Volvo’s FMX is a popular choice for tipper, hookloader and concrete mixer applications in the UK. After Scania, Volvo is the second most popular manufacturer of these types of heavy-duty trucks for on and off road use on construction sites and in quarries. This means that there are usually plenty of used FMX trucks for sale on these pages.
Launched in 2010, the FMX is a standard FM truck, beefed up for arduous work on construction sites. The model name stands for FMX meaning “Forward control Medium Xtreme”
Volvo know their way around constructions sites as they are one of the world leaders in construction machinery (Volvo CE) – so the engine in the FMX is powering plant equipment digging the holes as the FMX comes to take the contents away.
2010 – At launch engine choice was the 11 or 13-litre Euro 5 units with outputs in a huge range of between 330 and 540HP – transmission choice was manual, automated and fully automatic ‘Powertronic’. Nearly all components were the same as for the commonplace FM. The production version went on sale in Europe in autumn 2010 and worldwide in 2011.
2013 – The spec for the FMX was brought up to Euro 6 standard Prior to the 2014 Euro 6 deadline, keeping both the 11 and 13-litre engines.
2015 – The Volvo FMX was the first truck in the world to offer automatic engagement of all-wheel drive on construction trucks. The ATC (Automatic Traction Control) activates the front wheel drive when the rear wheels lose traction on slippery or soft ground and the truck risks getting stuck.
Many drivers connect front-wheel drive or differential lock in good time before a difficult section of terrain, in order to avoid getting stuck. Volvo Automatic Traction Control engages the front wheel drive when in motion, and only for the short time that it is really needed.
Automatic Traction Control became standard on the Volvo FMX in 4×4, 6×6 and 8×6 configurations from September 2015 onwards.
At the same time, Volvo released more features for the FMX, including Dynamic Steering for dual front axles (8×2 and 8×4 models), increased front axle loads, dual front axles (8×2 and 8×4), five-axle trucks (10×4 and 10×6), rear air suspension in combination with Volvo FMX All-Wheel Drive models and Electronic Brake System for drum brakes.
Later in 2015 Volvo developed the FMX further in offering the tandem axle lift which disengages the second drive axle and lifts it from the road surface. Volvo calculated a 4% saving in fuel for this system.
2020 – New FMX launched with a brand-new larger cab. As part of a range review, the FMX was given the new FM cab and improved driver features.
It is easy to tell the difference by looking at the dashboard – if it has a large 12-inch screen then it is the 2020 model year truck. Other differences are in the safety systems, other interior changes and some alterations to the headlights. Engines and gearboxes remain largely the same, but the I-Shift selector is changed and moved to help access across the cab and into the bunk.
If you have had 14 years of trouble-free service from your outgoing truck, then the replacement is likely to be a newer version of the truck. Although Transport and Hire Co-ordinator at Casey Plant Hire, Jane Parker, looked at other makes of truck as a benchmark, it looked like local dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials had…
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Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia sold four new Volvo FMX 8×4 rigids to Colchester-based EWD Recycling, a regular and loyal Volvo customer whose truck form the majority of the recycling company’s fleet of some 30 trucks. Delivered by local Truck Sales Executive Matt Kubot, the order includes two FMXs with Boweld steel tipping…
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Most of Volvo Trucks’ sales are towards the heavy end of the truck market. That is why the revamp of the FH, FH16, FM and FMX is so important to the company. The company has started the revamp with the driver in mind. Whilst the guy behind the wheel may not be handing over the…
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The beginning of March this year saw the first glimpses of the new Volvo FMX heavy-duty truck for construction-style applications. Volvo Trucks tell us that it is an entirely new cab platform, even though to us it looks very similar to the outgoing model. Key to the changes are extra driveline configurations – you can…
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