Demolition, recycling and quarry specialists Thompson’s of Prudhoe, near Newcastle upon Tyne, have taken delivery of the North-East’s first new-generation Volvo FL’s – four 4×2 skiploaders.
The long-time Volvo customer cites the relationship with Volvo Dealer, Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North at Washington and the reliability of the product as the reasons for choosing the 240bhp, 18 tonne GVW trucks, which will mostly be deployed on skip-hire work.
“We have operated Volvo’s since the mid 1970s,†says John Thompson Snr, the company’s Chairman and son of William and Margaret Thompson who founded it in 1948. “Our first Volvo trucks were 6-wheelers; today we run approximately 80, out of a fleet of 130, of various types from 44 tonne tractor units and 8-wheel tippers down to skiploaders like these. We choose Volvo because of our relationship with our local Volvo dealer and, of course, there’s Volvo’s reliability, and the drivers are also very happy with the product.â€
The FL’s are equipped with 9-speed manual transmission and steel rear-suspension. While two of the trucks have Day cabs, the others have the larger, Medium cab for added comfort on longer journeys. All the cabs feature ‘Comfort’ trim and are fitted with CD players. The skiploading gear is by Edbro and the trucks have additional front centreline mirrors to aid safe manoeuvring.
Skips collected by the FL’s will go to the company’s four recycling plants, which can reclaim around 95% of construction waste.
The vehicles are all on a three-year Repair and Maintenance contract with Volvo Truck and Bus Centre at Washington.
The Volvo Grtoup is investing a total of SEK 935 M in an assembly facility for trucks in Russia. The investment is being made to meet increasing demand on the fast-growing markets in Russia and the former countries in the Soviet Union. The new facility will have a capacity of 10,000 Volvo trucks and 5,000 Renault trucks per year.
The facility will be located in the city of Kaluga, approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Moscow. A final agreement with the authorities in Kaluga is expected to be signed in the near future and the new facility is scheduled to be completed in 2009.Sales on the Russian market of new western trucks have increased by nearly 100% annually during the past two years and the Volvo Group’s sales on the Russian market have had a similar development. Since 2003, sales of new Volvo trucks have grown from slightly less than 500 vehicles to 2,500 last year. Renault Trucks, which became established on the Russian market in 2004, has also increased its sales and sold 600 trucks last year.
In addition, the demand for used trucks from Western Europe has been strong in Russia (about 5,000 used Volvo trucks were imported in 2006), but Russian customers are now increasingly choosing to purchase new vehicles. Continued increased demand for new vehicles from Western Europe is expected in the years immediately ahead.
Since 2003, the Volvo Trucks has operated a smaller assembly plant in Zelenograd just outside Moscow. The facility has a capacity of about 500 vehicles a year and is today working at full capacity.
In 1973, Volvo Trucks was the first Western truck manufacturer to deliver vehicles to what was then the Soviet Union. Today, about 31,000 Volvo trucks roll on Russian roads, corresponding to 23% of the total foreign-make fleet. This makes Volvo by far the largest brand on the market.
Through the sales of mainly used trucks, Renault Trucks has also succeeded in building a strong position on the Russian market and today there are a total of about 12,000 Renault trucks in operation in Russia.
Volvo Trucks recently invested SEK 100 M in a wholly-owned service facility strategically located just south of St. Petersburg on the expressway to Moscow.
Currently, Volvo Trucks already has 31 authorized service locations throughout Russia.
Since becoming established in Russia in 2004, Renault Trucks has built a service network at a rapid pace and currently has 17 service centers in the country.
Volvo Group truck makers Mack Trucks Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America today characterized the recently issued Environmental Protection Agency guidance on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) as a key step in the ongoing effort to dramatically reduce diesel engine emissions, specifically with regard to federal regulations scheduled to take effect in 2010.“This document is a critical guideline for the many stakeholders dedicated to bringing this important emissions control technology to the United States,†said Mack president and CEO Paul L. Vikner. “We are convinced that in addition to its environmental benefits, SCR will deliver the fuel economy, reliability, and performance Mack customers demand; and we’re committed to working with the EPA, the truck industry, and other stakeholders to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support this solution.â€
Volvo likewise said it considers the guidance an important step in the effort to bring this technology solution to market.
