat taken social media by storm locally, with Chris Bradford using the hashtag ‘VolvoTillIDie’.
The diverse livery includes a number of sentimental tributes, including a breast cancer ribbon and a small nod to the Dennison Commercials hospitality. As well as this, graphics incorporated references to some personal interests, such as lyrics from a Country song and the inspirational quote “dream as big as you dare”, an association with the UFC star, Conor McGregor.
A playful spin on the Volvo I-Shift logo – to highlight that the vehicle is unusually fitted with a manual gearbox, was also added – and the truck was finished off with a personalised registration plate, S40 CBT – the letters ‘CBT’ for Chris Bradford Transport and ‘S40′ referencing the 540 horsepower of the vehicle.
Whilst the Company has always favoured the Volvo product, Chris Bradford commented that buying their first new Volvo was as exciting as it was emotional. In fact, the truck’s livery includes the Swedish words for ‘when the heart wins’ just below the head board and incorporates the bible verse, Luke Chapter 1 verse 37, to mark the sentimentality of the purchase.
When asked about the unique design, Mr Bradford commented, ‘‘The livery of the new truck is something that is very personal to myself and Tommy, and it’s something that I am very proud of. The months of planning were well worth it just to see the look of surprise on Tommy’s face on the morning of delivery.” The truck also has a very impressive high spec’ which includes a number of functional and aesthetic features. A Kelsa Highway bar and Hella light bars accentuate the external appearance, whilst a Living++ pack, the highest cab fit-out available, was chosen to make the internal living space as comfortable as possible. This package includes a rotating passenger seat, reclining bunk, bunk table, microwave and TV, to name just a few features. The truck is also plated at 60-tonne gross train weight and has a 3.2 metre wheelbase with a twin-tyred tag axle.
John Johnston, Vehicle Handover Specialist for Dennison Commercials, carried out a thorough vehicle handover with Tommy, including vehicle familiarisation as well as explaining the benefits of cruise control and gear changing within the green band on a manual Volvo.
Damian Kerin, Sales Executive for Dennison Commercials commented, “I am delighted that Chris and Tommy are both pleased with the outcome of this painstakingly and lovingly crafted project and I am proud to have been able to play even a small part of it”.
