Maritime Transport adds a further 355 new Volvo’s to its fleet

Maritime Transport Ltd. has this week started to take delivery of 355 new Volvo FH with I-Save tractor units, joining the 170 already being utilised across the company’s national network. Now the UK’s largest operator of Volvo’s turbo compound engine trucks, Maritime’s latest fleet investment provides a significant boost to its capability, and offers additional support for its growing activities in the road-rail sectors.

Supplied by Volvo Truck UK & Ireland’s national fleet team, Maritime’s biggest vehicle order to date comprises a combination of 460hp state-of-the-art models boasting the spacious Globetrotter and Globetrotter XL cabs, and 25 vehicles featuring the more powerful 500hp engine. The new vehicles will arrive in batches throughout 2022 to be distributed across Maritime’s 40+ UK sites, and are expected to each cover around 125,000km per year on both container and distribution operations.
The latest generation FH model delivers a number of key operational benefits. Each unit includes Volvo’s Euro-6 D13TC engine which lies at the heart of the I-Save product, and boasts a more aerodynamic design, plus an improved map-based I-See system which continuously reads the road 2km ahead to optimise gear changing strategy, thus ensuring the best possible fuel performance.

Additionally, the FH with I-Save uses turbo-compounding to allow the driver to maintain lower revs and a higher gear for a longer time, contributing to a smoother, quieter, and more fuel-efficient journey. Each new vehicle saves 16 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to the previous 460bhp Euro 6 Volvo’s on Maritime’s fleet, creating a substantial 8,264 tonnes of CO2 saved per year against a similar-sized fleet.

Maritime has specified each truck with Volvo’s Visibility package, which adds cornering lights in the headlamps to give the driver better visibility to the side, as well as rain sensing windscreen wipers and added banksman lights to improve safety further.

Each vehicle is being supplied on a two-year Volvo Blue Contract covering preventative maintenance, servicing costs, and remote workshop connection.

Paul Heyhoe, Fleet Director, Maritime Transport:
‘The decision to order a significant number of Volvo vehicles was made when they introduced the turbo compound engine. We ran a comprehensive fuel trial which compared the first generation FH with I-Save with other vehicles on our fleet, and we saw some great results. Volvo has always produced a quality truck and we have worked with them closely in order to get where we are today, with a specification fine-tuned to drive fuel efficiency and emissions savings in our business. In total, we are running 1,150 trucks across the fleet currently and when all of the new Volvo units are in that will take their share close to 50 per cent. Our drivers couldn’t be happier. They love the Globetrotter cabs. Each of these new trucks are incredibly well spec’d, including a factory-fitted fridge, microwave oven and the new digital dashboard – including DAB radio and the handy touchscreen side display.’

Richard Sharples, Fleet Sales Director – UK & Ireland, Volvo Group UK Ltd:
‘We have a special business relationship with Maritime, and I would like to thank them once again for their confidence in Volvo and the FH with I-Save. Time and time again, the I-Save has proved itself to be the optimum truck for fuel performance and economy, and it’s great to see it appealing to large fleets. We now look forward to working closely with Maritime’s fleet department throughout 2022 to deliver each and every one of these vehicles with the best possible service.’