“We are convinced that SCR is the best choice for continuing to dramatically reduce diesel engine emissions in 2010, while delivering optimal performance and fuel efficiency for our customers,†said Volvo Trucks North America president and CEO Peter Karlsten. “The EPA has provided an important guide for the many stakeholders working to address the urea infrastructure and other issues necessary to bring this clean diesel technology to the North American market.â€
Mack, according to the news release, has been successfully running SCR systems on prototype trucks since 2000, logging more than 2 million miles on 10 customer vehicles. Mack’s parent company, the Volvo Group, has logged more than 23 million miles of SCR road testing in Europe, and has produced more than 40,000 SCR-equipped vehicles since the Euro 4 emissions standards took effect in October 2006.
Volvo Trucks North America reported it has accumulated more than six million test miles with SCR systems on customer trucks in the U.S.
Volvo Cars new booster seat helps protect children who have outgrown their toddler seat. In combination with an extended Inflatable Curtain and new, stronger side body structure, and load limiting seat belts this world’s first two-step integrated booster cushion recently received international acknowledgement as a unique engineering solution to give children a safe and comfortable travel experience.
At this year’s World Traffic Safety Symposium a panel of judges from Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, National Road Safety Foundation, and New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo received first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design. “Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children,” commented Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden. “This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries.”
Safety Potential Prediction
Seat belt positioning for children of different heights is important for better placement and protection. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps reduce abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and emphasizes the importance of booster seats, and that the booster be designed to hold the belt firmly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact. The overall effectiveness (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale) of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to using only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion offers a potentially significant safety benefit.
Booster Cushion Usage
For children using a booster cushion different types of misuse varies depending on which study is analyzed, but the share is significant. According to a study carried out by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2004), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common occurring misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit. In Germany, the misuse rate was reported to be 46.8 percent. A Spanish study identified that nearly 50 percent of the children aged 6 to 12 restrained with a child restraint had some type of misuse, the most common being the seat belt placed behind the child.
Children’s Attitudes Toward Booster Cushion
A questionnaire-based study[1] on 4 to 11 year old Australian children reported that one of the reasons for moving the child from a booster to the adult seat belt only (69 percent) was primarily that the child was too big for the booster. Another major reason was the child disliked sitting in a booster and would be more comfortable using only the seat belt and, not surprisingly, the child thought they were too ‘grown-up’ for a booster cushion. The study concluded that the design of booster cushions should have the capacity to seat larger children as well as being more appealing to children. By offering the integrated two-stage booster cushions, Volvo believes the level of acceptance will increase among this age group.
Combined Safety System
“We took into account the child’s physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat,” noted Broberg. “There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: ‘Are we there yet?’”
Vehicle Option
This new child safety feature will be available this fall in the all-new 2008 XC70 crossover wagon, followed in February 2008 in the all-new 2008 V70. The single option includes two rear-seat mounted integrated booster seats and two pyrotechnically pretensioned seat belts with new load limiters to accommodate children using this booster cushion and normally positioned adults. Both seats fold flat to expand the cargo compartment and are indistinguishable from rear seats without this option.
Ahoy, raise the main sail, maties! “Somewhere in the World,” Volvo Car Corporation has sunk real-life treasure - a chest filled with $50,000s worth of gold doubloons plus a key to a brand new Volvo XC90 - and will soon be taking would-be pirates on a virtual high seas adventure to find it. Volvo’s online treasure hunt, inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, starts May 4 simultaneously in 22 countries.
Last summer, Volvo embarked on its official partnership with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise by launching a global online treasure hunt for a buried Volvo XC90 V8. The hunt, like the movie, was a huge success and drew more than 100,000 participants from around the world. This year, with more countries participating and even more booty at stake, Volvo’s hunt promises to be bigger and better, with more than 6,000 treasure hunters already pre-registered.
