Fuel Economy Makes Volvo the Right Prescription for Superdrug
High street health and beauty giant Superdrug have taken delivery of the first Volvo trucks in their fleet: 12 FM9’s and 24 FM12’s, citing fuel economy and driver acceptance as the major reasons for the decision. The FM9’s are specified as rigids, while the FM12’s are tractor units. All the trucks, which have been supplied by Crossroads Truck & Bus at Birstall in West Yorkshire, bear the company’s new livery.
The day cab-equipped 4 x 2 rigids have 260bhp engines and are plated at 18 tonnes GVW for radial distribution and store deliveries. Their 8.3m x 2.55m x 2.1m, glass reinforced plastic bodywork is by specialist builders Aire Truck of Leeds. It has a galvanised steel underframe, alloy periphery framework and reinforced bulkhead, with a Zintec steel rearframe. A Ratcliff RQ1507 electric tail lift with 1050mm alloy platform is fitted below the rear roller shutter door, while internal load restraint is via a SIMARK six-strap system and two levels of Load-Lok track. Two timer-switched interior lights illuminate the load space...
The 4 x 2 FM12 tractor units are plated for operation at 38 tonnes GCW and have
larger 420bhp engines and Globetrotter cabs. Their newly liveried trailers are
by Don Bur. They are destined for trunking work between Superdrug's distribution
warehouses at Pontefract and Croydon plus their cross-docking centre at Avonmouth.
Both types will carry the full range of consumer goods stocked by Superdrug in
the UK.
"We tried a wide range of vehicles," says Transport Manager Ian Jack, "and carried
out extensive trials on several. We found the Volvo's to be the best suited to
these particular jobs. They performed very well with regard to fuel efficiency
and the drivers liked them – that's a major consideration. After all, these are
the guys who have to sit in them all day!"
END
Notes to Editors:
- One of the UK’s leading health and beauty retailers, Superdrug operates over
700 stores in high street and shopping mall locations throughout the UK from its
Croydon headquarters.
- Trading in over 2 million square feet of retail space, the company employs 12,500
people and serves over 4.5 million customers each week.
- Founded in 1966 as a family business, it is now wholly owned by international
retail organisation, A.S. Watson, part of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa
group.
Caption for Photograph (click thumbnail for enlargement):
Two of the new trucks - an FM9 and an FM12 - featuring Superdrug's all-new livery.
For more information, please contact:
Nigel Hanwell, Press Officer
Telephone: +44 (0) 1926 414210
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 414386
E-mail: nigel.hanwell@volvo.com
(Sorry - please note that it is Volvo’s policy not to pay for any colour separation
costs)
