The Trucker Newspaper - April 15, 2018

Volvo transitions from production of
legacy 670 to full production of VNL 760
Equipment
April 15-30, 2018 • 35
Courtesy: MACK TRUCKS
Mack Trucks shared additional details about
Mack Connect, a suite of tools designed to
help customers and drivers manage productivity
and profitability during the recent 2018
Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville,
Kentucky.
THE TRUCKER STAFF
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks
has completed its transition from production
of the legacy VNL 670 model to full production
of the new VNL 760.
Defined by efficiency, productivity, safety,
and uptime innovations for today’s longhaul
operations, the VNL 760 features an
all-new 70-inch sleeper, said Göran Nyberg,
president of Volvo Trucks North America.
“Transitioning from the legacy VNL 670
into full production of the innovative new
VNL 760 signifies the latest milestone on
our long journey to deliver the safest, most
comfortable and most efficient long-haul
trucks on the market,” Nyberg said. “Exceptional
design, efficiency and productivity-boosting
interior features make the
VNL 760 a fitting successor to the VNL
670, which has been a mainstay in our onhighway
lineup since its 2002 introduction
and our highest production volume model
for North American fleets.”
Designers of the new Volvo VNL 760
combined elements of Volvo’s design language
with new performance features to appeal
to today’s long-haul customers, Nyberg
said, adding that swept-back headlights include
signature Volvo daytime running lights
and frame a new Volvo grille and hood.
Redesigned and repositioned engine air
intakes allow for less turbulent intake air
delivery. Airflow up and around the cab has
also been optimized with new chassis and
roof fairings.
The VNL 760’s “sleek new design” better
controls airflow around the truck and its
trailer, resulting in improved fuel efficiency.
When combined with the efficiency benefits
derived from the Volvo D13 Turbo Compound
(D13 TC) engine, the new VNL can
help drivers achieve up to a 7.5 percent increase
in fuel efficiency when compared to a
2015 VNL model equipped with a GHG 2014
D13 engine, Nyberg said.
The new VNL 760 comes standard with
the 13-liter Volvo D13 engine and Volvo I-
Shift 12-speed automated manual transmission.
An available option, the D13 TC engine
utilizes a mechanical waste heat recovery
system to capture wasted energy from the engine’s
exhaust. The result is an additional 50
horsepower fed back to the crankshaft and an
improvement in fuel efficiency of up to 6.5
percent. The 15-liter Cummins X15 is also
available for the VNL 760.
Productivity is directly affected by driver
comfort, which is why the new Volvo VNL
760 features an all-new dashboard which
puts often-used controls within the driver’s
reach, Nyberg said.
Centered in the gauge cluster is a fiveinch
color driver information display that
provides detailed trip and diagnostic data.
The driver information display is customizable,
ensuring that critical information
is always available to the driver at a quick
glance.
Like all models in the new VNL series,
the Volvo VNL 760 is equipped with Volvo’s
smart steering wheel, putting controls
for nearly all of the driver interface functions
at a driver’s fingertips. The smart
steering wheel is attached to Volvo’s Perfect
Position air-assisted, adjustable steering
column, which enables drivers not only
to tilt and telescope the steering column,
but also tilt the steering wheel relative to
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mack Trucks has
shared additional details about Mack Connect,
a suite of tools designed to help customers and
drivers manage productivity and profitability.
Mack made the comments during the 2018
Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville,
Kentucky.
“Productivity translates to profitability,
and our customers are always seeking the next
advantage to gain an edge,” said Jonathan
Randall, senior vice president of sales and
marketing for Mack Trucks North America.
“With Mack Connect, we’re providing the
tools required for our customers and their customers
to be successful in today’s competitive
trucking industry.”
Randall said Mack Connect integrates intelligent
software, predictive analytics and
driver assist technologies into three pillars to
Courtesy: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
Volvo Trucks recently completed full transition of production from the legacy VNL 670
model to the new VNL 760. VNL 670s for Southeastern Freight Lines, left, were among the
final legacy models produced. VNL 760 models destined for Volvo Trucks dealer S&S Volvo
in Lima, Ohio, right, were the first off the assembly line following completion of the transition.
boost productivity: connected support, connected
business and connected driving.
Mack Connect comes standard on all
Mack models, including Mack’s newest highway
model, the Mack Anthem.
No aspect of productivity is more important
than the driver, and Mack Connect offers
several features to improve safety, efficiency
and comfort, Randall said.
“Bendix Wingman Fusion, a camera- and
radar-based driver assistance solution, is available
as part of Mack Connect and is standard
on Mack Anthem models,” he said. “Fusion
provides collision mitigation, adaptive cruise
control and lane departure warning, assisting
drivers in staying safe on the highway.
New information and entertainment options,
including Bluetooth connectivity, satellite
radio and Apple Car Play integration, allow
drivers to focus on the road ahead. Drivers can
the steering column. This lets drivers find
the perfect steering wheel position for optimal
comfort and easily view the instrument
cluster.
A wide variety of seating options are
available on the new VNL 760. An increase
in seat travel fore and aft, as well as up and
down, improves driving ergonomics. Premium
features like seat heating and ventilation
are also available. The VNL 760’s all-new
70-inch sleeper features curved cabinets that
open toward the back to maximize space, as
well as an integrated, reclining bunk, which
is a trucking industry first in North America.
LED interior lighting reduces power consumption
and provides softer lighting. A redesigned
sleeper control panel allows drivers
to control heating and cooling, and adjust the
audio system from a more ergonomic position
on the bunk. In addition, drivers can
lock the doors or activate a panic alarm if
needed.
Volvo Active Driver Assist (featuring
Bendix Fusion), is standard on all Volvo
VNL models. The camera and radar-based
system combine forward collision mitigation
warnings and active braking, even with
stationary vehicles. The system features an
industry-first heads up windshield display
See Volvo on p36 m
Mack Connect shares suite of tools for productivity, profitability
also download additional applications, such
as navigation, to help ease the demands of the
open road.
Mack Predictive Cruise, an intelligent
cruise control system, is also part of Mack
Connect and is available on Mack mDRIVEequipped
models to help improve fuel efficiency
by up to 1 percent.
When cruise control is activated, Mack
Predictive Cruise learns the topography of the
route, storing up to 4,500 hills in its memory,
along with information about engine load,
weight, speed and the road gradient. The next
time the driver travels the route, Mack Predictive
Cruise engages the Mack mDRIVE to employ
an optimized shift strategy and choose the
most fuel-efficient gear, Mack spokesmen said.
With unplanned downtime events estimated
to cost heavy-duty trucking customers more
See Mack on p36 m