“We had such a great response to the hunt last year that we really did feel the pressure to come up with something equally cool and attention grabbing this year,” said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager for Volvo Cars of North America. “So, yes, we really did sink a treasure chest to the ocean floor filled with gold and the key to a new Volvo. It’s sitting there right now just waiting to be found.”
Volvo will release more details about the hunt May 3. All pirates, swashbucklers and scallywags are invited to register now at http://volvocars.us/thehuntsignup.html.
Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson,
the founders of Volvo
Volvo AV4, rolled off the production line at the plant in Hisingen, Gothenburg. Meanwhile, Volvo has developed into both a global manufacturer of commercial vehicles and a world-leading carmaker. Volvo’s founders were convinced that the company’s products had to be safe if Volvo was to make the grade as a vehicle manufacturer and 80 years of successful operations has proved the correctness of this approach.
A modest start Back in the 1920s, business conditions for the hundreds of car manufacturers around the world were far from favorable. The world economy was only just beginning to recover after the war. Many of the smaller independent car manufacturers could not make ends meet, and were forced out of business. However, Volvo’s founders, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson were not to be deterred.
Determined to get a Swedish car industry under way, the two entrepreneurs, both of whom had backgrounds at the Swedish ball-bearing manufacturer, SKF, set to work. They would build their first cars according to a unique concept - simplicity rather than complexity, quality rather than low price, and a construction based on own components rather than purchased components.
Their efforts paid off. The first car, the AV4, came off the production line in Gothenburg, Western Sweden, in April 1927. However, the car was not a major success, as it was an open-roof model, and not ideal for the cold Swedish climate. Gabrielsson and Larson had more success with their first truck, the LV1, which left the factory a year later.
By the end of the 1920s, Volvo began exporting its vehicles, initially to Sweden’s neighboring country, Finland.
The 1930s - Volvo continues to grow
If Volvo got off to a modest start in the 1920s, it made up for it in the 1930s. One success followed the other, and the Volvo brand became known in places far away from the factory on the island of Hisingen in Gothenburg.
After the first passenger car from 1927 and the first truck in 1928, Volvo followed with a bus, the B1, which was presented in 1934. It received great acclaim, but sales never really took off. It was not until 1936, when Volvo introduced its new omnibus models, that sales volumes really began to increase.
After just a few years, Volvo had established itself as the leading truck brand in Sweden. Several thousand trucks were now being sold each year, and production capacity was gradually increased.
Probably the most important event during the 1930s for Volvo was its acquisition of the Penta plant in Skövde, Sweden, which was founded as far back as 1907. With Penta, Volvo gained control of both development, production and quality control of engines for all its products.
The 1940s - a new start
For Volvo, the 1940s were, of course, very much influenced by the Second World War. Even while supplying the Swedish defence forces with vehicles and the civil population with wood gas generators, Volvo continued to look to the future, and to develop products which would provide post-war customers with top-class products.
Volvo continued to make strategic acquisitions during the 1940s. When it acquired Svenska Flygmotor (now known as Volvo Aero) in Trollhättan, north of Gothenburg, in 1941, Volvo gained access not only to a completely new range of products, but also to high technology competence which would be of great benefit to the other companies in the growing Volvo Group.
In the following year, 1942, Volvo took over Köpings Mekaniska Werkstad, thereby gaining control over its gearbox production as well as its engine production.
The biggest event of the 1940’s for Volvo was without a doubt the Stockholm Fair in 1944. The new passenger car, the PV444 was introduced, along with the first Diesel Trucks, the first diesel bus and the first tractor, a T41. All four products would ensure that Volvo was firmly placed as a leading vehicle manufacturer, not just in Sweden, but in the whole world.
Up until now, Volvo’s success was mainly due to its commercial vehicle range, but the passenger car business was becoming more and more successful.
The 1950s
During the 1950s, Volvo reaped the benefits of the investments it had been making. A broadening range of new products continued to attract new groups of customers.
In 1950, it acquired Bolinder–Munktell (a company which dated back to 1832), an investment which would give a good return and which would turn Volvo into the “engine†of modernisation of Swedish agriculture.
