Joda Freight has expanded its busy commercial vehicle fleet with the addition of six new Volvo FH Aero 6×2 tractor units.
The Yorkshire-based business has a long-standing working relationship with the manufacturer and its local Volvo dealer, Crossroads Truck and Bus, in Birstall.
The latest intake of Volvos will be used on a variety of duties, ranging from general haulage work, refrigerated deliveries for supermarkets and specialised transport of abnormal loads.
Neil Tullet, joint owner of Joda Freight, says: “We’ve been running Volvos for more than 20 years and rarely look elsewhere when it comes to adding new trucks. Our fleet is roughly 85 per cent Volvo-supplied. We have tried other manufacturers but always come back as there are so many things to like about the product. The pricing is competitive, it’s a well-respected brand, the trucks are very reliable and the aftersales service is exceptional.”
While Joda Freight is more than familiar with the Volvo product range, the six new arrivals mark the first FH Aeros to land at the haulage company’s depot in Keighley. The FH Aero delivers substantial energy consumption and emission reductions through a refined aerodynamic design, in comparison to the standard Volvo FH.
Supplied by Jason Robinson, Area Sales Manager at Crossroads Truck and Bus, the trucks are all powered by a Euro-6 compliant D13 Step E engine which delivers 500 hp and a peak torque of 2,800 Nm. This is paired with a 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox and I-See predictive cruise control to yield further sustainability benefits.
“It will be interesting to compare the fuel figures with these Aeros to the other FHs we have on the fleet,” adds Tullett. “We can monitor it closely via the Volvo Connect fleet management system, it’s a great tool which allows us to track our vehicles, monitor our fuel and driver’s hours at the touch of a button.”
Joda Freight’s new arrivals are equipped with added cameras, sensors and safety features to conform to London’s three-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS), allowing them to operate within the capital when needed.
Inside the Globetrotter cabs, the interior benefits from a Drive+ package that includes added extras such as electronic air conditioning with sun, mist and air quality sensors, electrically controlled roof hatch and an adjustable steering wheel with neck tilt. A microwave oven has also been included in the specification.
“The drivers always like the Volvos,” adds Tullet. “We’re a one driver, one truck operation and we want to make sure our staff are happy with their tools. My business partner and I are into our third year of running the company now and we are keen to push it forward and keep expanding. These new trucks will help us with those plans.”
The new FH Aeros are expected to cover around 90,000 km annually, working a variety of different shifts across a seven-day week.
Joda Freight was founded by John Collett and Dave Wareing more than 30 years ago. In 2023, the pair retired and the business was acquired by Tullet and Kieron Talbot-Sykes. Today, the business operates a fleet or more than 60 vehicles, ranging from transit vans right up to 44-tonne tractor units, plus in excess of 150 trailers.
