Volvo FM 430 Euro-5 2009 Roadtest

The 2009 Volvo FM 430 Euro-5 upgrade puts Volvo back in the driving seat in the distribution tractor market which is probably the most cut-throat market sector in the business.

It’s one thing driving a new truck at a product launch at some exotic location in the Mediterranean, it’s quite another driving it in a cold, wet typical British Spring. Matthew Eisenegger first drove the new Volvo FM with the Globetrotter LXL cab in Spain last year, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to try it again at home, despite the weather!

The secret of success in the truck manufacturing business is listening to what operators need and drivers want. You won’t get far in this game by trying to dictate unwelcome new trends. That’s why companies like Volvo survive, even when times are tough like they are now.

The Range

Hence the arrival of the Volvo FM with the Globetrotter LXL cab. This new combination is a direct result of operators wanting a decent sized sleeper cab, with a high level of comfort, based on a fleet specification truck. The result is an easy access cab with the usability of a distribution tractor.

The new LXL features the higher Globetrotter roof, and for any driver who’s tried to get dressed or undressed in the FM, the additional height will be most welcome.

For my money the new FM upgrade puts Volvo back in the driving seat in the distribution tractor market which is probably the most cut-throat market sector in the business.

In addition, the FM tractor unit range is now available with an 11 litre engine tagged the D11. It comes with either a 390 or 430 hp engine which was first seen in the Renault Premium.

The big advantage of this engine is its weight. It is 140 kgs lighter than its 13 litre bigger brother and combined with I-shift, the FM sheds over 200 kgs in weight. That could mean another pallet in the back!

I’m also willing to bet that it will only be a matter of time before the D11 matches the power of the bigger 13 litre unit. It also looks as though Volvo is intending to put the D11 into their multi-axle range, especially the 8x4 tippers, and that will be worth another bucket of muck in the back too!

In the Cab

But back to the FM tractor. A principal requirement for any driver on multi-drop work is easy access to the cab, and this new combination fits the bill. Forward view and all round visibility is also great and with the FM being a little closer to the ground you don’t appear to be towering above the action.

Volvo’s test vehicle, aptly registered GL08 LXL, had the 430 hp version of the D11 engine. This was new to me, as previous drives were with the 390 engine, and that performed very well!

On the Road

The D11 430 pushes out 2100 Nm of torque between 1100 and 1300 rpm while the transmission was also one of my personal favourites, the 12 speed I-shift. And even though we were all up 40 tonnes this combination was on top of the job.

It made me think (which is rare! Eh). Here I was, with an 11 litre engine, playing in the domain of the more traditional 13 litre setup and yet providing very similar power and torque performance dynamics. It might make other manufacturers consider a similar approach, because of the potential for weight saving.

Left alone, the D11 performs well and just gets on with the job, but if time is pressing, there are horses in reserve. So it’s good to know the Volvo Engine Brake (VEB) is up to the job too. The more the litre-age the more efficient an engine brake tends to be, but even with the ‘smaller’ 11 litre version it worked very well indeed.

Another noticeable feature about the D11 is the near-silence. No growling and no loud whistles from the turbo.
During the test the ‘I’ shift performed faultlessly, coping effortlessly with a rash of roundabouts at one point. It makes life so much easier for the driver, allowing him/her to concentrate less on trying to execute the perfect gearshift and concentrate more on mirrors and keeping driver, vehicle, and other road users safe.

Body roll is minimal due to the lower FM chassis and Volvo’s already well-proven cab suspension. The same can be said about the suspension. Corners can be taken at reasonable speed without the worry of the truck lurching over on to the bump stops.

Conclusion

Volvo Trucks have come up with a winning idea. The combination of the LXL cab with the light weight 11 litre engine gives the driver the cab space of a much bigger vehicle and the owner the vastly improved productivity of a smaller vehicle
Again the ‘I’ shift won my ‘gold star’ as one of the best automated shifts on the market. The fact that Volvo is not only responding to the demands of the current market, but potentially creating a new market with this big cabbed, lightweight unit, demonstrates just how they respond to customer feedback.

It may also make those operators who choose to go down the more traditional 13 litre route re-think their strategy.