"Put it this way - if Charlton’s figures for the new vehicle’s unladen weight hadn’t been exactly right, I’d have been walking back to Scotland” says Chuck Roland, Plant Manager for Dundee - based WH Brown Construction Ltd. And the vehicle in question does indeed have some big numbers attached to it. Costing a considerable six figure sum and tipping the scales at 19,200kgs, Brown’s new Volvo 8x4 plant and machinery carrier represents the state of the art for this type of vehicle.

"With this type of truck, you really do have to get the specification absolutely right" adds Chuck, "so we approached the whole project from a team perspective, starting with the man who is obviously going to be the key in using it - Colin Smith, the driver. We also brought all the principal suppliers into the picture right from the outset too, so that everyone knew what was involved - and it worked."

The prime job for the new truck is moving each and any of Brown’s 120 various pieces of plant and equipment between their construction sites. The heaviest of these weighs 12.2 tonnes, meaning that the Volvo had to come in at 19,500kgs full of fuel and complete with all other ancillary equipment such as chains, tools and hydraulic oil.

"When Andrew Gunn of Charlton worked all the numbers out, he said ‘19 and a quarter tonnes’, and on that basis we went with it" says Chuck, adding "when I was travelling down to Dover to see the finished job, I couldn’t help thinking how this weight really had to be right, given the cost of the whole vehicle.

But no problems - Andrew was spot on. Expertise like that is very reassuring, especially as I wouldn’t have to walk all the way home!"

Built on a latest specification 440hp Volvo FM13 8x4 chassis, the body closely follows Charlton’s standard beavertail design for plant and machinery carriers. Built for heavy duty operation, this specification includes a hardwood deck, ‘fold forward’ rear ramps with hydraulically operated supporting legs, and a low height tapered underframe to provide the best possible loading angle.

"In choosing Charlton, we just went for the best product available" concludes Chuck “and the fact that Charlton is down in Dover really makes no difference at all when you look at how much work and performance the body is going to deliver over the next 10 years or so."