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Blackwell Earthmoving gives 20 Volvo haulers from SMT a second life

Faced with rising environmental pressures and tight project timelines, the earthworks contractor is showing how used equipment can contribute to both sustainability and performance on some of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects.

Leading earthworks contractor Blackwell Earthmoving Ltd has expanded its fleet of over 120 articulated haulers with 20 approved used Volvo A60H articulated haulers supplied by SMT Great Britain (SMT GB), chosen for their proven efficiency and reliability, and readiness for deployment. The machines will support ongoing work on projects including HS2, Sizewell C, and the Lower Thames Crossing.

The decision reflects a practical approach to sustainability, balancing the demands of major infrastructure work with Blackwell’s goal of carbon-free earthworks by 2040. Opting for approved used equipment from SMT allows the contractor to avoid the lead times and carbon footprint associated with new machine production, while maintaining productivity and efficiency across multiple sites.

Blackwell have added 20 three-year old A60H units, to their existing fleet of 14 A60Hs, making them the operator of Europe’s largest fleet of A60Hs. The addition of the further A60Hs will take Blackwell’s Volvo Articulated Hauler holding (which also comprises A30s and A45s) to over 100 units. All the Volvo Articulated Haulers are equipped with Euro Tier IV engines.

The A60H – the largest hauler in the Volvo range with a 55-tonne payload – has proven a particular favourite with Blackwell’s Managing Director Niall Fraser. “Investing in the Volvo A60H for our HS2 project was the best decision we didn’t have to think twice about,” he said. “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.”

Blackwell’s focus on efficiency extends beyond machine choice continues to be an advocate for digital earthworks, using drone mapping and digital modelling to plan its sites, optimise haul routes, and match loading and hauling units, reducing unnecessary fuel consumption, emissions, and wear and tear on machines. On some projects, the haulers are also running on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) as a low-carbon alternative to diesel. All of Blackwell’s Volvo Articulated Haulers are equipped with lean-burn, low emission Euro Tier IV engines.

Blackwell’s relationship with Volvo Construction Equipment and exclusive dealer SMT dates back to the early 1980s, when the company purchased its first Volvo Articulated Hauler, making Volvo/SMT one of the longest-standing suppliers in Blackwell’s 69 year history. Today, around half of its earthmoving fleet carries the Volvo badge. Blackwell cites reliability and fuel economy as the main reasons for its loyalty, supported by the aftersales backing of SMT Great Britain.

Each of the used haulers in the contractor’s latest delivery has undergone comprehensive inspection and servicing 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).
The L3 CSA provides fixed costs for scheduled maintenance and major component repairs over the contract period, entirely removing the maintenance expenditure risk for Blackwell. It also includes Volvo CareTrack telematics and SMT ProCare remote monitoring, enabling SMT to
move from reactive servicing to the predictive maintenance that proactively protects machines’ uptime and supports Blackwell’s demanding project delivery schedules.

SMT GB has an extensive used equipment and parts operation based at its Remarketing Centre in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. The dedicated remarketing centre processes hundreds of machines each year and stocks around 9,500 used part lines for resale all over the world. The site has its own team of specialised engineers who carry out general servicing to complete machine overhauls. The site is fully set up to support these specialist tasks with facilities for steam cleaning, shot blasting, welding, and painting, enabling the team to return and deliver machines and parts in a like factory-new condition.

Andy Defrates, SMT GB Head of Remarketing, is focused on the strategic value his team provides. “Our work at the Bruntingthorpe Remarketing Centre is about providing cost certainty and validated performance,” he said. “Every machine goes through a rigorous inspection process with over 100 points checked, and repaired where necessary, to establish a new baseline of quality.
“When a specialist contractor like Blackwell invests in 20 of these units, they aren't just getting a productivity advantage; they are acquiring assured uptime and reliability, backed by our certified process and the option of comprehensive support agreements like the Level 3 CSA and extended warranty. This de-risks the circular economy for our customers.”

For Blackwell, the investment in Volvo used haulers from SMT GB fits into a broader effort to decarbonise its operations without compromising capability. While the contractor continues to explore the potential of electric excavators and haulers for the future, extending the life of existing units offers a straightforward way to reduce embodied carbon today.
As Niall Fraser put it: “Our aim is to make practical, data-driven choices that deliver the best results for our clients and the environment.”

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