Trucks
For truck drivers, construction sites can be obstacle courses full of hazards. By choosing vehicles with features that improve visibility and maneuverability, you can make construction work safer for truck drivers – and everyone else on site.
“With so much activity going on and so many things that the driver needs to look out for, just one small lapse can lead to a serious accident,” says Muamer Music, Segment Manager for Construction at Volvo Trucks. “Even a minor collision can cause an injury or loss of life. This is why workplace safety is such a critical issue across the construction industry.”
Safety is one of Volvo’s core values, and over the years this has led to the development of a range of different features that enhance safety both in and around the truck.
Expanding the driver’s field of view
With people, heavy machinery and other trucks all operating on one site, a major challenge for truck drivers working in the construction segment is securing clear visibility of the vehicle’s surroundings. This is why Volvo Trucks designs its vehicles to maximize direct vision from the driver's seat, such as larger windshields and smaller A-pillars. In fact, excellent direct vision in combination with high-performing active safety systems were among the factors that enabled the Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
The new Camera Monitor System, which replaces traditional side mirrors with cameras, increases direct visibility around the cab’s corners. It also includes a zoom-in/out function and infrared technology for improved vision at night. In addition, the passenger corner camera enables drivers to better spot pedestrians, cyclists and construction workers when making passenger side turns. Although it was developed for busy urban streets, it can be beneficial on construction sites too.
“We can install up to six cameras around the truck,” says Muamer Music. “The driver can choose which camera they want to see on their in-cab screen and focus on those areas surrounding the truck, where they are most in need of extra vision.”
One option for even better direct visibility is the low-entry cab – available with the Volvo FE and Volvo FM Low Entry. By lowering the driver's seat to around ground level, they gain a better view of the truck’s surroundings.
Even a minor collision can cause an injury or loss of life. This is why workplace safety is such a critical issue across the construction industry.
Precision handling in challenging conditions
Whether transporting heavy loads on unpaved roads, or maneuvering in confined spaces, it’s important to be able to operate a vehicle with control and precision. By adding more torque to the steering, Volvo Dynamic Steering makes it easier to steer and maneuver the truck with minimal effort and strain on the driver. Its personal settings also enable drivers to customize the steering resistance to suit them.
Stability Assist, a function within Volvo Dynamic Steering, can make it even safer to maneuver by automatically counter-steering when skidding is detected. Another function, EXSTER (support for external steering control), allows drivers to operate a vehicle remotely at low speeds, and maneuver it without needing a second operator.
“Volvo Dynamic Steering can help drivers maintain control and stability of the vehicles in dangerous situations such as slippery or uneven roads, or when a tire blows out,” says Muamer Music. “And on a day-to-day basis, it will help relieve a lot of the stress and strain on the driver’s body that can come when operating a heavy truck over long periods of time.”
Harnessing technology for safer construction sites
New technologies and innovations are enabling increasingly smarter active safety systems and connected services, which can further improve safety on construction sites. Several active safety systems help drivers be more aware of pedestrians and other vehicles in the vicinity. Active Side Collision Avoidance Support, for example, uses radars to monitor the high-risk areas on either side of the vehicle. If a person or vehicle is detected on either side of the truck, a red light in the side mirror alerts the driver. If the driver then indicates to turn, a warning sound is activated, and in some situations the brake can automatically be activated.
Front Short Range Assist is designed to warn the driver if someone suddenly appears in front of the truck. Collision Warning with Emergency Brake alerts the driver if a collision risk is detected and, should the risk remain, automatically brake to avoid a collision. When the truck is stationary, Door Opening Warning can also warn the driver if anyone is walking by the side of the truck and therefore at risk of being hit by opening either of the cab’s doors.
Safety Zones, a new digital service available via Volvo Connect, uses geofencing to enforce speed limits in predefined geographical areas. “On a busy site where every vehicle needs to stay under 20 kph, Safety Zones can be set to enforce the speed limit,” says Muamer Music.
Safety built around your operations
The safest truck is one adapted to your specific challenges and conditions. To learn more about any of the safety features mentioned here, contact your nearest Volvo Trucks dealership.
By replacing side mirrors with slimmer cameras, the Camera Monitor System improves direct visibility around the cab’s corners, while also enabling functions such as zoom-ins and infrared night vision.
How Volvo Trucks achieved five-star Euro NCAP ratings
The European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) released its first assessments for heavy-duty trucks in 2024, with Volvo Trucks being the only manufacturer to achieve a five-star rating with both the Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM. In Euro NCAP’s second round of assessments, this time covering 6x2 rigid trucks, the Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM were once again awarded five-stars.
“One of the reasons for our high Euro NCAP ratings is because safety is so embedded in our heritage,” says Anna Wrige Berling, Safety Director, Volvo Trucks. “We have long had the same mindset as Euro NCAP, and design our safety systems to work in a wide variety of different traffic scenarios.”
“Our other truck models, including the Volvo FMX, have not been assessed by Euro NCAP yet. However, the Volvo FMX is available with the same features that helped the Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM achieve five-stars, such as excellent direct vision and the same high-performing active safety systems.”
