Longcliffe Expands All-Volvo Fleet with Three New FH Aero Tractor Units
Derbyshire-based Longcliffe has strengthened its commercial vehicle operation with three new Volvo FH Aero tractor units as the business looks to increase capacity while continuing its focus on fuel efficiency.
Longcliffe has added three new Volvo FH Aero 6×2 tractor units to its commercial vehicle operation, expanding a fleet already operated exclusively with Volvo trucks.
Rather than replacing existing vehicles, the latest trucks are additions to the fleet and will provide the Derbyshire-based business with additional capacity as customer demand grows.
Efficiency at the Centre of the Specification
Longcliffe operates in a demanding transport environment, with its trucks used to move heavy powder tankers as part of the company’s calcium carbonate operation.
The operator already uses Volvo Connect fleet management technology to monitor vehicle performance and support targeted driver training.
Its existing standard Volvo FH tractor units regularly achieve more than 10mpg despite the demanding nature of the work, providing the company with an established performance benchmark against which the new Aero models can be measured.
The arrival of the more aerodynamic FH Aero will now allow the business to assess whether further efficiency improvements can be achieved in day-to-day operation.
Built for High-Mileage Operation
The new trucks are powered by Volvo’s 500hp D13TC engine, producing peak torque of 2,800Nm, and are paired with the manufacturer’s 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission.
I-See predictive cruise control is also included within the specification, supporting the operator’s focus on extracting efficiency from vehicles covering significant annual mileages.
Each of the new FH Aeros is expected to cover approximately 80,000 miles annually, meaning the three additions could collectively account for around 240,000 miles of operation each year.
The trucks may operate for up to seven days a week, with some journeys involving overnight stays and longer-distance deliveries to destinations including Scotland and Cornwall.
Longcliffe has consequently specified Globetrotter cabs, including equipment designed to support drivers spending extended periods away from base.
Dealer Relationship Remains Important
The vehicles were supplied by Tom Hulse, Area Sales Manager at Hartshorne Group.
For the commercial vehicle dealer sector, the acquisition is a useful example of how established supplier relationships, operational requirements and fleet-performance information can combine when operators make additional vehicle investments.
Longcliffe’s decision is not simply an isolated vehicle purchase. The company operates an established Volvo fleet and is using vehicle and driver-performance information to help shape how that fleet develops.
What This Means for Fleet Operators
The acquisition highlights a wider consideration for businesses assessing replacement vehicles or additional fleet capacity.
Commercial vehicle purchasing decisions increasingly extend beyond headline vehicle specification. Fuel performance, utilisation, driver behaviour, driver acceptance and whole-life operating costs can all influence the business case.
For Longcliffe, the three FH Aeros now provide the opportunity to compare their real-world performance with an established FH fleet operating under similar conditions.
With each vehicle expected to accumulate substantial annual mileage, relatively small improvements in operating efficiency can become commercially meaningful when measured across the working life of the trucks.