Based in the North Yorkshire village of Kirby Hill, haulage contractors Whincup & Sons Ltdwas founded in 1989. That date was by no means, owner Brian Whincup’s, first encounterwith the business of running trucks; nor with Volvo. “I’ve been in transport all my working life,” Brian reports adding, “I passed my heavy goods driving test on the week of my 21stbirthday and had a brand new Volvo F88-290 to drive for the family firm.”
From there Brian went onto a Volvo F10, then an F12, so when he started his own businessit was only natural what Brian’s first truck should be; another F12. That Volvo was bought used and initially deployed on traction-only work pulling for European operator, Houseman International, in nearby Harrogate.
Nearly 30 years later and with eight trucks on the road, Whincup & Sons Ltd are still loyal to the brand. “I choose Volvo because that’s all I’ve ever known,” Brian declares. “I have tried other manufacturers since, but we always come back to Volvo and the boys won’t have anything elsenowadays.”
Tom and Ben Whincup both joined their father’s business during the last fifteen years. “They say ‘you run the best’ and that’s it,” Brian continues, “and the Volvos have done us a marvellous job.”
With their own anniversary just around the corner, Jonny Devlin, Transport Solutions Executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland, offered the company a chance to buy an FH 25- Year Special Edition tractor unit and they jumped at it – and not just because of its livery.
“It’s got everything we want on it as well,” Brian says. Along with the D13K engine rated at 540hp and I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission system, it also features Volvo Dynamic Steering. The company now consider these unique Volvo components as part of its standard specification alongside full air suspension and I-Park Cool.
“We do everything from long-haul European work to local, day-to-day general haulage. So themore tools you have in your toolbox the better,” Brian notes.
Whincup & Sons have ordered I-Shift Dual Clutch gearboxes on their last FH three tractor units because they like its unrivalled change speed and smoothness in operation. They also came to embrace Volvo Dynamic Steering after trying it on an ex-demonstrator FH purchased in 2018.
Brian adds, “These special features stand out from the rest when it comes to re-selling vehicles.”Although that won’t be for a while yet, as the last Volvo truck to leave Whincup & Son’s yard wasten years old! That one did its millionth kilometre coming out of Norway back into Sweden,” Brianrecalls and concludes, “it never let us down once during that time so we’re confident this one willlive up to the high standard of its predecessor.”
