Despite the current price at the pump, Hornigold Haulage Managing Director Brian Hornigold is acutely aware that fuel costs will again rise at some point, so fuel efficiency is still king for him. “We don’t skimp on horsepower because I believe, within reason, you use less fuel. Furthermore, delivering that power via the I-Shift transmission offers even more savings.” Additionally, Brian specified 315/80 tyres, which he reports, aids a reduction in tyre wear and also, as he puts it, to help hit the ‘sweet spot’ in terms of fuel efficiency.
The latest additions swell the company’s fleet to 40 trucks, the majority of which are Volvo tractor units. “Overall I would say Volvo manufactures very strong trucks. The build quality is excellent and be it rigids or tractor units I believe what you get with Volvo is a real ‘belt and braces’ job.”
The new trucks are all equipped with Globetrotter XL cabs featuring leather upholstery, single bunks, high power audio systems with integrated Bluetooth phone and USB/Line inputs and a dashboard integrated 7″ colour information display. “We specified these trucks to a level that helps retain residual value and supports driver recruitment,” says Brian. “Furthermore, the leather upholstery is easy to clean, so even after two to three years, which is normally how long we keep our trucks, the interior remains tidy.”
Hornigold Haulage was started by Brian back in 1981 with a single second-hand truck. Later in the same year Brian invested in his first new truck, a Volvo F10 with the manual 16-speed gearbox. “Volvo Trucks have been intrinsic to our growth,” he says. “Way back then, John Billows at the dealership in Kettering actively set out to support us and a common theme throughout the past 35-years has been the way Volvo and its dealers have looked after us.
He adds, “We work most of our trucks 24-hours/day and some seven days a week covering the whole of the UK and often at maximum payload, so it’s a really demanding environment. We have a Gold R&M contract with Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia in Wellingborough; that means they take care of pretty much everything so we can concentrate on the business.”
Business for Brian and his wife, as well as their son Calum and daughter Kim alongside the 70 other employees at Hornigold Haulage, is now predominantly general haulage, although the company’s roots are to be found in tanker work. “We started out carrying animal by-products as well as some slurry and sludge,” says Brian. “We still serve this sector today, but have added to our offering over the years. We now have about 25 bulk haulage trailers as well as the tankers and some curtainside trailers. Over and above the animal by-products we now do refrigerated work, hazardous tanker work and more general haulage.”
