The new Volvo VNX is the first vocational truck in North America available with remote control.
Kaitlyn Till
More control in the hands of the driver
Drivers will feel confident and in control of the new VNX — in and out of the cab. Inside the cab, operators will appreciate the quieter environment. Terrain Brake and Direction Change simplify operator inputs on steep terrain and in repetitive applications, Dynamic Steering reduces vibration and steadies the truck on uneven ground, and Volvo’s all-new Remote Steer is the first remote control for a vocational truck in North America.
Terrain Brake
When the driver takes their foot off the accelerator on steep slopes, Volvo’s new Terrain Brake software prevents the truck from rolling forwards or backwards faster than they can hit the service brakes, delivering peace of mind on tough terrain.
Direction Change
Borrowing technology from Volvo CE’s wheel loaders, Volvo Trucks’ new Direction Change feature reduces repetitive driver motion in dump truck operations.
“Picture how many times in a day that a dump truck driver goes forward and then reverses to dump the bed. With Direction Change, you don’t have to hit the brake to go into reverse or vice versa, to go into drive,” said Moore.
Dynamic Steering
Dynamic Steering keeps the truck steady on uneven terrain, reducing driver fatigue on long days. During the ride-and-drive on Volvo’s off-road course, steering was remarkably comfortable, even over deep ruts and on gravel.
Remote Steer
Drivers can now operate the VNX as a giant RC truck with Volvo’s new Remote Steer. Fun aside, Remote Steer allows the driver to safely manoeuvre the truck into a tight area from outside the cab without needing a second person to guide them in. Maximum speed is 5 mph, and Remote Steer is recommended for trucks configured with a mixer, mounted crane, or hydrovac unit that need to regularly access tight job sites with precision. Moore noted that using Remote Steer can be a simple alternative to purchasing a more expensive front mixer for tight concrete pours.
I had the opportunity to test Remote Steer, and found manoeuvring — and even turning — the truck was easy and intuitive via two joysticks on the control box.
Connectivity is built in
Volvo says that the new VNX sets a standard for connectivity. All VNX trucks come factory-installed with a 4G telematics gateway. Fleet managers can stay on top of fuel efficiency, truck location, and safety alerts via Volvo Connect. Remote Programming delivers over-the-air software updates, and Remote Diagnostics provides 24/7 monitoring to flag issues before they lead to downtime.
The VNX is also compatible with Geotab for fleet operators who wish to monitor their VNX through that platform.
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