Early July, the Dekkers family business took delivery of their latest Volvo fleet member, an FH Aero 6×2*4 truck with a hooklift hoist. New to the job, but it already fits in just fine. The company livery is straightforward, yet distinctive. Now let’s look into it, but only on the outside.
From a side point of view, Volvo’s FH Aero cab has a longer front overhang than the standard FH tilt cab, resulting in a more sloping front. Hence, the Aero designation.
These days, the biggest truck models, like the Volvo FH-series, usually come with a sleeper cab and a raised roof. Opting for a roomy sleeper cab doesn’t mean the vehicle is (only) used for long distance trucking.
The truck is powered by the 12.8 liter D13 turbodiesel with a registered maximum power output of 375 kW/510 DIN-hp. The transmission must be a Volvo I-Shift automated manual.
A ‘Loon- en Grondverzetbedrijf’ does all kinds of agricultural work and can also be hired for earthmoving jobs. Nowadays, that’s a common combination.
The variety of historical images on all Dekkers trucks is a nice touch. Pictured on the left side of the cab is a Poclain tracked excavator and its operator. Noteworthy is that the French manufacturing company invented the hydraulic excavator.
There’s more action in the image on the cab’s right side. A John Deere forage harvester is followed by an air-cooled, second gen Magirus-Deutz Eckhauber 6×6 dump truck. A very off-road worthy couple for sure.
The Volvo has a 6×2*4 drivetrain, which means a counter-steering and liftable tag axle is part of the package. The truck is rated at a legal maximum gross weight of 29 tonnes (63,934 lbs), its registered curb weight is 13,241 kg (29,191 lbs); that’s with the hooklift hoist, but without a container or cargo bed (all logical).
As per usual these days, the front axle comes with super single tires. The Volvo’s front axle is rated at a maximum axle weight of 10 tonnes (22,046 lbs), which is as far as you can go with a dead axle, steering or not. This also applies to (semi-) trailer axles.
The anti-spray material on the inside of the fenders. There’s comparable material on the four rear mud flaps, as you can see in some of the pictures.
The truck is equipped with a Hiab Multilift Ultima hooklift hoist; its capacity is 26 tonnes (57,320 lbs). The hydraulic system is located on the left side of the truck’s frame.
BAS -full name BAS Truck Center- is a multi-location dealership for Volvo and Renault trucks, covering the south and southeast of the Netherlands.
The tall, open top container has a grain hatch in its left cargo door, which makes it suitable for transporting, well, all kinds of grain. The Dekkers company also uses their hooklift trucks for hauling machinery; drive the machine on an open bed, secure it, and the hooklift hoist does the rest.
And naturally, a 510 hp straight truck has a trailer coupling -clearly visible in the picture- for towing a full trailer.
I mean, why haul only one container when the same workhorse can easily handle two of them? Now may the new Volvo be a moneymaker for the owner.
I work about 1 mile from the Volvo truck factory in Australia. They make a beautiful product.
I will say that I work with several ex-Volvo plant guys and they all tell me there is a ridiculous amount of office politics and a few people who ‘take the piss’ (a slang term for people who are lazy and know how to take advantage of good employers).
That said, the final product is consistently excellent.
I know there are also Kenworth and DAF production facilities in Australia, building the Kenworth K200 cabovers and the 660 hp DAFs (not offered in Europe), for instance. Any other truck makers with an Aussie plant, these days?
The history of Volvo Trucks is quite amazing. Around 1960, still a Swedish/Scandinavian affair. And look at them now, number two of the world in the heavy trucks market, after Daimler. Talk about a successful long-term view.
Yes, MAN, Freightliner, Mack and Daimler are all here.
OK, thanks!