In Volvo’s latest YouTube video ‘Volvo Trucks v 750 Tonnes’, a Volvo FH16 featuring the new I-Shift automated transmission with crawler gears faces an extreme heavy haulage challenge. With the world’s strongest man, Magnus Samuelsson, and trucking journalist Brian Weatherley in the driver’s cab, the Volvo FH16 attempts to pull 750 tonnes from rest!
“I-Shift with crawler gears offers starting traction that is unlike anything else on the market for series-produced trucks. The new crawler ratios make it possible to haul really heavy loads, start off in difficult terrain and drive at speeds as low as 0.5 km/h (0.3mph). Specially-built trucks are normally used for exceptionally heavy loads, but here we’re using a Volvo FH16 with a driveline that has come straight from the factory,” says Peter Hardin, Product Manager FM and FMX at Volvo Trucks.
The Volvo FH16 used in the test features I-Shift with crawler gears and the strongest axles from Volvo’s regular product range. The truck is driven by Magnus Samuelsson, former holder of the ‘World’s Strongest Man’ title and at his side he has experienced truck journalist Brian Weatherley.
“Few things can match the sense of challenging and winning over one’s physical limitations. I’ve faced many tough challenges over the years, but this pull is my heaviest ever,” says Magnus Samuelsson.
“That Volvo Trucks has developed an automatic transmission that can haul 325 tonnes gross combination weight (GCW) is impressive. But tackling more than 700 tonnes GCW with a single regular production truck is really quite amazing. In my 30 years as a trucking journalist I’ve never seen anything like it,” adds Brian Weatherley.
