1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216 
Tester's impression: In many ways the Volvo FM9 is the
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
baby of the eightleggers, thanks to its compact dimensions and unfashionably small engine. The very short wheelbase, which only just leaves room for the fuel tank, was probably the factor most to blame for its dislike of roundabouts we suspect that on a wetter day, understeer might become apparent. That apart, the Volvo's dynamics were excellent. The B-Ride suspension gives an outstandingly smooth and quiet ride in most situations, although there are still a few bumps out there that can catch it out.
Although the little engine only provides a true 374 horses, they're enthusiastic little ponies and the Volvo doesn't really feel significantly slower than the 400hpplus brigade. This is aided by Volvo's well-regarded I4Shift automated transmission.
The use of automatics in the construction industry is still in its early stages, but if you think about it, it's of more benefit on the short journeys that tippers tend to make than on long-distance haulage work where autos seem to have made greater inroads.
Volvo reports a sharp increase in interest in I-Shift for tippers, and having tried it we can see why. Compared with even the best manual box, the amount of stress taken out of the job has to be experienced to be appreciated. That said, on the short, sharp climb up into Blunsdon which the I-Shift couldn't see coming we took the initiative with a couple of early manual downshifts which entail no more than flicking your thumb.
With a tailboard emblazoned with advertising for Volvo's advanced braking system, the FM9 jolly well ought to stop. And stop it did almost a little too well for some tastes as the eight electronically controlled discs sometimes seemed more eager to stop than the driver intended. Given enough revs, the multi-stage Volvo Engine Brake was effective if surprisingly noisy in its maximum position. The Volvo is one of a minority to have the tipping control on the right of the seat, leaving the left hand free to operate the parking brake if required. This would probably be frowned on by the Health and Safety Constabulary as it allows tipping to be enalJed from outside the cab but there are plenty of safeguards, including intenocks to prevent PTO and sheeting being engaged in unsafe conditions (eg in gear). Volvo's low-roof sleeper has more than enough room for day work and the comfy bed allows a rest break to be just that don't forget to set the alarm, though.
The driving position is either cosy or claustrophobic, depending on your taste. Visibility is good, aided by a downward facing mirror above the windscreen, and the reverse camera monitor. Fully integrated into the Dynafleet system, together with communication, navigation and trip computing functions, the screen pops up automatically when reverse gear is engaged.