The Volvo FH Series Truck

The Volvo FH series long-haul truck is Volvo Trucks’ flagship model and is now available in Malaysia. Designed to be driver-centric and built for heavy and demanding work, the FH Series also offers best-in-class fuel economy, reliability and safety.

“The Volvo FH series is our latest premium flagship product that we believe will deliver exceptional benefits to our Malaysian customers. We have a long history in Malaysia and the addition of the Volvo FH to our product line not only strengthens our current leading position but also puts us in a good place to take advantage of future opportunities in long-haul transport,” said Mats Nilsson, Managing Director of Volvo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

“The Volvo FH has been driving progress for our customers and our company for more than 20 years. It is one of the most valuable products in our offering and the embodiment of our core values—quality, safety and environmental care. The introduction of the FH series raises the bar in innovative trucking solutions in Malaysia and gives our customers the golden opportunity to improve their productivity,” said Heléne Mellquist, Senior Vice President of Volvo Trucks International.

The Volvo FH series is built for long-haul regional distribution and is capable of handling deliveries of over-sized loads over long distances, with its superior torque and power. It is also equipped with technology that creates ultimate onboard safety, a more economical driveline and high uptime, allowing the Volvo FH to push the limits on what a premium truck can offer and improve ROI.

The Volvo FH comes with the revolutionary Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS) technology which provides perfect steering stability at high speeds and total control at low speeds, resulting in a truck that’s less sensitive to crosswinds and very stable on uneven roads.

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) also helps reduce the risk of skidding and rollovers. In risky situations, this feature engages itself by instantly reducing engine power and braking the truck and trailer. It is also equipped with Volvo-patented stabilizers with shock absorbers that transfer load stress to the center of the chassis and a suspension feature which prevents vibrations from spreading through the truck.

Aside from that, the Volvo FH uses the I-Shift transmission with crawler gears for improved drivability, fuel economy and hauling power – it can start off from standstill while hauling 325 tonnes. “Thanks to a transmission ratio of up to 32:1 (and up to 37:1 in reverse), I-Shift with crawler gears lets the truck move at speeds as low as 0.5-2 km/h providing total control and precision.  This results in better gearing, increased up-time and the ability to avoid accidents that can ruin your day and your productivity,” says Andrew Low, Product Manager, Volvo Trucks.

The unique rear view mirror design and declining door panel help contribute to the best visibility for a truck of this category and make the Volvo FH one of the safest trucks in the world. We had a go with the Volvo FH in a closed track and the truck was easily maneuverable with good visibility and few blind spots.

The Volvo FH cab structure has undergone over 1,000 simulated crashes in Sweden; the company has also set stricter safety criteria for the truck, exceeding the regulatory requirements, to make it as safe as possible for the driver, passengers and road users. The A-pillars, doors and floor structure are all designed, together with the windscreen being bonded in place, to provide the best possible protection for the driver.

The Volvo FH has one of the largest cab volumes on the market, which provides an optimized working environment and relaxation area for the driver with a standing height of 220 centimeters. The bunk bed has ample space for rest, complete with plenty of customizable storage space. The skylight allows more natural light into the cab for a more conducive working space, and also doubles as an escape hatch in the event of an accident. Another new feature in the Volvo FH is I-Park Cool which is an integrated parking cooler that provides superior cooling capacity without compromising in-cab space or fuel consumption. Volvo Trucks is of the opinion that favorable working conditions in the truck allow drivers to be well-rested and less stressed, leading to lower risk of accidents/mistakes and increased efficiency.

In conjunction with the FH series launch, Volvo Trucks Malaysia held a truck handover ceremony to 3 of its Malaysian customers. Mock keys and scale models were presented by Volvo Trucks’ senior management – Helene Mellquist, Senior Vice President, Volvo Trucks Sales Area International; Lars Erik Forsbergh, Managing Director, Volvo Trucks Hub Southeast Asia and Japan, and Mats Nilsson, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia to the senior management representatives of Chip Jun Sdn Bhd, Central Kargo Sdn Bhd and Haiweima Sdn Bhd.

The event was graced by Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt.

Mats Nilsson, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia, said, ”The Volvo FH series are the ultimate long-haul trucks for customers who demand extra power and performance. The introduction of Volvo FH in Malaysia represents an important milestone for our business and puts us in a good position to achieve future growth ambitions.”

“We believe the new Volvo FH series will set new industry benchmark and offer exceptional benefits to our customers in Malaysia, especially where fuel economy, safety, power and performance are concerned,” added Nilsson.

Expressing his delight at the handover ceremony, Steven Chua, Director of Haiweima Sdn Bhd commented, “The success of our business in heavy transportation necessitates us to have truly reliable, robust, safe and powerful vehicles that are also very efficient on fuel usage and high on up-time. As such, we are very glad to welcome the first unit of Volvo FH into our fleet, as we look forward to further increasing our business competitiveness.”