Baldwins Crane Hire has taken its first pair of heavy-haulage Volvo tractors to move mobile crane components and their ballast blocks, bringing the firm’s truck fleet to seven. The FH540 13-litre 8×4 tractors will be operating up to150 tonnes gcw and are rated at Category 3 STGO. Specified with 12-speed manual gearboxes, they will be working with Nooteboom six-axle semi-lowloader and table-top trailers.
Speaking after the new Volvos had been in service for just three weeks, Baldwins transport manager Tony Wilson said: “They are joining a growing fleet and if they prove their worth, we will look at taking considerably more.”
Ballast blocks are a vital part of mobile crane construction, balancing the structure – and the new Volvos will be operating at over 100 tonnes all the time.
Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Hayes, the new FHs are on a four-year Volvo service contract and will be working from Baldwins’ Langley, Bucks operating centre to service contracts in and around the capital.
Baldwins provides lifts of up to 1000 tonnes, yet fuel remains a key performance criteria. “With the high gross weights, ours is thirsty work – but I’m hoping for around 6 mpg from the new Volvos, which is very productive in relation to a 44-tonner,” Tony Wilson concluded.
