Why are Volvos so much better than all other Class 8 trucks?

Volvo has always been one of my favorite trucks in my career. The reason I dont drive now, or wont? Weight. In every fleet I've been in, every volvo has been the heaviest trucks in the fleet. I haul tankers so every load is max weight and weight pads out rated, so when you have a 1000 lbs less on every single load, it adds up quickly.

The second being the absolute worst dealer network and technicians. Now it's been a while so maybe its better now.

But the 2 years I had one were among the best of my career. The truck turned like a car, drove like a caddy, had an amazing sound system, was VERY driver oriented and just thought out well, had huge side doors so you could easily put supplies in either side.
240k of hard running and it never needed anything but its services.

It's been 12 years since I've had it and I still think about it

 

Drove Volvo as a company driver and I loved it. Nice and smooth ride, turns on a dime , just loved driving it. As an owner operator I don’t know I would buy one, I do have Volvo dealership close by but looks like they are always busy and probably would take some time to get something fixed. My freightshaker is loud and beats the hell out of me but from maintenance point I have no problem getting something fixed quickly

 

that warranty is BS. You will pay for towing. Now imagine you have a load in the trailer and you will need to find rental tractor in the middle of TX. i am not writing about downtime, unhappy brokers and receivers .... ))) That's good you have that Volvo.... but why ishift ? .. you are not an owner operator with experience. I am talking about repairs, towing, maintenance and not driving experiance. I am sure you have never paid from your pocket $5K + for repairs.

 

The theme of all the haters stems from the past. The lack of a dealer network has poisoned there thoughts of ever owning a Volvo again

Been in a Volvo since 2010 and never had a problem getting my Volvo repaired at a dealership.

 

I am not a Volvo hater. I hate electronic controlled mechanical devices inside of the truck and stupid multiplexing systems. I like simple mechanical transmissions, simple wiring systems. I am from cave age...))) I like reliable transmissions and rear axles.

 

You are correct. Tooooo far. Big ego and pride. Big radio, echo box. It takes all kinds, I guess.

 

78,000 miles is new. Find a Volvo with 1.5 million and see how that drives once, I bet you hear squeaks and rattles.

 

All in the geometry, see they were sitting there in the draft room and said "since we're going to build something that looks like something a coyote would crap off a cliff it's gotta ride like an old Cadillac or nobody will ever buy it." It helps a lot to have nice tall bags under the back end(unlike my kw 8 bagger where the difference between all suspension dropped and raised is like 4 inches) and a setback axle generally gives you a longer spring which seems to help.

 

Those bags aren’t any bigger than my Freightshaker I notice the beam across bottom of bags and wonder if they’re all plumed together. Also notice a different dual cab stability bars.I had an old WS that I wanted to keep but the Hendrickson Suspension was a rough ride. Try to study all different suspensions. Never understood 8 bag not enough movement . Seems the key is big bags run soft with good shocks.