Volvo/Bolinder–Munktell presented its first construction vehicle in 1954. The revolutionary truck known as Titan (with trubo engine) and the L420 Snabbe (with a Volvo-designed front-driven steel cab and powerful V8 engine), along with the mid-engine bus B655 strengthened Volvo’s dominance in the commercial vehicle segment. The PV445 Duett, P1200 Amazon and PV544 passenger cars met with immediate success both “at home†in Sweden and around the world, not least in North America, which would soon become the biggest passenger car market for Volvo.
Nils Bohlin 1959 Inventor of the 3-point safety belt |
The new truck factory ’Spetsbågen’ on the island of Hisingen in Gothenburg (1953) provided the company with the production capacity it now desperately needed in order to supply the ever-increasing number of customers with commercial vehicles of high quality.
During the final years of the 1950s, Volvo Penta presented not only the unique, direct injection diesel engine, the MD1, but also the revolutionary Acquamatic. These products brought Volvo to the forefront of the marine engine industry.
During the 1950s, Volvo began to concentrate on improving the safety aspect of its vehicles. In 1959, Volvo became the first car manufacturer in the world to make 3-point seat belts a standard feature in all its passenger cars. The 1960s
PV 544, 1960, in the Volvo Windtunnel |
Before the Second World War, Volvo had manufactured largely for the Scandinavian markets. In the 1960s, Volvo decided it was time to expand its horizons further afield. In 1965, a truck and car assembly plant was opened in Gent, Belgium. Volvo began its global expansion in earnest, opening a new passenger car factory in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1968. During the following years, many more assembly plants would be opened in other locations around the world.
Production capacity at home, however, was also increased. In 1963-64 a new factory was opened in Gothenburg, in an area called Torslanda on the island of Hisingen. In the new factory, production of passenger cars and commercial vehicles was completely separate.Product-wise, the 1960s saw several revolutionary years. The System 8 truck range (1965), the new “B50 series†buses (1966) and the 144 passenger car (1966) were among the safest and most economical vehicles in their segments.
The 1970s
In the 1970s, Volvo set about carrying its core values of quality, safety and care for the environment into not only its production facilities, but also its products.
The VESC, “Volvo Environmental Safety Carâ€, and the F10/F12/Globetrotter truck series brought Volvo to the forefront in the areas of quality, safety and environment.
The 1980s
At the beginning of the 1980s, Volvo was essentially a European company with a certain amount of sales outside of Europe. However, during the 1980s, Volvo was to become truly global. With the acquisition of the US truck manufacturer, White Motor Corporation, and great progress in North America, South America, Asia and Australia, Volvo was slowly but surely becoming one of the world’s leading truck manufacturers and a significant niche player in the passenger car business. Some examples of comfortable, safe Volvo products from the 1980’s were the 760GLE passenger car (1982), the C10M tourist bus (1984) and the FL6, FL7 and FL10 truck series (1985).
Volvo strengthened its position as a leading manufacturer of construction equipment when it joined forces with an American company to build Volvo Michigan Euclid. Today the company is known as Volvo Construction Equipment and is one of the major players in the construction equipment industry, with a broad range of products and dealers all over the world.
The 1990s
During the 1990s, Volvo’s vehicle range became more and more modern, efficient and environmentally-friendly. Volvo continued to make strategic acquisitions in the both the construction equipment and bus chassis areas.
Examples of some of the new products launched during the 1990’s were the new generation of trucks (FH12/FH16, VN, FM7/FM10/FM12, NH12, where all models shared a “global product platformâ€, along with a wide range of busses with rear-mounted engines.
In 1998, Volvo launched the S80 passenger car to great acclaim. Shortly afterwards, in the spring of 1999, Volvo divested Volvo Car Corporation to the Ford Motor Company, claiming that Ford would be in a better position to provide VCC with the “significant investments required in both the development of new car generations and in distributionâ€, and that VCC’s future prospects would, by being an important part of one of the world´s largest and most profitable automotive groups, improve considerably. Three years on, Volvo Cars is an integral part of the Premier Automotive Group within the Ford Motor Company, and has indeed gone from strength.
