Ramsey Timber Group of Wellington Street Sawmills in Bradford, West Yorkshire has taken delivery of two Volvo FE 6×2 rigids and an FM 6×2 tractor unit from Crossroads Truck & Bus, Birstall.
The two Volvo FE rigids, powered by Volvo D8K engines producing 280 bhp, feature 28′ (8.5m) curtainside bodies fitted by Micra Truck Bodies of Wakefield, which also handled the necessary Whole Vehicle Type Approvals. The Volvo FM tractor unit powered by a Volvo D11K engine producing 410 bhp, will join an earlier FM at the company hauling curtainside trailers.
Transport and Warehouse Manager at Ramsey Timber, Neil Marklew says: “We have been operating our original Volvo FM since 2011 and we’ve been so happy with both the truck and the support that we’ve received from Crossroads Truck & Bus that when it came to increasing our fleet capability we had no hesitation in sticking with what we know. We like dealing with Crossroads at Birstall. I would say it is an excellent dealership; the team there is efficient and the support is second-to-none, which is really important to us.”
“The new Volvo trucks are already transporting timber components for the construction of beds all over the country from Devon to Glasgow,” says Neil. “We expect the Volvo FE rigids to cover some 50,000km per annum, while the FM tractor unit will top 70,000 km.
All three of the new trucks feature sleeper cabs with single bunks and cloth upholstery and are monitored by Neil through the Volvo Dynafleet online transport information system. “I am already using elements of Dynafleet, but I’m looking forward to more advanced training so I can utilise this great system to the full extent of its capabilities,” says Neil.
The origins of Ramsey Timber Group date back to 1890, when founder, George Edward Ramsey, started building canal boats and barges in Bradford. Three generations later and with Great Grandson Mike Ramsey as Managing Director, the company is now the major supplier of timber products to the UK bedding industry, sourcing over 30,000m3 of quality softwoods from Scandinavia for the production of over 1.5 million divan frames per year.
“Our first impressions of these new trucks are very good. Our drivers really like the simplicity and fuel efficiency of the I-Shift gearboxes and the low noise levels and superior comfort further enhance the easy driving experience.” explains Neil.
All three of the new Volvo trucks are covered by 60-month Gold Repair & Maintenance contracts and will be cared for by Crossroads Truck & Bus at Birstall.