The latest improvements to the Volvo FH cab, together with the introduction of a new high-roof option on the FM, provide fleet operators with a brace of trucks that will help them retain driver loyalty.
From our perspective, having driven the new FH, the interior changes answer most, if not all of the criticisms levelled at the previous model by drivers and operators alike - including the lack of storage space in the dash, and not enough room for drivers when standing up and moving around the cab.
The FH's revised dashboard comes with a large storage drawer and cubby holes for odds and ends, plus a USB port and Bluetooth phone connections, while the centre section of the reworked front overhead locker unit has been hollowed out so a standing driver can turn around without hitting his shoulder on the cupboards.
Volvo has fitted roller shutters, instead of lids, to the front overhead lockers - and as in the Renault Magnum, the passenger seat can now swivel 90º and recline, allowing the driver to stretch his legs.
The FH's bottom bunk has changed from a fixed base unit to an adjustable 'lounger' type bed - similar to that in the new Mercedes-Benz Actros - which can be adjusted from flat to 50°. More importantly, drivers can now access the exterior lockers from inside the cab (a long-held complaint) as the bed base lifts up easily via two gas-operated struts. The bottom bunk is longer too, with the previous end-of-bed lockable safe now located under the bed for greater security.
Volvo has taken a leaf out of the Daf Super Space Cab book by adding two large under-bunk, slide-out lockers (one of 60-litre capacity, the other of 20-litre) with the largest locker capable of taking a 27-litre fridge. Further storage space has been added to the back and side walls, while the top bunk on twin-sleeper cabs has been raised to provide more headroom for a driver sitting on the bottom bunk. Single-occupancy vehicles retain the top rear wall lockers, which can take a factory-fitted microwave or fridge. Other improvements include a multi-position table and bottle holder, which both run along a track in front of the bottom bunk.
A new four-stage lighting package controlled by a rotating switch in the headliner provides a variety of lighting options, while on the outside the previous combined (and expensive to replace) single headlamp/fog/spot unit has been divided, with the main headlamp glass replaced by an impact-resistant plastic lens.
In addition to long-life LED indicator lights, Volvo is offering an optional 'cornering' light that casts a broader beam around the nearside front corner to help drivers avoid accidental kerb damage at night. Other options include a Driver Alert System to warn the driver if he is becoming drowsy.
Although the latest FH cab looks little different from the outside, the lower front grille has been modified so more air can pass through to the radiator.
Reaching up higher on FM
Volvo has extended the driver appeal of its FM fleet tractor with a new high-roof cab called the Globetrotter LXL that offers an additional 14cm of headroom over the previous Globetrotter version. It adds a modest 25kg to 30kg to the cab weight and provides more living room for drivers.
Its immediate rivals will be the newly-launched Scania G-range and Highline P-cab as well as Daf's CF Space Cab. Despite its increased height, the LXL cab exhibits very little cab sway out on the road. Moreover, the increased headroom means an average-sized driver can pretty much stand upright on the engine hump when dressing.
New D11 fills the gap
Alongside the new FH cab, Volvo launched its D11 engine for FM tractors, based on a stroked and reworked version of its smaller D9, nine-litre six-pot. Rated at either 390hp or 430hp, with 1,880Nm and 2,100Nm of torque respectively, it sits between the D9 that stops at 380hp and the D13 that comes in at 400hp in the FH.
The D11 is 140kg lighter than the D13 and is aimed at supermarkets and bulk/tank hauliers. We recently drove a fully laden 40-tonne FM tanker with the D11 at 430hp and can confirm that it is a torquey unit with strong potential among fleet buyers, who typically run the Renault Premium with the similar Dxi11 engine derived from the same block.
Related used vehicles for sale