By the end of the 1990’s, Volvo had established a strong foothold in Asia. Volvo trucks, buses and construction equipment were being assembled in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, to name but a few Volvo Construction had successfully completed the acquisition of Samsung of Korea, and the integration of the company into the Volvo Group.
21st century
During the early years of the third millennium, Volvo Group has strengthened its position as a world-leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles, construction equipment, marine and industrial engines and services and products for the aerospace industry. Products have been launched on a regular basis by all Volvo companies and several innovative solutions have been presented. Volvo Penta’s launch of the IPS (Inboard Performance System) system has revolutionized the boat industry and the Volvo Group’s unique hybrid solution for heavy vehicles has attracted considerable attention.
Volvo has continued its rapid growth and the early part of the 21st century has been characterized by several acquisitions. On January 2, 2001, the Volvo Group became Europe’s largest and the world’s second largest manufacturer of heavy trucks as a result of the acquisition of Renault V.I., with such makes as Renault and Mack. Both of these truck manufacturers are now well integrated into the Group and access to considerable and coordinated resources has enabled them to launch new and improved products, specifically adapted to the unique needs of their various customers. Volvo Trucks has continued to grow in the global market and to date in the 21st century has renewed its entire product offering.
Volvo Construction Equipment’s development into a more global and complete manufacturer started during the 1990s and has continued into the current decade. The company has now cemented a position as the world’s third largest manufacturer of construction equipment. At the beginning of 2007, the American company Ingersoll Rand’s division for highway construction equipment and Lingong, a Chinese manufacturer of wheel loaders, were acquired. The latter transaction made Volvo CE the world’s largest manufacturer of wheel loaders.
A few months later, the Volvo Group completed a strategically important transaction in Asia – the acquisition of the Japanese truck maker Nissan Diesel. This gave the Volvo Group a presence in Asia similar to that developed in North America and Europe.
In the engine area, the 21st century has entailed a comprehensive shift. A total of 18 engine families have become two, and the Volvo Group is now the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy diesel engines, offering the world’s most modern engine program. The new family of heavy engines satisfies all of the known emission requirements that will gradually become effective up to 2014. As a result of the high growth rate, the Volvo Group has become Sweden’s largest company by far, with nearly 100,000 employees worldwide and sales of nearly SEK 300 billion.
Ingrid Skogsmo, Director Volvo Cars Safety Centre |
For Volvo Cars, the 21st century has been characterized by aggressive launches of new cars and expansion into new segments. The greatest success to date has been the introduction of the XC90 SUV model. Ford Motor Company’s ownership resulted in economies of scale and new technologies that formed the foundation for the development of the S40, V50, S80 and most recently the third generation V70 and XC70 models. Volvo Cars made a further aggressive move in 2006, through the introduction of the compact and youthful Volvo C30.
The company has also excited the market through a number of successful concept cars, of which the Safety Concept Car (SCC) and Your Concept Car (YCC) have attracted most attention. The latter car was designed by a completely female project management. The XC60 concept is the latest in a line of concept cars indicating Volvo Cars‘ new design orientation.Volvo Cars is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and currently has approximately 25,500 employees in various parts of the world.
Tags: Volvo cars, Volvo trucks for sale
Truck and trailer makers are offering 2007 models certified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program. The EPA says the trucks can save owners $11,000 annually while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollutants.
Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt and Volvo are participating in the program. SmartWay-designated models include the International ProStar and Volvo VN and, in 2008, the Freightliner Century Class S/T and Columbia.
SmartWay-approved equipment can reduce fuel consumption 10 to 20 percent by reducing wind resistance, the EPA says. Each Smartway truck can save 2,000 to 4,000 gallons of diesel per year – or $5,680 to $11,360, at current retail prices.
SmartWay trucks or engines have:
Integrated cab-high roof fairings.
Tractor-mounted side fairing gap reducers.
Tractor fuel-tank side fairings.
Aerodynamic bumpers and mirrors.
Reduced-idling options such as auxiliary power units, generator sets, direct fired heaters, battery-powered HVAC systems and automatic engine start/stop systems.
