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A long-distance truck has to be prepared for all the challenges that lie ahead.
It needs to stay in top-performing shape, whether it's going to cross mountains-
-race over heavy terrain, or endure extremes of both heat and cold.
That's why Volvo Trucks have put their new Volvo FH-
-through a number of tough quality tests.
The key factors when you work with quality-
-is to understand the usage of the truck.
To understand the customer needs, the different environments-
-the different applications that it will work within.
Therefore, the extensive quality tests have been performed all over the world.
The test method itself, however, was quite easy.
It was about testing, measuring and improving.
And then doing the same thing all over again...and again-
-until the quality level for the new truck met Volvo Trucks' exacting standards.
We have done a huge amount of tests within this project.
In the beginning, you start up with component tests-
-rig tests, accelerated durability tests.
We put cabs in cold chambers, hot chambers, sun simulators-
-in order to verify durability.
Later on, we do a lot of accelerated tests on our proving ground.
Durability, reliability, different features - handling, ride comfort, etc.
One of Volvo Trucks' proving grounds-
-is situated in the most northern part of Sweden.
These tests are customer related.
The test drivers use these just like their own vehicles.
They live in them, drive in them, and they know they'll start in the morning.
The challenge up here is the severe cold we have.
Materials and things are more brittle.
The electrical system is affected by this cold climate also.
It's important to test it, so it's a safe system for the customer.
But to ensure that the new trucks really did meet-
-the high-quality standards our customers expect-
-Volvo Trucks also conducted a large number of tests-
-with real customer operations. One of them was Coots, in Australia.
The demands that are put on the truck, for the work that we do with it-
-is we go up this Toowoomba range twice a day.
It's 630 metres, and it's got a twelve percent gradient on the road.
We run 68 tonnes in 35-plus degree heat.
We have had no dramas at all.
The condition of the truck is, it's got to be able to go down-
-to -5 degrees, up to 45 degrees.
I'm happy to be a test-driver for Volvo. You feel like you're part of a team.
They certainly take in all answers and questions-
-both to and from. Extremely precise.
In the end, this will benefit all customers-
-regardless of which type of operation they're involved in.
In the project, we have had opportunity to do all the tests we wanted to do.
We have used the whole test palette.
We have created a truck with fantastic features, with fantastic quality.
In the end, it will give the customer a very high up-time.