Supplied by Russell Woof, Area Sales Manager at Truck and Bus Wales and West, the FMX eight-wheeler will be used for aggregates delivery and muckaway work across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. The FMX is fitted with a Charlton steel tipper body, that comes with a Union Jack rollover sheet to finish off the truck’s patriotic, royal look.
Bill Hopkins, Managing Director at Hopkins Estates, says: “We wanted to celebrate this major landmark in our nation’s history with something a little special and the new truck was the perfect opportunity. It was our own 50th anniversary last year and we marked that with a special gold liveried tipper, which really stood out from the crowd. But this coronation truck looks even better! The red, white and blue gives it a special regal finish.
“Our business has a rich history in farming, a common interest we know that is shared with His Majesty. The King is a regular visitor to our corner of the country, and we hope he likes this small gesture to celebrate his official reign as our new Monarch.”
The eight-wheeler arrives at Hopkins Estates as the first of a wider 32-truck order, which includes four volumetric concrete mixers, as the business begins to transition its fleet across to Volvo from a rival manufacturer.
That decision was made on the back of the performance of a demonstrator and Volvo Trucks’ proven focus on safety, reliability and fuel performance.
“We’ve made a major commitment with Volvo. The Coronation truck is the first tipper to arrive and we’re excited to start putting the new fleet to work,” adds Hopkins. “The previous model FMX tipper we bought as a demonstrator made a huge impression.
“The quality of the build and the excellent safety aspects of the vehicles are very important factors for us – as a business we pride ourselves on using the best tools possible for the job. We’ve also had great support and guidance from Russell and the team at Truck and Bus Wales and West.”
The new FMX tipper is expected to work five to six days a week. It is covered by a Volvo Gold Contract maintenance agreement, to guarantee full cost control, worry-free ownership, and maximum uptime.
Hopkins Estates was established more than 50 years ago. Today, the business has a diverse assortment of interests, including property development, arable farming, muckaway and aggregate services, sheep farming, plus an extensive portfolio of residential, retail and commercial properties across the south west of England.