TRUCKS: Short Drive: The Volvo Trucks FH 440 Prime Mover With Tanker Trailer - I drive one on a Racetrack in Thailand

The Kaeng Krachan Circuit on the outskirts of Hua Hin, Thailand is a wonderful place to be driving anything. It is about 3.2km in length and has tight turns and undulations. It has nicely cambered corners, dips and crests that one can play with whilst driving on it. 

Volvo Trucks let me drive one of their prime movers on this race track. I would have liked a nice hot hatch but beggars can't be choosers. So thank you so very, very much whilst we are at it. The Volvo Truck in question was the latest Volvo FH 440 Sleeper Cab. The 440 means 440hp and about 2200nm torque from a Volvo D13A 13,000cc in-line 6 cylinder turbocharged engine. It runs the power it makes through a Volvo I-shift automated transmission unit that has 12 forward speeds. There are a heck of a lot of power and drivetrain configurations for the Volvo FH, from the 13liter 400hp engine to a 16liter 610hp /2800nm  trucker's dream machine special coupled with either the I-shift automatic, a 12 speed and a 14speed manual transmissions to play around with. 

Trucking News: Top drivers in the region compete for first place at the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2

Volvo Trucks, a global leader in sustainable transport solutions, will hold its annual Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 Final from 16-17 September 2015 in Hua Hin, Thailand. The competition will see 17 top drivers from 10 countries in Asia Pacific region contend to be the region’s most fuel-efficient driver. b. The 2015 edition’s cohort of contenders includes four female drivers, and is a testament to the growing number of women within the Fuelwatch community.  The grand final will see country representatives of the Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch Challenge in the region compete against one another in terms of fuel-efficient driving as well as general vehicle handling, safety methods and overall productivity in on-road and off-road segments. Participants will hone their driving skills, industry knowledge and technological expertise through training sessions and all of this know how will culminate in the grand final on 17 September, where the most fuel-efficient driver will win an opportunity to be immersed in a personalised Volvo experience. Malaysia is represented by Mr Nor Rahmat Bin Abd Talib from Prifaria Sdn Bhd, of Prai (pictured below, the chap in the middle). He defeated 17 other semi-finalists and now represents the Malaysian challenge this time around. Good luck Mr. Nor Rahmat! PRESS RELEASE

[10 SEPTEMBER 2015, SINGAPORE] Volvo Trucks, a global leader in sustainable transport solutions, will hold its annual Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 Final from 16-17 September 2015 in the Thai city of Hua Hin. The competition will see 17 top drivers from 10 countries in Asia Pacific contend to be the region’s most fuel-efficient driver. The 2015 edition’s cohort of contenders includes four female drivers, and is a testament to the growing number of women within the Fuelwatch community.

Over the two days, participants will hone their driving skills, industry knowledge and technological expertise through training sessions. This will culminate in the grand final on 17 September, where the most fuel-efficient driver will win an opportunity to be immersed in a personalised Volvo experience.

Volvo Trucks is committed to championing fuel efficiency as a means to effect positive and tangible change, from individual drivers to customers, businesses, society at large and the natural environment. Since its inauguration in 2007 in South Korea, the Fuelwatch Challenge has offered more than 15,000 participants across the region an accessible platform to pick up fuel-efficient driving skills and best practices. The competition is recognised today as a standard bearer in fuel efficiency and driver competency.

Christophe Martin, President of Volvo Trucks in Asia Oceania, noted: “We are very excited to hold the 2015 edition of the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge. As one of our mainstay events, it continues to attract the very best in the industry. It is also great to see more and more female drivers demonstrating their skills to optimise fuel efficiency at the highest level, and to contest for the top prize.”

“Notwithstanding the competition, the Fuelwatch Challenge wholly reflects our commitment to champion fuel efficiency in the industry. At Volvo Trucks, we believe that enhanced technical capabilities of individual drivers can complement state-of-the-art engineering and technology to optimise fuel efficiency. Participants of the Fuelwatch Challenge return home as ambassadors of fuel efficient driving, and we look forward to supporting them beyond the competition to influence positive change in their home markets”, Mr. Martin added.

Finalists that will be competing in the 2015 Volvo Trucks APAC Fuelwatch Final:

On Road final Australia Mr. Scott Chandler China Mr. Jian Zong Ms. Jie Liu Indonesia Mr. Pepen Effendi Korea Mr. Kwangjong Yu Ms. Jaeyeon Kim Malaysia Mr. Nor Rahmat Abd.Talib New Zealand Mr. Phil Thomas Ms. Louise Marriott Singapore Mr. Jee Ben Soh Taiwan Mr. Tsu-Wen Cheng Thailand Mr. Suthep Pakkruk Ms. Rotsukhon Krokruam

Off Road final

India Mr. Ravi Poleboina Indonesia Mr. Johan Sampe Toding Korea Mr. Donghyuk Nam Singapore Mr. Thomas Sek

Volvo Trucks annual Fuelwatch Challenge is back for 2015

Volvo Trucks annual Fuelwatch Challenge is back for 2015! Truckers as well as your bosses, do take note. Volvo Trucks Malaysia will begin a nationwide roadshow and competition from 9 April to 7 June 2015 to scout for the most fuel efficient and skilled truck driver in Malaysia. After this, the best of the lot will go on to the semi finals and finals on the 14th and 15th of August 2015 respectively.