During a press conference at the TMC Annual Meeting held in New Orleans, Volvo Trucks North America noted that the new Volvo VNL is the most connected truck ever built by Volvo Trucks. Fleets can monitor their trucks in near real-time, see pending remote programming updates, and manage vehicle health data and safety items. The suite of connected services offered by Volvo Trucks continues to grow following the launch of Volvo Connect in 2023. The ability to see pending remote programing update availability in specific trucks from one single portal allows fleet managers to notify drivers to perform the update the next time they are stopped and safely parked. On average, fleets with fully updated truck populations experience a 24% reduction in unplanned stops, the OEM noted. With the all-new Volvo VNL, update speed has also been improved for faster downloads with an average download time of four minutes.
With the My Truck App, drivers can also receive insights on engine fluid levels, washer fluid, and potential light faults before they arrive at their truck to begin their pre-trip inspection. They can also set the climate control to reach their preferred temperature before arriving to start their shift. However, connectivity is only one area where Volvo Trucks has increased uptime for the customer.
The new VNL’s service intervals
The new Volvo VNL features a redesigned exhaust aftertreatment system (EATS), featuring both longer service intervals and the ability to be serviced in three separate components, the OEM noted. The diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), the diesel particulate filter (DPF), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) can all be serviced or replaced individually, avoiding the unnecessary disposal of a unit which still has extensive operational life remaining, benefiting the customer financially and helping Volvo Trucks meet its sustainability goals. In addition to the improved serviceability of the EATS, Volvo Trucks engineers were also able to reduce the overall component weight by 75 lbs. and increase the service interval of the DPF to approximately 630,000 miles.
Longer service intervals have also been achieved in the all-new Volvo VNL due to advancements in certain components: air dryer (APM); engine air filter; HVAC filters; oil drain intervals; fuel filters; and more. Additionally, valve adjustment intervals have been extended by nearly 20%. These improvements increase uptime and improve customer value through reduced maintenance cost and less downtime for service and maintenance. In total, a 20% overall reduction in maintenance time can represent an approximate $5,000 annual value to the customer.
Volvo Trucks has introduced the 24-volt electrical architecture on the all-new Volvo VNL. The 24-volt system has been proven in the European market and will be necessary for North America and the future of commercial transportation, the OEM said, enabling lighter components, faster and more accurate diagnostic times, and the ability to design more reliable and serviceable wiring harnesses.
The all-new Volvo VNL and the connected data coming from the truck, allows for more accurate and optimized care under the Blue Service Contract. Volvo Trucks also announced its Blue Service Contract at last year’s TMC. The Blue Service Contract are monitored by the dealership and they have a dedicated fleet manager at the dealer location who will proactively reach out and schedule the truck for service, ensuring a service bay and the needed parts and supplies are on-hand and a certified technician is available to complete the service on time and get the fleet back on the road.
