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The theme here is clean. Pristine white paintwork, emissions-reducing AdBlue as the cargo and the latest Euro 6 engine technology to move it. Plus, plenty of polishing.

New Plymouth’s Doug Paynter drives this 650hp Volvo FH for IXOM, carting bulk AdBlue from source at Balance’s Kapuni plant to destinations throughout the North Island.

While Doug says his brand loyalty during a 30-year driving career is with the Mack marque, he has “stayed within the family” since switching to the controls of Volvo product.

Prior to the 650hp FH Globetrotter he drove a 2017 model Volvo FH 540, clocking up 930,000km in six years.

“That one is still in the fleet and everybody who drives it says it’s a brilliant truck. All our work is pulling out of Taranaki, so it’s loaded and uphill all the way. For a 540 it performed brilliantly at 46 tonnes,” Doug says.

Jason Boyle, IXOM’s Supply Chain Manager Bulk Liquids, is also impressed with the FH and pleased to have another Volvo in the fleet.

“I’ve had 17 years of association with the Volvo marque and it has never failed to deliver or impress with its performance and reliability. This is also backed up by a great support network staffed by great people from the technicians to the sales team.”

The switch to the FH 650 was made in early 2023 and more power has been paired up with a 57.5 tonne HPMV permit and a six-axle B-Train set-up built by Patchells.

“We do between 3000 and 3500km a week but we are only loaded one-way,” says Doug.

“There’s quite a certification process with Balance for carting AdBlue. It’s non-hazardous but it can’t be contaminated with another product. So, the only things we cart are AdBlue and a 40% marine grade blend that’s also used in some industrial effluent ponds.

“When we have finished unloading, we purge the tanks with air rather than washing them out.”

So, on the rare occasions this FH is hauling another of IXOMs products it’s with a different  trailer combination.

“I’m also permitted as a 4-axle semi and for our other 6-axle units, so there are times when I can fill in if someone is away, or if we are all up-to-speed with our AdBlue work.

“About 90% of my work is in the North Island but I do the top of the South Island as well some of the time.”

Doug has been very impressed with the performance and comfort of the Euro 6 FH which has been named Run Through The Jungle.

“Even at 57.5 tonnes it’s about 10kph quicker pulling out of Kapuni than the 540 was at 46 tonnes. Overall, I’d say the performance of this 650 is the equivalent of the Euro 5 700hp models,” he says.

“And it’s very smooth and very quiet. I can’t fault the comfort in the cab – being a `Globie’ there is heaps of room and it’s got a fridge, a freezer and a TV.

“Having air suspension on the front axle means you do feel some of the big bumps twice. And like any truck coming out of Taranaki you do get rattled around a bit till you get to Te Kuiti, but that is about the state of the roads.”

Before going to work with IXOM this FH spent some time being used as a Euro 6 demo unit by Motor Truck Distributors.

One of the changes made since it was on demo duties has been replacing one of the fuel tanks with a toolbox.

“Being a demo it was specced for Aussie and it could carry 1300 litres. I’m paid to haul AdBlue, not diesel,” Doug says.

One of the surprises with the new truck has been much lower AdBlue consumption than the Euro 5 spec 540.

“My AdBlue consumption has dropped almost in half. The Euro 6 engine is SCR, EGR, and DPF and that seems to make a big difference. I’m only using about 70 to 80 litres a week,” Doug says.

The bold IXOM branding is instantly recognisable on the road.

“The thing about the IXOM livery is that it’s so clean and simple, and it looks really effective. I think it’s one of the best colour schemes on the road and it really stands out,” Doug says.

“The white looks really sharp, and the simple graphics represent chemicals and chemical reactions.”

However, the new unit is not quite the fully finished article when it comes to the details of its appearance.

“My old trailer had the outline of the Southern Alps all the way down the side,” says Doug.

“This trailer is still a work in progress. At some point we’ll get the chassis painted white and the team at Marty’s Signs in the Mount will do some cool graphics for it.

“It’s the old story. It was a rush to get the truck on the road and once it’s working it’s hard to find time to get the last few things done.”

But there’s always time to keep the Volvo looking top-rate.

“I’m a bit OCD about that,” says Doug.

“Presentation is everything for me and if it’s not polished, I’m not happy. I like to have clean gear and there are plenty of hours in the driveway polishing in the weekend, so I’ve got a clean truck on Monday morning.”