FTH Hire Group

Published on: 30th July 2025

Introduction

With over four decades of experience, FTH Hire Group (Farnborough Tool Hire) has established itself as a trusted partner to contractors, landscapers, builders, and domestic customers across the South East and beyond. Operating across 19 strategically placed Hire Hubs and managing a hire fleet of over 15,000 items, FTH has built its reputation around dependable service, equipment excellence, and a values-driven approach to hire.

From its humble beginnings in a small yard in Farnborough, the business has grown into one of the region’s leading independent hire specialists, offering an extensive range of plant, tool, access, landscaping, and survey equipment, all supported by a dedicated team of over 300 employees.

At the heart of FTH’s success is a commitment to reliability, integrity, and a genuine understanding of the logistical and operational challenges that face modern construction and landscaping professionals. These values align closely with their expectations for the vehicles and plant trucks they operate.

The Need For A Durable, Purpose-Built Transport Solution

Transporting machinery to and from job sites, whether inner-city developments or rural landscaping projects, requires reliable logistics supported by robust equipment. With a hire fleet refreshed every 18–24 months and a customer promise of on-time, fully functioning deliveries, FTH required a heavy-duty plant body capable of meeting the physical and operational rigours of daily multi-drop deliveries across busy, high-pressure environments.

The Sterling Megaload – Mounted On A Volvo FMX 8×2 Chassis

To further enhance its delivery capabilities, FTH Hire Group selected the Sterling Megaload beavertail, mounted on a Volvo FMX 8×2 32-tonne chassis. The build was tailored to suit the intense demands of their daily operations, from handling compact access equipment to larger diggers and dumpers.

The Sterling Megaload was engineered to withstand high-volume, high-stress use, offering the resilience and functional adaptability that FTH needs to deliver its diverse plant fleet safely and efficiently, every day, every drop.

A Specification Designed For Demanding Work

The specification of the Megaload includes several carefully selected upgrades:

• Channel side rave with integrated lashing bars, providing added versatility and security when securing varied load shapes and sizes.

• Grouser bars fitted to the slope and ramp are essential for added grip and safer loading of tracked machinery, particularly in poor weather conditions or uneven terrain.

These upgrades are in addition to the standard features of the Sterling Megaload, which include:

• Heavy-duty angle side raves and hardwood decking to resist damage from heavy plant equipment.

• Galvanised 1600mm headboard for long-term corrosion resistance.

• Post socket fall arrest system ensures safety when working at height.

• Durbar knuckle plate at the rear of the flat deck is ideal for digger arms or quick hitches to rest on, helping prevent damage and wear to the timber decking over time.

Operational Excellence In The Field

Whether navigating narrow access roads on new housing estates or servicing large commercial infrastructure projects, FTH’s Megaload-equipped plant truck delivers on performance, safety, and uptime. The build’s thoughtful simplicity reduces maintenance overheads, while every feature supports safer and more efficient day-to-day operations.

By choosing the Sterling Megaload, FTH Hire Group ensures its logistics fleet mirrors its service philosophy: reliable, customer-focused, and built for long-term value.

A great all-round service. We required a specialised flat-bed beavertail truck due to the varied nature of our loads, and the final result provided by Sterling has made our new lorry so versatile that it has greatly improved our efficiency.

James Carr – Group Transport Manager

Conclusion

As a business built on trust, reliability, and excellence, FTH Hire Group needed a transport solution that could keep pace with the scale and ambition of their operation. The Sterling Megaload beavertail combines strength, innovative design, and longevity into a versatile and dependable plant body solution.

With their upgraded build mounted on the robust Volvo FMX chassis, FTH Hire Group’s latest investment stands ready to continue supporting thousands of plant hire customers across the South East and beyond.

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