CONTRACTOR Blackwell Earthmoving has expanded its fleet with 20 approved used Volvo A60H articulated haulers, supplied by SMT GB.
The machines will support work on projects including HS2, Sizewell C, and the Lower Thames Crossing.
SMT GB said that opting for approved used equipment allows Blackwell to avoid the lead times and carbon footprint associated with new machine production, while maintaining productivity and efficiency across multiple sites.
The 20 three-year-old A60H units join Blackwell’s existing fleet of 14 A60Hs and takes the company’s Volvo articulated hauler holding – which also comprises A30s and A45s – to over 100 units.
The A60H is the largest hauler in the Volvo range with a 55-tonne payload. Blackwell MD Niall Fraser said, “Investing in the Volvo A60H for our HS2 project was the best decision we didn’t have to think twice about. Having satisfied ourselves of their suitability for the project, it was a no-brainer, simply because of the economies of scale that higher payload trucks realise. This directly translates to greater productivity and therefore improved environmental performance.”
On some projects, the haulers are running on HVO as a low-carbon alternative to diesel. All of Blackwell’s Volvo haulers are equipped with lean-burn, low emission Euro Tier IV engines.
Each of the used haulers in the latest delivery has undergone inspection and servicing, designed to ensure performance comparable with a new machine. They are also covered by an extended warranty and a Level 3 Customer Support Agreement (L3 CSA), which provides fixed costs for scheduled maintenance and major component repairs over the contract period.
For Blackwell, the investment in Volvo used haulers fits into a broader effort to decarbonise its operations without compromising capability. The operator has a goal of carbon-free earthworks by 2040. While the firm continues to explore the potential of electric excavators and haulers for the future, extending the life of existing units offers a way to reduce embodied carbon today.
