Volvo Trucks Southern Africa has launched 15 new truck models into the market place.Simon Foulds attended the launch at Gerotek outside Pretoria.

Torbjörn Christensson, managing director of Volvo Trucks Southern Africa, says: “The launch of our flagship range, the FH, as well as the new FM and FMX ranges, signals a new era in the history of our company. With the launch, we now have almost entirely new product offering for our customers.

“We believe that the region holds untold potential and are committed to contribute to its successful development by providing products and services that suit Southern Africa’s very unique business and operating conditions. We are making these investments in order to more effectively support our dealers and customers going into the future.”

The launch of the FH range in South Africa follows closelyon the heels of it being announced as the International Truck of the Year. The award was decided by some of Europe’s leading commercial vehicle journalists, representing 25 publications.

Claes Nilsson, Volvo Trucks’ president, adds: “When we introduced the new FH in Europe in 2012, we claimed that it was pushing the envelope of what a premium truck could offer.The International Truck of the Year award confirms that the Volvo FH lives up to this promise.”

At the FH Series’ launch in South Africa, Nilsson said that it is becoming increasingly important for the company to keep careful pace with a developing region like Southern Africa.

Nilsson adds:“Going into the future, it is becoming more and more important to explore and understand a region’s local operating environment and to adapt our business in order to meet our customers’ transport requirements.Operating in South Africa for over 13 years, we believe we are able to meet these unique requirements and offer our local customers total transport solutions and support.

“As transport operators expand their operations throughout the region, Volvo Trucks SA is there to capture this market demand and support customers every step of the way.

“The launch of the FH and FM/FMX model ranges signals of one of the most intensive and exciting periods in the history of Volvo Trucks. With the most modern and innovative Volvo line-up ever, we now have an outstanding ability to help customers in all segments to improve productivity and profitability.”

“We believe that Volvo Trucks Southern Africa is leading the way in supporting fleet owners in a modern and interactive yet very practical way.”

Prior to the launch of the new trucks, Volvo Trucks South Africaspent months training its dealer staff in order to effectively support their customers.Innovative support offerings include a new telematics system, a mobile phone application and numerous fuel saving features to effectively assist fleet owners in cutting their transport costs.

New FH series

In Southern Africa, the Volvo FH range will be available in eight model variants.Although the company is introducing Euro 3 variants as standard due to current local fuel legislation, Euro 5 and 6 level variants are available on request for fleet owners who wish to utilise this technology.The Volvo FH Euro 3 units will be assembled at the company’s Durban plant, with the first units expected to be delivered in April 2014.

New FM/FMX range

The FM and FMX models are very closely related to the taller FH Series, but are designed to be far and away Volvo’s most versatile heavy truck range.

Christensson says:“The FM is a highly efficient truck platform that takes especially steering and handling in this industry segment to a whole new level. Meanwhile, the Volvo FMX is extremely robust and packed with innovative solutions and is comfortable to drive even in challenging operating conditions.”

FM range

He adds:“With its multiple application areas, the Volvo FM, which is based on the same chassis platform as the new Volvo FH, is one of our most important models, and the new version takes a huge step forward in every major area.It embodies our very latest technological advances, progress on and off road is more stable, and the truck is more comfortable and efficient.Most importantly, the new Volvo FM is easy to customise to suit individual transport requirements.”

FMX range

The Volvo FMX has specifically been developed for construction applications and is available in six model derivatives.

Christensson says:“We believe the FMX range sets a new standard when it comes to robustness, handling and driver comfort. With its launch, Volvo Trucks breaks new ground in the construction segment.”

Uptime

A new electronic structure in the Volvo range is a communication unit known as the Telematics Gateway (standard on the range), which links up the truck remotely via the GSM network. This allows the workshop to monitor the vehicle’s condition from afar, keeping a watch on brake and clutch wear, as well as the condition of the battery and air drier filter.

Volvo Action Service (VAS) on Call is another new feature that increases security for the driver. Inside the truck, this new feature can be seen primarily in the new VAS button in the instrument panel. Press once and the system connects the truck to the VAS customer helpdesk. Information transmitted from the truck allows the driver to be connected to a coordinator who speaks the driver’s mothertongue.

Christensson states:”The coordinator receives direct information about the truck’s exact location. If the vehicle is equipped with Dynafleet, the coordinator can also see who is making the call. The registration number and chassis number are also transmitted simultaneously.This automated system saves valuable time and delivers help to the truck driver that much faster.”

VAS can also transmit the truck’s fault codes to a Volvo workshop. The fault codes allow the service technician to prepare whatever is needed from the outset, which in turn enables the truck to get back in operation as soon as possible.

“Instead of needing to drive out to the truck, check it, drive back to the workshop for the right parts and then return with the necessary spares and tools, everything can be brought along on the very first trip. In this way, the VAS button cuts lead times and generates additional uptime.

“Nowadays, information is a means of competitiveness in the transportation business. Keeping track of a fleet is necessary to maintain a clear overview of the operations, and exact information makes it easier for everybody involved in the transport chain to make the right decision.

“Transport information systems give fleet owners full control whatever the size of their fleets. The bottomline is increased revenue through improved utilisation and lower operating expenses through fuel control and optimised administration.”

Christensson concludes: “Now that the workshop can see the actual wear, it can postpone or advance the next service as needed. This allows the transport operator to avoid unnecessary visits to the workshop and can thus increase the truck’s uptime.”