Volvo FM-460 LXL cab ‘super sweeper’ clears the way for W J North

A unique, top specification Volvo FM-460 4x2 ‘super-sweeper’ has entered service with leading specialist road-marking business W J North Ltd., part of W J Group, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Staffordshire.

Advertisement

Supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, Middlewich, the FM-460 is the first brand new sweeper chassis for the company, which has always purchased second-hand trucks for this application. It is also the first ultra-high specification sweeper to join the W J North fleet of 258 vehicles, 85% of which are Volvos. The 4.3 metre wheelbase 4x2 truck is plated at 18 tonnes GVW.

Uniquely for a road sweeper, W J North's FM-460 is fitted with the 13-litre 460 hp engine with I-Shift automated gearbox, Dynafleet telematics (for asset tracking and to produce environmental reports) and the Globetrotter LXL cab. The drive axle is air-suspended.

The Globetrotter LXL cab features full standing interior height of 2100 mm (1670 mm over the engine tunnel), leather upholstery and extra storage lockers with roll blind doors. The LXL cab's full size bunk measures 700 mm x 2000 mm and is part of a luxurious package of ‘home from home' comforts for the driver, including a factory-fitted coffee maker, fridge freezer, and microwave oven, as well as a television.

The FM-460 sweeper is fitted with five external cameras, including side scan and a 360° camera and Vision Techniques Banksman Plus reversing sensors.

According to W J North Ltd., Group Transport Manager Scott Logan, the driver of the FM-460 sweeper will spend between two and three weeks at a time away from base, working as part of a three truck team on major road marking projects across the UK.

"We wanted the highest level of comfort possible for the driver of the new sweeper and you can't beat Volvo for that," said Scott Logan.

In addition to its usual duties, the FM-460 road-sweeper will also make appearances at W J North Ltd ‘innovation days'. The most recent of these was held at the company's equipment manufacturing workshops at Elland, Leeds, where highway practitioners from across the industry attended demonstrations of W J North Ltd.'s latest technical innovations.

The FM-460 is fitted with the latest Johnston VT801 sweeper. According to Johnston, the VT801 has been proven to use up to 50% less fuel in work mode than its competitors at low revs and 13% lower fuel consumption at maximum revs. The VT801 comes as standard with a Data Capture system which allows the user to download operational data such as fuel consumption, operating revs and time swept. Data can be downloaded via a USB memory stick and upload it into a standard spreadsheet. The VT801 also features an ‘eco mode' which limits the engine revs to 1500 rpm. The operator can override the limiter if allowed to, allowing the sweeper to be used for road works, surface dressing or heavily solid areas.