Volvo in pilot project for climate-efficient timber transportation

In January 2009 a pilot project will get under way that may lead to a radical decrease in the climate impact of Sweden’s timber transport operations. The goals are fewer vehicles, lower emissions and continued high traffic safety. Behind the project are companies and institutions such as the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, the Swedish Road Administration, SCA and Volvo Trucks.

The aim of the ‘En trave till’ (One More Pile) project is to use new technology to let two timber trucks do the same work that today requires three vehicles. Previous results indicate that fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are cut by about 20 per cent per tonne-kilometre. The test will last for three years and will validate test results in practical everyday operations.

The same amount of transport work with fewer trucks
“Longer vehicle combinations benefit both the environment and our customers. The solution we are now testing considerably reduces climate impact and fuel consumption, without in any way compromising on safety,” says Lars Mårtensson, environmental affairs director at Volvo Trucks.

The timber truck being used in the project is a Volvo FH16-660 which has received special exemption from the Swedish Road Administration to travel the 170 kilometre long stretch between Överkalix and SCA’s facility in Munksund in Norrbotten, northern Sweden. The truck has been built for a payload of 60 tonnes, as opposed to the current limit of 40 tonnes.

Decreased road wear and increased safety
The combination has been built on a modular design, making it possible to use already existing equipment with a few minor adjustments, but combined in a different way. The new combination, which is six metres longer than today’s timber trucks, makes it easier to load correctly and to optimise the load’s distribution. Despite far higher gross weight, the load per axle is lower than for a conventional timber truck, thus reducing wear on the road surface.

Driving this combination requires an experienced driver, but according to Volvo Trucks it is no more complicated than handling today’s 24-metre timber trucks. Safety and stability are of the same high level as before and the risk of accidents is reduced with fewer vehicles on the roads.

“By testing this system in practical everyday operations, we gain valuable experience for our ongoing work on the development of climate-efficient and safe transport solutions that are also profitable for our customers. This is a welcome development for the forestry industry,” says Hans Börjesson, Nordic Region Manager at Volvo Trucks.