The trucking industry spoke, and Auto Solutions listened.

The St John’s Road, Pembroke auto dealership has begun importing the Volvo UD Croner dump truck, and dump and crane truck.

The vehicles, made by Japan’s UD Truck Corporation, have long been the trucks of choice for the industry in Bermuda — but have not been imported to the island for about a decade.

Seeing an opportunity, Auto Solutions reached out to the trucking industry here for feedback, and have ordered the trucks to Bermuda-appropriate specifications. The trucks are a newer version of the vehicles that many in the industry presently operate.

Harry Andrews, sales and operations manager at Auto Solutions, said: “Truckers here love the UD brand — it’s dependable, a good-size truck for what they need to haul rubble, block, palm trees - you name it. The trucks have been here for a week and a half, and we have had lots of positive feedback. People like the construction of them, and they like the size of the dump — it can hold close to seven yards of material, so you get more load per run, which is what the industry is looking for.”

The 2019 model year trucks have 5,100cc inline four-cylinder diesel engines. They have a manual, six-speed transmission and a wheelbase of 3,750 millimetres. The dump truck has a tare of 12,584 pounds, while the dump and crane has a weight, when empty, of 14,762 pounds. The dump truck has a fuel capacity of 170 litres, while the dump and crane fuel capacity is 100 litres. The latter has a Tadano model crane with a capacity of 3,030 kilograms at 2.5 metres. The truck sports a fully-powered telescoping boom of pentagonal box construction. The winch is hydraulic motor-driven. The vehicles are HC class for TCD purposes.

Auto Solutions has imported one of each truck. The dump truck, retailing for $89,995, has been sold — but won’t leave the lot for another couple of weeks for anyone wishing to drop by the dealership for a look. The dump and crane truck sells for $125,995.

Glen Smith, managing director of Auto Solutions, said the dealership will take special orders for the vehicles, which are made in Thailand to the dealership’s specifications. From order to arrival will take about six months, Mr Smith said.

Mr Andrews said: “When we create an order, they are producing a truck. The trucks are not sitting on a shelf, aging.”

Mr Smith said the UD trucks can also be configured as box trucks, or as trash trucks.

Mr Andrews said: “We’re really excited — this is the make of truck that the industry here has been calling for, for a few years.”

• Auto Solutions, located at 61 St John’s Road, is open Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm, and on Saturdays from 9am until 5pm. For more information, contact sales@autosolutions.bm