Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/846064
24 commercial carrier journal | july 2017 Best of both worlds Volvo puts some long-haul qualities in improved regional truck BY JASON CANNON V olvo's regional workhorse trac- tor, the VNM, having been on the market for more than two decades, was overdue for a refresh. But Volvo designers did much more than modernize its body lines in producing the VNM's successor, the VNR, intro- duced in April. Since regional trucks rarely get the same attention regarding fuel economy and driver comfort as long-haul trucks, many fleets suited for VNM trucks were opting to spec VNL long-haul tractors just to get their improved look and driver amenities, said Chris Stadler, Volvo Trucks North America product marketing manager for regional haul. Recognizing that lengths of haul are shrinking and drivers' demand for home time is increasing, Volvo gave major consideration to ameni- ties and aerodynamics with the VNR, pronouncing it "the future of regional haul." It's available in three models: daycab (VNR 300), 42-inch flat roof sleeper (VNR 400) and 61-inch mid- roof sleeper (VNR 640). A holdover from the VNM, all three VNR models measure 51.1 bumper-to- front-axle inches and feature a 50-de- gree wheel cut, but having an extra 4 inches of corner visibility makes the VNR shine in tight spaces. At 113 inch- es, the VNR's bumper-to-back-of-cab is about 9 inches shorter than the VNL, making tight turns more uneventful. I put the VNR 300's maneuverability to the test during a white-knuckle drive hauling a 28-foot pup trailer through crowded urban roads around Win- ston-Salem, North Carolina. Fighting traffic on the narrow streets was sur- prisingly effortless. e VNR comes standard with a 12-speed I-Shi transmission and Volvo's D11 engine that can provide up to 425 horsepower and 1,550 lb.-. of torque. Compared to a VNM spec'd with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2014-compliant engine, it improves fuel efficiency by about 2.5 percent. Equipped with a 425-hp engine, my VNR 300 was a little over-spec'd for its 43,680 GVW, but Stadler said Volvo intentionally added flexibility – includ- ing options for a large sleeper and D13 engine – so that VNRs could adapt as a fleet's load type and length of haul change. e extra horses came in handy when I jumped into a VNR 400 tasked with hauling a concrete block load of nearly 76,000 pounds. e rig effortlessly dragged the blocks to and from the skirts of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Both the D11 and the optional D13, which offers up to 500 hp and 1,850 lb.-. of torque, can be matched to the standard 12-speed I-Shi, a 12-speed Severe Duty I-Shi, a 13- or 14-speed I-Shi with Crawler Gears or a 10-, 13- or 18-speed Eaton Fuller manual. Outside of a few niche operations, why you would opt to shi gears is beyond me, especially in a downtown start-and-stop application. e I-Shi is flawlessly smooth and precise. Also, my VNR 300 was equipped with Volvo's Hill Start Assist, which prevents roll- back when the driver's foot comes off the brake on a steep grade. e VNR's biggest exterior change concerns the hood, which improves sightlines by adding 4 extra inches of corner visibility. It's also 70 pounds lighter than the VNM hood. Aerodynamically designed LED headlights rated for 10,000 hours were pulled into the front of the truck rather T E S T D R I V E : V O L V O V N R R E G I O N A L T R A C T O R The VNR's biggest exterior change concerns the hood, which offers improved sightlines. The truck will succeed the VNM as Volvo's regional flagship truck later this year.