Headquartered in Sweden, Volvo Trucks is considered the second largest brand of truck manufacturers. It is owned by Volvo Group-AB Volvo. Since 2011, Volvo has launched its trucks in 15 different countries and sells more than 100,000 trucks worldwide each year. The Volvo Group also consists of Renault, Mack and UD trucks.
The early history of Volvo trucks
Volvo produced its first truck in 1928, but also produced cars a year ago. The first truck was the LV 1 series. It came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 29 horsepower, and in the first year they sold 500 models of this model. While most trucks of this era had chain drive systems and solid rubber tires, Volvo was innovative, and the LV truck was shaft driven and had pneumatic tires.
This model was much more successful than Volvo expected, and unlike other trucks made in the 20s, Volvo developed the entire car. After the first 500 were quickly sold out, they had to hurry to make a second series of 500 trucks, which were considered to be series 2 and had several configurations, such as extending the track to 1,460 mm and reducing the previous double rear axle to only one, which made it more safe though he drove slower.
Volvo launches first six cylinders
In 1929, Volvo Trucks came out with the very first six-cylinder truck, pumping it with a series 3 truck. It was pretty close to a series 2 truck, however, so that only the engine was different. It had wooden wheels that weren't as practical for hard work, and its two wheel brakes were not considered safe as the brakes are now for the weight of these medium vehicles. The company produced and sold about 3,000 of these trucks.
Volvo makes the first three trucks
In the 1930s, Volvo came out with the first three-axle truck, called the LV64 LF. This was done in order to comply with the rules, which allowed less load on each axle due to the fact that the roads in the 30s were pretty awful.
Volvo trucks in the 1930s
The 1930s, when Volvo became much better to do more modern style trucks, and their trucks used diesel and moved from wood to steel wheels and to safer hydraulic brakes.
Due to the fact that this step has become more innovative, Volvo has become a more dominant force in the Scandinavian countries for the sale and production of trucks, and by the end of the 30s they became more recognizable in the world of heavy and medium-duty trucks.
The LV truck series was recognized as more modern and helped Volvo become a major exporter of trucks to countries around the world. During this period, Volvo continued to refine its trucks, making changes to the chassis, longer wheelbases in some models, and a greater margin for reloading in SUV trucks.
ESPecially LV 8 and 9 were considered models that helped Volvo take a strong position as a major player in truck production. In these models, the truck engine was moved from the usual place behind the front axle to sit on top of the front axle, which helped to improve the distribution of axle load. Since there were restrictions on the movement relative to the weight of the axle, this made the two trucks very popular.
In addition, these trucks had a more aerodynamic design and were rounded instead of the usual more vertical or horizontal shapes. In addition, the drivers were happy that these trucks had a standard heater, which many did not have at that time. LV 8 and 9 were also more capable of being modified and adapted for various tasks.
Volvo in the 1940s
The Second World War in the 1940s caused Volvo to produce more trucks for the Swedish army than for anyone else. This relationship with the military helped Volvo in the long run, because it gives them the opportunity to develop custom trucks that they could later produce for construction.
By the mid-1940s, Volvo was becoming more experienced in trucks with heavy trucks, which they did not do long before the war. The L29 trucks that came out were a more powerful styled diesel engine and were introduced in 1946. The Swedish road commission was pleased with them, because these trucks coped well with the harsh weather and helped build roads in Sweden.
Volvo's first diesel engine
Volvo also made its first diesel engine in the 40s, called VDA or Volvo Diesel Type A, which was a pre-combustion engine. However, it turned out to be difficult to get into the cold weather, so the new version was bought in 1946 and became very popular in Volvo trucks. In the later LV series, Volvo trucks had this new diesel engine in some of them.
Volvo Trucks in the 1950s
The next major change in their Volvo engines was the 50s, when they switched to a direct ignition VDC engine, which was better in fuel consumption. He is considered the ancestor for today's Volvo truck engine. Volvo was considered a pioneer in using a turbocharged engine that was stronger and more efficient. In addition, Volvo could then make a heavier weight and longer truck style.
Volvo in the 1960s - 1990s
Trucks were very popular for transportation by the 60s and became more flexible tools. By the time the truck cabs had rubber suspension systems, more visible due to the higher cabs and more comfort for the drivers in the seats.
The 1970s bought more truck parts in general, and they had inclined cabs, turbocharged engines, higher power and could move faster. The two very dramatic entrances to the world of Volvo trucks were the F10 and 12 trucks that were made in 1977. They had better ergonomics, they were safer and set the stage for trucks over the next few decades.
In the 1980s, trucks became more sophisticated with stronger and better engines, air suspension systems and more environmentally friendly features, and more opportunities to make truckers more comfortable at these long distances throughout the country.
In addition, trucks became even more valuable as a means of transporting goods and services in the United States and other countries and were considered very effective, especially if they could combine them with shipping products from the manufacturer to rail, sea or air, their place of origin by truck.
Trucks became safer, had cleaner emissions, were less noisy, had better engines, and became more sophisticated in several ways.
Volvo Today
Today, Volvo develops and manufactures products in Sweden, Belgium, South Africa, USA, Brazil, Australia, India, China and Russia, and a number of other places. They are known for being a global presence in the production of trucks.
The 21st century Volvo Volvo truck is even stronger, as well as safer and friendlier than ever. They produce several truck models all over the world, and by 2011, Volvo produced more than half a million trucks in the US alone. The Volvo Group is a leader in the production of trucks, buses and construction equipment and is the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines worldwide.
Volvo Trucks produces cars in 19 countries and sells them in more than 180 markets around the world and is still taking innovative steps in the world of freight transportation.
