O’Donovan Waste Disposal has taken delivery of two 18 tonne Volvo FL-250 4×2 rigids from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Enfield.
Based at the Company’s headquarters in North London the new Volvo FLs continue a long history between the O’Donovan family and Volvo, which dates back some 30-years.
“Stephen Askew at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London is certainly not your stereotypical salesman,” says Managing Director Jacqui O’Donovan. “We had a fantastic relationship with his father in years gone by and I am very happy to say that Stephen is definitely a ‘chip off the old block’ and he supports us exceptionally well.”
Jacqui views a strong dealer relationship as one of the key elements when investing in new trucks. “We are a family business so relationships are paramount,” she says. “Obviously, driver safety and visibility from the cab are also of vital importance to us, as is reliability. Volvo satisfies these fundamentals and that is why the majority of our 85-strong fleet is Volvo.”
The two FL rigids are equipped with day cabs and feature low-level nearside windows for enhanced visibility.
“Our commitment to CLOCS, our FORS Gold Membership, our recent Safe Vehicle Award at the Brake Fleet Safety Awards; all are testament to our continuous drive to improve safety generally and also specifically with regards to vulnerable road users on the busy streets of London,” says Jacqui, adding, “We simply have to find ways to make it work so that cyclists and trucks can share the same environment.”
In a physical sense, the two new Volvo FL skip trucks are clearly specified to meet this objective. Alongside the low-level window, excellent all-round view from the cab and rear-facing camera as standard, both are fitted with additional nearside and forward facing cameras as well as a side scanner that alerts the driver when something is sensed to the left. “We have also fitted an audio system so when the driver indicates left a caution is sounded externally, announcing to those in the vicinity that the truck is turning left,” explains Jacqui.
The two Volvo FL skip trucks have won praise from the drivers. “They really like them,” says Jacqui. “The manoeuvrability, visibility and comfort combine to create a great working environment and I am convinced that drivers’ physical and mental wellbeing is another key factor to making our roads safer.”
“From an operational perspective, we have also been delighted with the fuel consumption,” adds Jacqui. “Environmental impact is high on our agenda so fuel efficiency is an important factor.
“On reflection I would say our ethos really mirrors the Volvo core values of safety, quality and the environment.”
The two trucks are equipped with steel rear suspension and power comes from the 7.7 litre Volvo D8K engines producing 250hp and up to 950Nm of torque, which is transmitted to the road through 6-speed overdrive gearboxes.
Both feature Hyva skiploader bodywork with a lifting capacity of up to 12-tonnes. Day-to-day duties will see them handling skips of between 3m3 and 12.2m3.
