Ron Finemore Transport buys Volvo
Ron Finnemore Transport buys Volvo Fleet
Food transport giant Ron Finemore Transport (RFT) has bought 15 Volvo FH520 prime movers to expand their fleet. Thirteen of the Volvos are already on the road, with the last two expected to join the RFT fleet in October.
As one of the main suppliers of logistics to Woolworths supermarkets, RFT needed a prime mover that met exacting standards. The truck had to comply with Euro 5 emissions standards, provide exceptional safety features and have minimal downtime.
RFT run B-Doubles between Melbourne and Sydney, delivering to distribution centres according to a rigid schedule. Absolute efficiency is the key to keeping deliveries on time. Darren O’Connor of the Volvo dealership in Albury said, ‘Ron Finemore Transport explained to us that their deliveries needed to be precise. It’s not just a case of “Turn up some time in the afternoon”, but “Make sure you’re there at exactly 3 o’clock”.
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To provide this kind of efficiency, Volvo knew they needed an end-to-end solution for RFT: the right vehicles for the job, combined with a service contract, supported by an extensive dealer network strategically placed along their main routes. ‘We’ve built up a great relationship with Ron Finemore Transport in recent years’ explained Darren, ‘By really understanding their requirements we were able to offer them a complete package.’
Euro 5 compliance was a basic requirement, but another essential element for RFT was Volvo’s safety features. RFT Managing Director, Laurie Brothers, said ‘The Volvo driver alert system, adaptive cruise, lane change and lane keeping safety features were very important to us and to our customer; the longer the haul, the more important safety becomes.’
A critical role in optimising fleet efficiency is scheduling downtime. To further assist RFT with the whole-of-life offering on the trucks, Volvo designed a service agreement for the fleet utilising VOSP (Volvo Optimised Service Programme). Also included in the RFT agreement was Predictive Maintenance, where at specific intervals in the vehicles life, Volvo proactively replaces components to avoid unexpected breakdowns.
General Manager of Volvo Trucks, Gary Bone, said ‘It’s clear that Ron Finemore Transport and Volvo have much in common. Their objectives of minimal emissions, vehicle safety and reliable operation are all well-known as core Volvo values. We’re extremely pleased that Volvo was able to meet the stringent requirements of one of Australia’s leading transport companies.’
‘These are the first Volvos in our fleet,’ said Laurie, ‘so this order is a testament to Volvo’s excellent design and the commitment of their dealership to supporting our business. They made it clear that they were offering a lot more than just a truck.’
Tags: Euro 5 compliance, Gary Bone General Manager Volvo, RFT, Ron Finemore Transport, Volvo Fleet, Volvo Prime Movers, Woolworths
