Mon Motors specs safety as standard, with new Volvo FM car transporter

Automotive dealer group Mon Motors has added a new Volvo FM 460 Globetrotter 4×2 tractor unit to its fleet, for operation with a seven-car transporter trailer moving vehicles from its preparation centre to dealerships across South Wales and the West of England. The three-star Direct Vision Standard-rated FM replaces an eight-year-old FH and will handle regular deliveries to dealerships within the city of Bath, as well as occasional trips into central London. Gavin Cleverly, Managing Director of Mon Motors, says:

“We went for the FM this time to take advantage of the three-star cab, and it’s proven to be perfect for our needs and the distances we cover.

This truck is going into and out of urban areas all the time, so safety is our number one priority. With the new FM our driver benefits from a spacious cab with raised A-pillars, a large windscreen, low door line and great mirrors which gives him excellent visibility, plus the wide-angle camera in the nearside mirror arm provides a fantastic view down the passenger side of the vehicle.”

Supplied by Darren Padfield, Area Sales Manager at Truck and Bus Wales and West, the new FM is finished in Millennium Silver factory paint and has been specified with Michelin tyres as original equipment. For maximum convenience, Mon Motors had an under-bunk fridge-freezer installed by the factory, which sees the bunk raised several inches to allow sufficient space.

This option ensures maximum rear locker room is maintained, plus allows for easy access to the contents of the fridge from the driver’s seat. The driver also benefits from a modern digital dashboard, designed to make it easier to keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. A 12-inch, high resolution instrument display is supported by a nine-inch side display, providing easy access to the right information in all possible situations – when driving, loading, finding the right route or keeping track of driver times and vehicle status.

The team at Truck and Bus Wales and West worked closely with Mon Motors to ensure the specification of the vehicle was optimised for the application, right down to the fifth wheel positioning – guaranteeing a seamless integration with the firm’s car transporter trailers. Cleverly adds:

“The FH this replaces was a fantastic truck, and we hope to run this new FM for just as long. We know what it takes to deliver great dealer service, and that’s precisely what we get from Darren and his colleagues.

We couldn’t be happier with our new Volvo.”

Expected to cover around 75,000 km per year, the FM has been supplied with a six-year Volvo Gold Contract which will see all servicing and maintenance carried out by Truck and Bus Wales and West’s Newport depot, located just two miles from Junction 24 of the M4 and within 10 miles of both Severn Bridges.