Powered Access Services takes customised truck on long-term rental

The new Volvo FMX 460 8x2 rigid supplied by Macs Truck Rental to Powered Access Services. (Image: Macs Truck Rental).

The 32-tonne Volvo FMX 460 8x2 rigid, mounted with a bespoke-built beavertail body, has been supplied on a five-year deal.

Supporting the company’s new Warrington depot, it features bodywork built in-house by parent company Mac’s Truck Sales Group, with the extended 12m deck and inset winch, to enable the loading of up to three large machines. Family-owned Powered Access Services was established in 2003 and operates from its depots in Coalville, Hitchin, Kettering, and now Warrington.

Jim Dorricott, Commercial Manager at Powered Access Services, said, “For this application, achieving the right payload capacity was our top priority. Standard beavertails are generally about six inches too short to carry a third machine, but working with Mac’s Truck Rental we were able to find that extra space – something other suppliers we spoke to couldn’t match.”

Critical specifications 

Key features include a double flip mesh ramp with an ultra-low 9.8 degree loading angle, which combined with the truck’s full air suspension, and allows for all types of plant to be easily loaded and unloaded.

bespoke-built beavertail on the Volvo FMX 460 8x2. (Image: Macs Truck Rental).

Further customisation includes Flow Forge flooring for added grip and longevity, extra heavy-duty lashing rings and side-mounted stainless steel toolboxes for the secure transport of equipment and gear. The build also incorporates a full working at height system, front and rear strobes, and a beacon bar for maximum safety.

Chosen for its ability to operate both on and off-road, the construction-spec FMX features a rear lifting and steering axle, reducing the truck’s turning circle and making it easier to operate within tight construction sites and on narrow urban streets. The ability to lift the axle when running empty or lightly laden also improves fuel economy and reduces tyre wear, improving efficiency and sustainability.

On the road five days per week and expected to cover up to 100,000 miles per year, the new truck will be delivering a range of plant to customer sites across the UK. It joins a 10-strong fleet, mostly owned outright, and including both rigids and artics.