Volvo FE rigids prove great catch for seafood specialist

Frozen seafood specialist Nortrade has added four new Volvo FE 4×2 18-tonne rigids to its delivery fleet. The trucks replace vehicles from a rival manufacturer and were reportedly chosen following an impressive performance from a Volvo FM the business had run previously.

Nortrade is a family-run business that has been operating for more than 40 years. It supplies frozen whole, raw and prepared seafood from sustainable sources worldwide.

Based in Hawkhurst, Kent, it imports its goods – including frozen prawns, mussels, squid and fish – in containers delivered into Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway docks before distributing to customers across the south of England.

Supplied by Lewis Davies, truck sales executive at MC Truck & Bus, the four FE rigids are equipped with Gray & Adams insulated bodies and Carrier Transicold Supra HE 8 temperature-controlled units.

Alan Smith, director at Nortrade, said: “We had a 26-tonne Volvo FM previously which we got mid-contract. It was such a good truck compared to the ones we were running from another manufacturer, that it was really a no-brainer to opt for Volvo when it came time to renew the rest of our delivery fleet.

“Lewis helped us with the specification, going through everything in detail from the fridges to the tail-lift, to make sure these are absolutely perfect for the job we need them to do.”

Powered by Volvo’s D8K Euro 6 engine producing 320 hp and 1,200 Nm of torque, the four new FEs are driven via the 12-speed I-Shift gearbox. Designed to optimise fuel efficiency and driveability, the transmission features intelligent electronic control units that instantly evaluate speed, weight, and road gradient for optimum gear selection.

All four trucks are built with a sleeper cab, ideal for regional distribution and assignments requiring overnight stays. The cab measures 2,200 mm in length, 2,300 mm in width, and has an interior height of 1,605 mm. It includes a single fixed spring mattress and additional storage.

“We’ve had the Volvos on the road for a couple of months now,” said Smith. “The drivers absolutely love them. They really like the gearbox, which delivers such a smooth ride. They are over the moon.”

The FEs are backed by a full Volvo Gold Contract, and servicing and maintenance will be carried out at MC Truck & Bus’ depots in Aylesford and Maidstone. Expected to cover in the region of 40,000 miles annually, the trucks will remain in service for six years.