Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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Volvo debuts Optimized Series regional haul truck models V olvo Trucks North America rolled out its Optimized Series designed to boost fuel efficiency and payload capacity for regional haul carriers. The series, now available to order, includes eight models equipped with fuel- and weight-saving specifications to deliver added value for regional tanker, bulk haul, refrigerated, dry van and flatbed applications. As part of the Optimized Series, Volvo also is offering a mid-roof design for its VNM 430 and VNL 430 sleepers to provide additional headroom. Volvo Trucks' Optimized Series of vehicles includes: VNM 200 and VNL 300 daycabs; VNM 430 and VNL 430 flat-top sleepers; VNM 430 and VNL 430 mid-roof sleepers; and VNM 630 and VNL 630 mid-roof sleepers. Optimized daycabs, 430 sleepers and the VNM 630 feature the Volvo D11 engine with 405 horsepower and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque, and the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission. The optimized VNL 630 model is spec'd with a Volvo D13 engine featuring 435 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque. All Optimized Series models use an aluminum fifth wheel, Michelin wide-base single tires, aluminum wheels, a 6×2 tandem rear axle configuration with a rear tag axle and Volvo's Optimized Air Suspension rated up to 38,000 pounds. Exceptional efficiency Volvo also expanded its fuel-efficient XE – exceptional efficiency – powertrain package lineup with the introduction of XE11 for its 11-liter Volvo D11 engine. Available on Volvo VNM and VNL models and rated up to 80,000 pounds GCWR, XE11 is suited for less-than-truckload, distribution, bulk haul and other regional applications. XE packages improve fuel efficiency by lowering engine rpm at a given vehicle speed, a concept Volvo calls downspeeding. XE combines Volvo's I-Shift overdrive transmission and a Volvo engine with modified software to allow the engine to cruise with about 200 fewer rpms. Fuel efficiency improves by about 1.5 percent for every 100 rpm of downspeeding, so customers spec'ing the XE package can expect up to a 3 percent improvement, the company said. – Jack Roberts Text INFO to 205-289-3554 or visit www.ccjdigital.com/info 24 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2013