Now you'd think with a name like Pontrilas Timber I'd be talking about a haulier based in deepest wales...there's lovely. Not a bit of it! Family-owned Pontrilas Timber (which has been in business since 1947) is in fact based in the
"These are our first-ever Volvo trucks," Pontrilas Timber's transport manager Phil Davies tells Biglorryblog, adding "I went for Volvo's because of their good lead times, good customer service and excellent after sales support from the local Volvo Dealer at Eardisley. We went for the 6x2 tag axle configuration as most of the work is off-road in the forest, they're better for traction in these conditions and manoeuvrability is improved. We also specified I-Shift for improved fuel economy, increased driver friendliness and as the days are long, this reduces stress and makes the working day a bit easier on the drivers."
Of course with new trucks you need to learn new tricks. No problem says Phil: "The Volvo Dealer is providing a full days training for each driver which will cover everything from best use of the truck, getting best fuel economy and understanding all the key features on the trucks like use of the engine brake." Now click through here for more and another nice picture....
Covering up to 120,000 kms per year, the four trucks have been supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Wales and West of Eardisley, near
Word also reaches BLB that Pontrilas Timber also operate Volvo Construction equipment - an L90, which can carry up to 6 trees at a time, for clearing the log station and loading the mill and an L60 loading shovel. These machines work at the two company-owned mills, one for softwood and the other for hardwoods - typically Oak, Ash and Beech. Round timber goes in and sawn timber comes out which is then distributed
another DUH! i'm afraid. Herefordshire is not Herts. That would be Hertshire!!! As a Herefordian myself, I take this insult very seriously :-)
And you missed their best wagons. See one here...
http://flickr.com/photos/hfdpaul/533435041/
And another DUH! Herts is the abbreviation for Hertfordshire, not Hertshire or Herefordshire. Even a Kiwi knows that.
Brian, Both Volvo and Pontrilas Timber have forgotten that they used to run some F88's back in the 70's, but moved over to Seddon Atkinson and then Foden. Back in a different life, I used to try and sell them new Volvos, good to see John Perry, the salesman in Hereford and the Welsh borders eventually won them over. They tried an F12/400 demo back in the early 90's, but were big fans of Foden 6x4's at the time