New Volvo FH Aero gas trucks contribute to Buffaload’s sustainability goals

After introducing 43 new Volvo gas trucks in 2020, the company has committed to transitioning its fleet of 300 vehicles over to bio-LNG. Supplied by Alan Didwell, key account sales manager at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the FH Aeros will be paired with double-deck refrigerated trailers. 

Ross Taylor, founder and chief executive of Buffaload, said: “Every fleet decision we make now is driven by our impact on the environment. We have been running gas powered Volvos for the best part of five years, very successfully. The technology works well for our operations. By the middle of 2025 we will have 85 LNG trucks on the road, and we are determined to continue on this pathway.

“To meet our sustainability commitments, we feel that LNG is the only option in long distance distribution work, and we are very excited to see what these latest generation trucks can deliver.”

Buffaload plans to refuel the trucks using its biomethane tanker onsite at its Huntingdon depot, Gasrec’s refuelling site at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) and the wider LNG network. Taylor added: “We have plans to produce our own gas from food and farm waste via an anaerobic digestion system. That’s our route to net zero and will allow us to offer our customers a truly sustainable transportation solution.”

As well as benefitting from the aerodynamic FH Aero cab, the trucks are equipped with Volvo’s camera monitoring system in place of traditional mirrors. The camera system has the ability to automatically pan to follow the trailer as the vehicle turns to improve visibility. 

Additional safety equipment includes forward collision warning with advanced emergency braking and lane departure warning. Taylor said: “We’ve recorded a significant reduction in accidents since we started running Volvos on the fleet. It’s an area where I don’t think they can be matched.”