M9 HDD ADDS A TRULY TOP-SPEC HARSH / VOLVO FH HOOKLOADER

13 August 2026

DRILL MARTIN DRILL! TEN YEARS ON, M9 HDD’s SUCCESS MARKED BY A TRULY TOP-SPEC HARSH / VOLVO HOOKLOADER

The company that started out just ten years ago with a second hand van has today become a clear leader in providing specialist directional drilling services to a huge range of industries across the UK and Ireland. And to mark its decade of continuing growth and success, M9 HDD Ltd has just commissioned its latest truck, a full-spec HARSH HH26 hookloader built on a premium 500hp 8×2 Volvo FH sleeper cab chassis.

“We go everywhere, from the north of Scotland or down to Devon” says company boss Martin Hiatt. “That said, our truck mileages aren’t huge, because they typically stay on site whilst the job is being done. What really counts is their absolute performance and reliability, along with providing the best possible working and living conditions for our drivers. Everything therefore has to be top-spec, as good as we can make it. And this latest HARSH / Volvo truck is our best yet.”

Employed primarily for transporting the company’s specialist drilling equipment on demountable platform bodies, the truck’s super – versatile hookloader configuration also lets it work with other types of  demountable bodywork from standard earthworks / tipper bodies through to hi-cube containers and even specialist water tankers. The first HARSH product in his fleet, Martin decided to go for the H26 hookloader unit following both a highly positive visit to HARSH’s HQ outside York as well as a specific recommendation from Adam North at M9’s local Volvo dealer, Crossroads Truck & Bus in Lincoln.

“Our new HARSH hookloader is second to none” says Martin, “both in terms of its features and the quality of the installation, fit and finish by HARSH at their site outside York. This has been a highly bespoke project that aside from the hookloader unit itself also included chequerplate mudwings over the rear wheels, stainless steel storage lockers, toolboxes, extra LED lighting behind the cab and a drawbar coupling complete with electrical and air trailer connections – all topped off by the best vehicle paint job I’ve ever had the pleasure to own. 

HARSH has given us exactly the truck we wanted, and the end result really speaks for itself.”

The Volvo chassis carrying the HARSH bodywork is highly noteworthy too, as top-spec FH sleeper cab hookloaders are distinctly unusual. In 8×2 configuration with a lifting rear axle, manoeuvrability is maximised along with a useful reduction in unladen weight – helped further by Alcoa polished aluminium wheels fitted front to rear. The single drive 8×2 configuration is also more fuel efficient than a double drive 8×4, whilst at the front both steer axles feature larger 385/65 tyres allowing an uprated 8 tonnes capacity. And with 500 Volvo horses readily on tap progress is always easy – not just as a solo truck but also when pulling a dedicated triaxle trailer right up to the 44 tonnes legal maximum.

Started by Martin in 2016, Lincoln – based M9 HDD’s specialist drilling services have found ready appeal with all manner of clients and industries including power generators, utilities, housebuilders, highways and railways. Rather than dig trenches to lay new pipework or cables (and then cover them over again) drilling unseen access channels below the surface for these requirements not only saves valuable overall time but also has almost zero environmental impact.

Speaking for HARSH, Sales Director Harry Hustler comments “It’s been a real pleasure working with Martin in fitting out this exceptional truck. This is another example of how HARSH works closely with all its customers to give them exactly the vehicle they want, with everything being done by our own people in our own factories. We are delighted that Martin is so pleased with the end result.”