In a move which consolidates the company’s policy of operating trucks no more than three years old, Derbyshire-based haulier Lomas Distribution has ordered 70 new high specification Volvo tractor units and tippers from the Hartshorne Group.

This major order sees all of the tractor units specified with the Globetrotter XL cab, I-Shift gearbox and Long Haul fuel economy software. The order includes 38 FH-540 tractors equipped with the latest line-fitted lightweight pusher-axle with an additional 6 FH-540 standard pusher-axle units and 6 FH-540 tag-axle tractors.

The flag ship of the order is a 120 tonne GCW, FH16-750 6×4 heavy-haulage tractor unit for their new heavy haulage low-loader operations. The FH16-750 is fitted with the latest I-Shift with crawler gears, for heavy load, high-torque manoeuvres.

The order includes a number of FM-460 8×4 tippers. The sleeper cabbed eight-wheelers are also equipped with I-Shift transmissions. The latest additions to the Lomas Distribution fleet will all be fitted with the latest Step C Euro-6 engine.

The arrival of the new trucks will see the Euro-6 compliant content of the 250 strong Lomas Distribution fleet move to 50% confirming the company’s drive and commitment to reducing emissions and improving the environment.

Capital equipment, including trucks and trailers, are purchased outright, reports Lomas Distribution MD Richard Lomas. “Reducing the average age of the fleet to three years, has been helped along by selling and disposing of some of our older equipment through auction. Achieving this age profile is one of the ways to ensure we continue to deliver the most reliable and efficient service to our customers.” He explained.

The majority of the new Volvos are direct replacements, with some additions. Deliveries commence in the summer and are scheduled throughout the rest of the 2016.

The company is also extending its age restriction policy to its fleet of trailers, unlike the trucks the trailers ‘in-service life’ will be reduced to five years. To facilitate that policy the company has invested in several new Fruehauf and Feldbinder trailers. A further addition to the fleet is the purchase of a new Faymonville 4-axle low-loader, plated for use up to 120 tonnes under the STGO category.

Lomas Distribution serves the chemical and construction industries nationwide and is available to tender for major national infrastructure construction projects, says MD Richard Lomas.

The company specialises in the transport of bulk powder and aggregates, but is growing its presence and expertise in a number of other areas, notably recycling and industrial cleaning. As part of its growing recycling fleet, the company operates thirteen walking floor semi-trailers, carrying waste for use in the creation of energy, and five semi-trailers fitted with high power DISAB Centurion Vac loader tanks including one powered by a Volvo-Penta unit.

The new trucks, which are covered by Volvo’s Uptime Assurance, will be maintained under a three year Volvo Gold R&M contract by Hartshorne Group technicians working on-site at Lomas Distribution’s purpose-built, state of the art workshop in Buxton, Derbyshire. Facilities there include an ATF that is open for testing four days a week as well as a full-height, enclosed truck wash.