“I am part of the transport team here at Horizon Platforms. I have worked in the Powered Access Rental business for many years. Over this time I have seen the Industry develop and the range of machines available increase.
Horizon are constantly adding new machines into the fleet, ranging from 4m light weights to 30 m Booms weighing in excess of 16 tonnes. This diverse range of machines requires the right type of truck to deliver to our customers varied sites.
I am fortunate here at Horizon in having a say in the specification of the truck I now drive, a Volvo FM 440 BHP. It is a 4 axle rigid vehicle with a beaver tail plant body. The rear axle steers in the opposite direction to the front two, which vastly reduces tyre wear and aiding manoeuvrability. With a 12 speed ‘I’ shift semi automatic gearbox, the truck is a pleasure to drive, with so much power hills do not exist. The downside of the latest vehicles are the electronics, if anything goes wrong it is a visit to the dealer to put his laptop on it but I suppose that is the progress of the times.
I have been involved with transport for over 40 years, both as a mechanic and a driver. In those years I have seen a lot of changes in the trucks I have driven. In the late 60s and 70s 150-250 BHP was normal, crash gearboxes, few with power steering. Most of my days were spent roping and sheeting the load, a nearly forgotten art. Now curtain side bodies are in abundance, making it much quicker and safer to load trucks.
Horizon’s fleet of delivery vehicles include 32 Tonne Volvo HGV’s, 7.5 tonne Isuzu & Landover and trailers for quick response deliveries.
As Horizon’s fleet of platforms grows further trucks will be added starting with a new Volvo this coming May.”
Volvo FM440 c/w Shawtrack Body
