Paul Heyhoe, Fleet Director at Maritime Transport, says: “Our long-standing partnership with Volvo Trucks is fundamental in our strategy to own and operate the cleanest, most sustainable full-load supply chain in the country. We are committed to investing in state-of-the-art technology to ensure our fleet is as clean and efficient as possible; as such, when the new FH Aero was announced, we moved quickly to secure this significant order.
“Additionally, we are incorporating a number of battery-electric vehicles from Volvo Trucks into our fleet Q1 2025, a critical milestone in our decarbonisation efforts and a major step towards a more sustainable UK freight industry. We are confident about the FH Aero's potential and future success.”
The FH Aero – which deploys a cab that is 24 centimetres longer than that of the standard Volvo FH – delivers substantial energy consumption and emissions reductions of up to five per cent through a refined aerodynamic design and the deployment of new technologies.
The implementation of Volvo’s Camera Monitoring System (CMS) also contributes to aerodynamic performance but primarily boosts safety and visibility.
Replacing traditional exterior mirrors, the solution increases the driver’s field of view and, when driving with a trailer, CMS deploys auto-panning functionality to follow the rear of the trailer as it turns. CMS also performs strongly in rainy and dark conditions, direct sunlight and even when driving in tunnels.
Maritime’s new tractor units – supplied by Abdi Ali, National Key Account Manager at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland – are powered by Euro 6-compliant D13TC Step E engines which leverage turbo compound technology to deliver an additional 300 Nm of torque.
This technology also extends the FH Aero’s fuel economy potential even further by introducing an extra turbine after the turbocharger to reuse excess energy from the exhausts. This energy is then converted to torque directly on the crankshaft, providing a powerful and extremely fuel-efficient engine.
The tractor units’ innovative engines are paired with Volvo’s popular 12-speed I-Shift automated gearbox technology and I-See predictive cruise control to yield significant sustainability and operational gains.
From a suspended, heated and ventilated seat in the FH Aero Globetrotter cab, Maritime’s drivers are treated to an adjustable leather steering wheel with neck tilt functionality, a 33-litre under bunk-mounted fridge/freezer, a microwave oven, dual armrests and two bottle holders. Electrically controlled air conditioning with a carbon filter and sun, mist and air quality sensors completes a comfortable working environment.
A Volvo Media package, including a high performance 12-inch fully dynamic instrument cluster and DAB radio, is paired with the FH Aero’s built-in navigation system, featuring improved maps adapted to truck-specific needs and automatic map updates.
Safety is further boosted thanks to Forward Collision Warning with advanced emergency brake and Lane Departure Warning systems, as well as driver and passenger Side Collision Avoidance Support and Driver Alert Support functionality.
Visibility is increased thanks to rain-sensing windscreen wipers, rear view main, wide-angle and nearside passenger corner cameras, and LED headlights which automatically adjust according to ambient light conditions.
The new FH Aeros will be used within Maritime’s intermodal and distribution divisions, operating 24/7 and expected to cover 160,000 km annually.