New Volvo FMX praised in press test

Volvo’s new truck for construction duties, the Volvo FMX, has been test-driven by journalists for the first time in a real-life gravel quarry location in Kållered, south of Gothenburg in Sweden. The test site offered difficult driving conditions and was ideal for checking out how well the Volvo FMX meets the tough requirements imposed on a construction truck.

Brian Weatherley of the popular BigLorryBlog says of the new Volvo FMX, “When it comes to existing out on the road in real life, this truck will last,” adding of the new I-Shift, “It has made a very good product even better.”

His thoughts were echoed by Steev Hayes, Editor of ‘Trucking’ magazine, who says, “It’s a very, very good truck; it’s right up there with the best,” and Matthew Eisenegger of ‘Truck & Plant Trader’ who declared of the new FMX, “It handled very, very well in extreme territory.”

“The automated I-Shift transmission is now really excellent,” says Pieter Wieman from TTM in the Netherlands, adding “The software has been improved so it is ideal for difficult terrain and for off-road. You don’t need to think about shifting gear. Instead you’re free to concentrate fully on your driving, on the road and on any danger or other problems in your immediate vicinity. This is also a safety issue.”

The Volvo FMX was launched simultaneously at the Bauma construction fair in Munich and the Comtrans fair in Moscow last April. In May, 150 journalists specialising in the transport and construction sectors from 30 countries in Europe visited Gothenburg to test-drive the truck in a demanding construction environment.

The Volvo FMX will be displayed once again at the Hillhead Show at Buxton in June, the Elmia Truck Show in Jönköping, Sweden in August and at IAA in Hannover in September with series production getting under way this September.