Palmerston North-based Glenn Carroll Transport Ltd runs a fleet of nine trucks that always look immaculate on the road, and the latest addition is no different.

In 2002 Glenn‘s Scania 580 was one of New Zealand Trucking magazine‘s top trucks and now he‘s made the grade again, this time with a 2017 Volvo FH16Globetrotter.

Glenn Carroll Transport was established in March 1997 and services the rural industry in the central North Island. The bulk of their work is moving stock, but they also transport agricultural products such as hay, baleage, fertiliser, silage,maize and grain – “just about everything,” says Glenn.

“We predominantly cover Hawke‘s Bay to Manawatu and Taranaki, that east-west corridor, that‘s everyday stuff for us.”

Until the Volvo put in an appearance last year, Glenn‘s fleet consisted solely of Scanias and a few small Isuzus.

“We‘ve had the European trucks since 1998 – that‘s 19 years I‘ve been dealing with Scania – and I chose the Volvo because of its similarity to a Scania, it‘s very much the same.”

Glenn says one of the advantages of the Volvo is that the parts warehouse and national distribution centre is in Palmerston North.

“So if Emmetts can‘t sort the parts from their own stock, they can walk across the street and get it, which has to be a plus.”

When considering other makes, Glenn says he asked his drivers what they wanted.

“It‘s all to do with driver retention. If the drivers had wanted Kenworths, then we would have bought Kenworths. George has been with us for many years, and I said, ‘what if we go Volvo?‘ and he said, ‘yeah, I‘ll certainly drive it‘, so that‘s what we bought.”

Driver George Matthews has been in charge of the Volvo since it arrived in September. Previously he was driving a Scania R730.

“The Volvo is a premium model, with a sleeper cab, stereo, television and fridge. Some things are a bit different from the Scania and took a bit of getting used to, but overall it‘s pretty similar.”

George has been driving for Glenn Carroll Transport for 11 years and obviously enjoys what he does.

“I‘m sitting in a pretty good office and I get paid to see the country. I enjoy being out there and getting off the main roads and meeting people.”

George Matthews has been at the wheel of the
Glenn Carroll Volvo FH16 since September last year
and the smile on his face tells you what he thinks of it.

Glenn says he‘s really pleased with the new truck and how it has been handling.

“George is rapt with it and our other drivers think it‘s awesome as well. Not to mention all the favourable comments that George has been receiving from other drivers he passes on the road, about how awesome his unit looks.”

Jackson Enterprises in Pahiatua made the truck deck and monocoque trailer, and Total Crates in Feilding supplied the truck and trailer crates.

“I‘m thrilled with the crates and the trailer and the whole thing, the whole package actually,” says Glenn. “It fits the purpose for what we want.”

The cab of the Volvo was custom painted by Tony Walton of Feilding‘s Custom Art.

“He‘s hand-painted Mt Ruapehu and a Viking warrior with lightning on the side of the cab.”