Volvo takes the lead in the heavyweight class

The Volvo FH16 is now being launched in a version for heavy haulage involving gross combination weights of up to 295 tonnes dependent upon gradient. The combination of massive power, agility and robust technology take Volvo to the very top of the heavyweight class.

“This is a solution for the very heaviest and most demanding transport assignments, one of the few solutions on the market capable of handling such high gross combination weights,” says Hayder Wokil, product manager for the long-haul segment at Volvo Trucks’ Europe Division.

Manoeuvrability and gentle starts

Volvo’s new heavyweight is a Volvo FH16 with a 16-litre engine producing 600 horsepower and 2800 Nm of torque. The engine is matched by a seven-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter, a combination that allows the truck to start off smoothly and improves its manoeuvrability at low speeds. The transmission also offers benefits on the highway. The tall seventh gear makes it possible to maintain a high average speed at relatively low engine revs. The 16-litre engine is equipped with Volvo’s VEB+ engine brake, which offers braking effect of up to 425 kW. The transmission features an integrated retarder which on its own offers braking power of up to 450 kW.

Available as a tractor

The Volvo FH16 for heavy haulage operations is available as a tractor with leaf springs or air suspension and comes in a wide range of wheel and axle combinations.

“Transports hauling gross weights of more than 200 tonnes are a growing segment in which we can now offer our customers a particularly strong alternative,” says Wokil. “Both transport cost and fuel consumption per transported tonne are lower in heavy haulage compared with rigs with lower gross combination weights, which benefits the company’s economy as well as the environment in general.”