First Volvo for Witney Plant Hire

Oxfordshire-based plant hire business takes delivery of FH16-750 tractor unit 

FAMILY-owned and managed Witney Plant Hire have taken delivery of their first Volvo tractor unit – an FH16-750 supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Didcot. 

Joining the Oxfordshire operator’s four-strong truck fleet, the new truck, a 6x2 with hub reduction on the drive axle, is plated for STGO CAT2 operations at 65 tonnes GCW and is being used to haul machines from the company’s extensive self-drive plant hire fleet, as well as working for outside customers.

Company director Dave Johns believes that Volvo’s I-Shift automated transmission gives the FH16-750 a major operational advantage over other trucks: ‘We make a lot of deliveries where we are required to back up gradients, off road and fully loaded to get to the delivery point,’ he explained.

‘The I-Shift is very smooth and inspires confidence, even when reversing on the majority of surfaces. Ground clearance is also good and the I-Shift easily beats the competition hands down.’

In addition to their regular work in the Gloucester, Bristol, Reading and London areas, many of Witney Plant Hire’s deliveries are to smaller independent quarries in the Cotswolds, and these are often down farm tracks.

‘Operating at 65-tonnes, we need plenty of torque to keep moving on difficult terrain and also on the steep hills found in the region – Fish Hill at Broadway, Birdlip and Stokenchurch for example,’ said Mr Johns. ‘The FH16-750 delivers a phenomenal amount of low-down pulling power that, like the I-Shift, inspires confidence.’