Volvo Trucks has launched a new member of the I-Shift family which features crawler gears. The new gears, which are added to the automated transmission, are said to provide exceptional startability for trucks carrying heavy loads in demanding situations.

The system is entirely unique for series-produced heavy trucks, according to a spokesman for Volvo Trucks. It is a further development of Volvo Trucks’ I-Shift automated transmission.

Volvo Trucks’ new version of I-Shift makes it possible to add up to two new crawler gears. This means, among other things, that the truck can move off from standstill and transport a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 325 tonnes.

“I-Shift with crawler gears offers an entirely new scope for heavy trucks with automated transmission to regulate their speed when crawling slowly and reversing. The driver can haul a heavy load without worrying about getting into situations that may lead to costly standstills,” says Peter Hardin, product manager FM and FMX, Volvo Trucks.

With the new crawler gears, the truck can drive at speeds as low as 0.5 to 2 kmph. This helps immensely during precision manoeuvres such as in construction and maintenance tasks.

“The vastly improved driveability and startability with the new crawler gears makes the driver’s job far easier when operating in difficult terrain on slippery surfaces with heavy loads, such as at construction sites, in mines or in forests. The heavier the transport operation and the poorer the surface or the terrain, the more the driver gains from a truck with crawler gears,” explains Hardin.

For haulage firms carrying out heavy transport operations on demanding surfaces as well as regular highway driving, crawler gears also offer considerable flexibility and the possibility of improved fuel economy.

“I-Shift with crawler gears makes it possible to start off from standstill in extreme situations. Combining them with a suitable rear axle ratio that optimises engine revs at high speeds results in lower fuel consumption on the highway. This is a significant benefit to haulage firms doing this kind of work,” says Hardin.

Reverse crawler gears make it possible to reverse extremely slowly, which is a major advantage when reversing manoeuvres require immense precision.

The crawler gears are integrated into the I-Shift transmission. In order to handle the high loads involved, several components are made of high-strength materials. The gearbox is 12 cm longer than a conventional I-Shift unit.

The new unit is available for Volvo Trucks’ 13- and 16-litre engines in the Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16.