Options for low-rolling resistance tires, singles or duals.SmartWay trailers have:
Side skirts.
Weight-saving technologies.
Gap reducers on the front or trailer tails, either extenders or boat tails.
Options for low-rolling resistance tires, singles or duals.Any company may buy SmartWay tractors and Trailers, but only registered SmartWay Transport Partners may display the SmartWay logo. Existing trailers also can be upgraded with the SmartWay attachments.
The EPA says it will set more ambitious performance targets for Smartway tractor-trailers in the future and is developing guidelines for recognizing other vehicles such as delivery vans – in which hybrid technology can dramatically improve fuel efficiency.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a program developed by EPA and the freight industry to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and to promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
Carriers in the SmartWay Transport Partnership include Barr-Nunn Transportation, Con-Way Freight, J.B. Hunt and YRC Worldwide. Shipper partners include Lowe’s and Home Depot. Shipper-carrier partners include Bridgestone Firestone North America and Tyson Foods.
For more information, call (734) 214-4767 or visit www.epa.gov/smartway.
The Volvo VHD vocational truck and tractor are now available with a factory-installed 42-inch sleeper cab, the company announced today. Designated the Volvo VHD 430, it is designed for customers who need a comfortable and efficient sleeper to meet hours of service regulations, without sacrificing reliability or performance in demanding vocational applications, company officials said.
Volvo Trucks North America will show the new VHD 430 to the public for the first time April 12-14 at ExpoCam in Montreal, Quebec.
Volvo said the VHD 430 is designed for customers who want the VHD’s ability to operate in demanding conditions with large or heavy loads, while providing drivers with the sleeper berth required by hours of service regulations. The VHD was previously only available with a daycab.
“The Volvo VHD brings the innovation and technology Volvo is known for with its highway trucks to the vocational market,†Brent Weary, regional vice president for sales and marketing for Volvo Trucks Canada, said. “The VHD has always given drivers an outstanding working environment, with a strong emphasis on safety, along with the durability that our vocational customers demand.
“Now, with the VHD 430, we can put this great vocational truck to work in applications that require a sleeper. The VHD 430 has a very comfortable 42-inch sleeper, made to Volvo’s standards and backed by Volvo’s warranty.â€
Volvo said the VHD 430 is highly customizable and comes as a 6×4, 8×4 or 8×6 tractor or truck, in axle forward and axle back configurations. They said the VHD’s basic design is highly flexible to accommodate a wide variety of factory-installed options, with multiple axles, frame rails options and a wide list of available components.
Major features include:
• Volvo D13 engine, with up to 485 hp and 1650 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmissions — Volvo I-Shift 12-speed automated manual transmission; Eaton Fuller 10- to 18-speed manuals and AutoShift; Allison automatic.
• Front axle to 20,000-pound capacity.
• Front axle position at 29.1 and 51.2 inches.
• Volvo T-Ride rear suspensions up to 70,000-pound capacity; optional Hendrickson suspensions.
• Frame rails available in five thicknesses (up to 0.44 inches thick), with 1.88 million to 4.2 million RBM.
• One-piece cab and sleeper, constructed of robotically-welded high-strength steel (HSS).
• Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology (VEST) for advanced traction and stability control, and rollover protection.
• Standard Volvo Link Sentry remote vehicle monitoring and Volvo Action Service coverage
The sleeper’s one-piece design eliminates the compromises necessary to mount aftermarket sleeper boxes, such as the risk of reduced structural integrity from cutting away the back wall, and eliminating the risk of water and air leaks at the seal between sleeper boxes and cabs, Weary said.
“The one-piece construction also means less noise intrusion and better thermal insulation, while the entire cab and sleeper is covered by Volvo’s cab structure warranty of 72 months/750,000 miles/15,000 operating hours. Integrated construction means tighter, more reliable, and better overall design for the complete vehicle.â€
The VHD 430’s sleeper has 118 cubic feet of space. Inside the sleeper is a full-length bed, with windshield and sleeper curtains to ensure a good sleep environment for off-duty drivers.
