Yorkwold Pig Pro has bought a Volvo FH Aero 500 6×2 tractor unit, its first Volvo in more than 25 years. A successful working trial helped persuade the family-run farming business and its driver to switch from their previous supplier.
The Driffield-based company will use the truck primarily to transport pigs between farms across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. It will work five days a week, replacing a tractor unit from another manufacturer.
Alistair Mann, area sales manager at Crossroads Truck & Bus, supplied the vehicle. Driver acceptance, suitability for farming operations and manufacturer support all influenced the purchase.
Working trial wins over the driver
Richard Riley, joint managing director at Yorkwold Pig Pro, says reliability and driver confidence shaped the selection process. The company wanted to assess the truck in everyday working conditions before committing to a different manufacturer.
“Our vehicles are regularly faced with demanding working conditions, so reliability and driver acceptance are essential,” he says. “After spending time with the Volvo FH Aero and seeing how it performed in day-to-day use, we felt it offered a package that suited both our business and our driver requirements.”
The allocated driver had spent his entire career driving vehicles from another manufacturer. Riley says he was initially reluctant to leave a familiar brand, making the demonstrator trial particularly important.
“That’s why we made sure he had a thorough trial so he could experience the FH Aero in real working conditions before any decision was made,” he explains. “By the end of the trial, he was completely on board with the switch and spoke very highly of the truck.”
Turbo-compound engine delivers 2,800Nm
The Volvo FH Aero uses a Euro VI-compliant D13TC Step E diesel engine, producing 500hp and 2,800Nm of peak torque. It pairs with Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission and I-See predictive cruise control.
The engine’s turbo-compound system recovers energy from exhaust gases through an additional turbine downstream of the turbocharger. It transfers that recovered energy mechanically to the crankshaft, contributing torque and improving efficiency. Volvo’s technical explanation describes how the system works.
I-See helps manage the truck’s progress over changing gradients. It supports fuel-efficient driving by anticipating the terrain and helping the drivetrain retain higher gears where conditions allow.
Yorkwold has also specified Volvo Dynamic Steering. This combines conventional hydraulic power steering with an electric motor mounted on the steering gear.
Volvo says the system can reduce steering effort by up to 85%, helping limit driver fatigue. For a truck working between farms, reduced steering effort was part of a specification focused on the driver’s working environment.
Globetrotter cab and maintenance cover
The Globetrotter cab includes leather upholstery, dual armrests and a microwave. Its specification also features a tinted glass roof hatch and electric air conditioning with a carbon filter.
Sun, mist and air-quality sensors complete the climate-control equipment. Together, these features reflect the attention given to driver comfort alongside the truck’s suitability for livestock work.
A Volvo Gold Contract covers preventive maintenance and repairs. Yorkwold expects to keep the tractor unit for at least five years, matching its approach to longer-term fleet investment.
“As a family-run business, we take a long-term approach to fleet investment,” says Riley. “The strength of the Volvo product, together with the support available behind it, made this a straightforward decision for us.”
Established in 1972, Yorkwold Pig Pro forms part of the Dewhirst Farming Group. The family-owned business manages approximately 8,000 breeding sows across multiple farms and supplies around 190,000 pigs annually.
The new tractor therefore joins an established transport operation supporting movements between the company’s farming sites. Its purchase follows practical evaluation by the business and the driver who will operate it.
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