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Nijhof-Wassink Group, with its subsidiaries Nijhof-Wassink and Wemmers Tanktransport, has placed a follow-up order with Volvo Trucks Netherlands for the delivery of 139 Volvo trucks. The new Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM tractors will be deployed within the family company's international fleet in the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Germany and Belgium. In the configuration of the trucks, safety, fuel-efficient driving and driver comfort were key factors.
The order includes the delivery of Volvo FH Aero 460 4×2 and 6×2 tractors with the fuel-efficient Turbo Compound engine and Volvo FM 460 tractors. The new trucks will operate within a wide range of international transport activities for sister companies Nijhof-Wassink and Wemmers Tanktransport. This ranges from bulk transport of liquid foodstuffs, fuels, liquid and dry chemical products to transport of products for the agricultural sector.
The new order is a follow-up to Nijhof-Wassink Group's order last year for 110 Volvo FH Aero tractors. The Volvo FH Aero is the most fuel-efficient truck Volvo Trucks has ever put on the road for long-distance transport. “The Volvo FH Aero has proven itself in practice,” says Bertil Bouwhuis, managing director of Nijhof-Wassink and Wemmers Tanktransport, which together form the transport branch of the Nijhof-Wassink Group.
“The Volvo FH Aero is the most fuel-efficient truck in our fleet. That is an important reason for us to choose this model again. Because of its wide deployment, we looked at specific measures per division to further reduce fuel consumption. Think of side fenders, spoilers and other aerodynamic optimizations,” Bouwhuis said.
In putting together the new trucks, the wishes of the drivers were central. “The truck is our drivers” tool,“ says Bouwhuis. ”For us, only the very best is good enough, which is why we listen carefully to their experiences and wishes. Together with our fleet management department, we first mapped this out properly. Then we looked together with Volvo Trucks and our colleagues at sister company Nijwa (Volvo Trucks dealer) for the best technical solutions. A concrete example with the new trucks is the return of the gearshift to the seat, at the request of the drivers."
Safety plays an important role in the new order. The transport companies within the Nijhof-Wassink Group invariably opt for all available safety systems, which now include Active Side Collision Avoidance Support. This advanced safety system from Volvo Trucks uses a radar to detect cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles in the side blind spot, for example when turning or changing lanes. In case of danger, the driver receives a warning. At low speeds, the system can even automatically brake the truck to avoid a collision.
“Safety is always our top priority,” emphasizes Bouwhuis. “With these systems, we make our trucks and our working environment safer for our drivers and for other road users.”
The Camera Monitor System also contributes to safety. Both Volvo FH Aero tractors and Volvo FM tractors are equipped with the camera mirror system, which replaces traditional exterior mirrors. Drivers see images from the camera mirrors on two screens in the cab. This gives them better visibility, especially in the dark and in bad weather.
“With this system, you see more and better than with regular mirrors,” Bouwhuis says. “You can zoom in, adjust the image and have visibility all the way to the back of the combination. That makes maneuvering safer. If you're driving in the dark, you can turn on night mode. The camera image is then so clear that it looks like you are driving during the day. In addition, you no longer have wind noise past mirrors, which provides more comfort in the cabin. Furthermore, the camera system contributes to aerodynamics.”
The order for 139 new Volvo trucks underlines the long-standing partnership between Nijhof-Wassink Group and Volvo Trucks. Due to the strong growth of the fleet in recent years, Nijhof-Wassink Group has become a fleet management customer of Volvo Trucks Nederland to further strengthen the cooperation.
“For us, this way of working together is very valuable,” says Bertil Bouwhuis. “We have a large, international fleet with different requirements per country and per division. Then it is important to have short lines of communication and to understand each other well. We experience this cooperation with Volvo Trucks as very pleasant. The quality is right, the trucks are reliable and do what they are supposed to do. In our business, we cannot afford downtime.”
Confidence in Volvo
Nijhof-Wassink Group and Volvo Trucks have been working together for nearly 60 years. Nijhof-Wassink was founded on January 1, 1967. In 1968, sister company Nijwa became a sub-dealer of Volvo Commercial Vehicles. The main agency of Volvo Trucks followed in 1970.
