Volvo set for linehaul push

The first Volvo FH16 with the XXL cab has just hit WA roads.

Matic Transport took delivery a few days ago and owner Danny Matic gave us a preview of the 8x4 truck before it started work this week.

Several months in fit-up, the truck was the first XXL cab produced at the Wacol factory in Brisbane.

I caught up with the truck as it came off the line back in June, before the back-of-cab plumbing and electrics were fitted.

Needless to say, Volvo people were crawling all over it to make sure everything was spot-on.

The XXL cab ushers in a new push by Volvo to attack the linehaul market, with a cab able to meet most demands of the unique breed of drivers who roll across the country day and night.

This truck is tasked with one of Matic’s oldest contracts: supplying bulk product throughout Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.

The truck will run a B-double and dog set-up with about 122 tonnes all up.

The truck is rated for 131 tonnes, so the spec is closely matched to requirements.

Mr Matic opted for the 600hp version of the Volvo 16-litre engine.

“We have 700hp units on the fleet but this is, in our view, the best balance of power, torque, fuel and productivity in this task,” he said.

Several changes were made to suit the distance, off-loading task, climate conditions and driver safety features.

Volvo’s unique AdBlue tank between the chassis rails was deleted in favour of the cement pump, with the AdBlue reserve now mounted outside the left-hand chassis rail.

Additional fuel is stacked behind the cab and Mr Matic said this 200 litres was treated as a reserve rather than being constantly in use.

Matic Transport has an enviable safety record, which is largely due to the investment the company makes in people, training and safety tech.

The company operates more than 600 trucks, trailers and dollies on service contracts across the two States and Territory, and further east if needed.

Every driver is inducted with a clear set of safety rules and understands their work activity will be monitored for prevention of avoidable incidents.

Every drive starts with a breathalyser test, which is recorded on various devices.

Micro-sleep signs are picked up by in-cab cameras and shake the seat to alert the driver, at the same time sounding an alarm in the monitoring centre in the US. The driver’s supervisor is immediately alerted and calls the driver to check on his condition.

Volvo’s suite of accident avoidance technology is standard fitment, and Matic’s drivers are schooled in exploiting the wide range of driver assist features in each truck.

As is the case with so many of WA’s successful truck companies, Matic Transport was born with a single truck and a fellow with a work ethic.

Mr Matic started with a Scania from a colleague but soon had 15-trucks on the go before contracting directly to several large local businesses.

I asked him why he opted for Volvo, with the occasional Mack. “Safest truck on the road,” was his immediate answer.