Johnson & Saunt returns to Volvo with FH 500 Lite

Johnson & Saunt has added a Volvo FH Lite 500 6×2 pusher axle tractor unit to its agricultural haulage fleet, marking its first truck from the manufacturer since the 1980s.

The Holderness-based business purchased the vehicle with one of its longest-serving drivers in mind, specifying the truck to combine driver comfort with the practical requirements of its rural delivery work.

Supplied by Alistair Mann, area sales manager at Crossroads Truck & Bus, the FH Lite will transport grain and seed between farms and local mills across East Yorkshire. It is also the only ADR-equipped vehicle in the company’s fleet and will be used to carry fertiliser.

Georgia Saunt, granddaughter of company director Stuart Saunt, said: “We have several long-serving drivers in the business and believe in providing them with quality equipment that they can take pride in operating. This Volvo FH was purchased with one of those drivers very much in mind.

“Volvo offered us the right combination of driver comfort, support and suitability for the work we do. The truck spends its time on rural roads where visibility and ease of operation are important. The Globetrotter cab’s higher driving position is well suited to those conditions, and the early feedback has reinforced that we made the right choice.”

The tractor unit is powered by a Euro 6-compliant D13K Step E engine, producing 500hp and 2,500Nm of torque. It is paired with Volvo’s automated 12-speed I-Shift transmission, which assesses factors including speed, vehicle weight, road gradient and torque demand to manage gear changes.

Its Globetrotter cab includes dual armrests, an adjustable steering wheel with neck tilt, additional storage and leather upholstery.

The truck is covered by a Volvo Gold Contract, including preventive maintenance and repairs, and is expected to remain in the fleet for at least five years. It will operate 6 days a week and cover up to 80,000 miles a year.