Despite the common need for efficient transport, trucks for the United States and trucks for the rest of the world traditionally are very different. When Volvo planned the American trucks for the 21st century, the ambition was to preserve the qualities of the American trucks, and at the same time incorporate the comfort, ergonomic and safety qualities of the European Volvo FH truck.
Due to the generous lengths in the US
The transport legislation in the United States is very different from the transport legislation in the European Union. The most obvious difference is the more generous lengths permitted in North America, contrary to Central Europe where the truck combinations must not be more than just over 18 metres.
This is the reason why American trucks almost always have a long bonnet in front of the cab. Since truck transports also take place over very long distances 'coast-to-coast' many trucks are equipped with extremely spacious sleeping compartments.
American look, European components
The American conventional VN truck was introduced in 1996, as a successor to the Volvo Aero series. Despite its traditional American look, with a long bonnet and very large sleeper compartments in the long-distance versions, it shares the technology and most of the components with the 'European' FH family. The VN (especially in its most exclusive version, the '780') combines the best aspects of American trucks with the ergonomics and the safety of the best European Volvo trucks.