Davies Crane Hire adds big Volvo tractor units

Davies Crane Hire’s new heavy duty 150 tonne Volvo FH 16 780 6x4 tractor unit with 780 hp engine. Photo: Volvo Trucks

Welsh crane rental company Davies Crane Hire has added Volvo FH16 780 and 750 6x4 tractor units to its fleet.

The 150 tonne 780 has a 17 litre diesel engine producing 780 hp and is one of the first units of its type in the UK. All 12 of the heavy goods vehicles operated by Carmarthen-based Davies are Volvos. Loads carried by the new tractor will include crane ballast and wind turbine components, typically on a rear-steer Nooteboom low loader trailer.

Commenting on his new 150 tonne addition Malcolm Davies said, “This FH16 780 will be a flagship addition to our fleet. Given the loads we carry and the locations we deliver to, we need trucks that can handle steep inclines and tough terrain without breaking a sweat. The extra power of the 780 hp engine will make a big difference in those situations – we’re confident it’ll rise to the challenge.”

High specification

The new 780 has an I-Shift transmission optioned with two extra gears – one crawler and one ultra-low crawler. These are helpful when pulling off from stationary with a heavy load. Clutch wear can also be reduced by as much as 75 per cent, Volvo said.

Appointments in the Globetrotter cab include leather upholstery, microwave oven and a fridge. It has the Drive+ package with electronic air conditioning, carbon filter and electric roof hatch, among other features.

The new FH16 750 was ordered to a similarly high specification.

Davies Crane Hire, headed by Malcom Davies, is a family-run business started in 1979. It has four depots, in Carmarthen, Port Talbot, Milford Haven and Cardiff. Its crane fleet tops out at 650 tonnes capacity.