Tougher trucks for greater capacity and higher payload

By MEq June 16, 2020 22:08

With a host of upgrades that enable a Gross Combination Weight of up to 150 tonnes, the new Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16 offer greater productivity than ever before.

Boasting a tough exterior and robust design, the new heavy Volvo trucks have been built especially to handle the demanding conditions found in the mining and construction industries. Their latest reincarnations are even tougher still, with greater capacity and higher payload.

The key addition to the new heavy Volvo trucks is a new drive axle, which has been developed in-house in conjunction with Volvo Construction Equipment. Using their experience and expertise from designing axles for wheel loaders and dumpers, Volvo Trucks has been able to increase the capacity of the rear axle to 38 tonnes (up from 32 tonnes in the previous model).

The rear suspension has been upgraded and strengthened, and the front suspension reinforced, in order to handle the extra capacity. For an 8×4 truck, the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is now 58 tonnes. This represents an increased payload of around 15-17 percent.
Combined these upgrades enable the GCW to increase from 120 tonnes to an unprecedented 150 tonnes.

In brief
Reinforced front suspension – Allows for loads of up to 10 tonnes. This can be increased to 20 tonnes with double front axles.
New rear suspension – Has been strengthened with additional material including a new stronger cross member, new springs, larger rubber bearings and stronger bogie anchorage.
New drive axle – The first developed in-house at Volvo Trucks in over 20 years.

Source: Volvo Trucks