The Making of an American Truck | Exceptional Engineering | Free Documentary
Exceptional Engineering: The Making of an American Truck
Get your own small Volvo Truck: amzn.to/42vwm9R
The Swedish automotive group Volvo has been producing trucks for the North American market since the late 1970s. Every ten minutes, a new truck rolls off the assembly line, with a tailor-made production line equipped to cater to individual customer requirements. More than 500 color tones are available for the cab paint job alone. After just one day in assembly, the new trucks are ready to roll on public highways throughout the United States provided they have successfully completed a test drive on the factory track.
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Worked at the Kenworth Truck Co. in Renton WA. Never forget my interview, I was told truck building anit for everybody. Lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks. So a lot people walk out first break. Another statement that was stated. Leave your BS at the front door. We pay you to build trucks, and they meant it! Airline pipers and Frame floor, hardest jobs to in the plant. Salute to does past and present who worked at KW!
Damn, apparently writing in coherent English ain’t for everyone either.
@@NateMylott "Anit" it?
Everyone except Green River Gary
How is the kenworth truck Co. Are doing since this covid started. Have they lost their employees??
Given the title of this video 'American truck', my first thought was it would be about Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt, or International (Navistar). It is a loaded question coming from someone who has never driven a semi, but how does, say, Kenworth compare against Volvo?
My VNL 670 saved my life in a double rollover in VA. Kudos to the design team. Entire truck was destroyed except driver compartment. Suffered some cuts and bruised ribs but walked away in pain but walked away
I rolled a Volvo myself and walked away with only a scratch on my arm!
Glasy to hear that Rnr!!!!
This is the way it should be, the truck structure deforms to within strict limits ensuring crew safety and survivability! Glad to hear that you walked away from the wreck. No matter how nice or good it is, a truck is replaceable but a Driver isn't.
@@felixcat9318 thats due to swedish engineering same as there cars they are one of the safest cars in the world
thats incredible, glad youre okay!
My husband and I have been team trucking for over 16 years almost 4,000,000 miles! Go big truck all you truckers stay safe
This is one of the companies that literally makes our country go around!!
I bet those workers putting in the bunks were PISSED when the line foreman told em to start installing by hand lol!
I've personally toured this factory, it's utterly amazing. Our company buys around 80 volvo's a year.
how long do you guys go before complete re hauling of engines or just get rid of them?
Drove a Volvo for many years and loved them. Great to turning radius. The best were automatic transmissions of which i had a Freightliner with one and was the only truck I drove that I really liked over many years of driving. Everything is Tesla and battery now imo. The biggest problem with "trucking" is the only thing moving is the truck and not the driver...inherently unsafe.
How much approximately does a truck cost?
@@georgedoolittle7574 It's funny because Volvo automobiles have been known to have horrible, worst in class turning radii 🤔
@@Chironex_Fleckeri - but it's true. Volvo designed the trucks here after having made them for Europe first, and with everything being tighter there, their first crack at a tractor wirhba nose on it had by far the tightest turning radius aside from our own cabover trucks. Still about the tightest turning radius of a sleeper tractor out there, which makes backing up to a dock a lot easier. :)
Glad to see that they’re built in the USA
I'm not
It'd be a bit silly to try to imprt millions of big trucks
Buen frabica de camiones,me gusto mucho como se hace los camiones,que sigan adelante con su trabajo.Suerte!!!.👍❤️🇨🇱
I worked for four months at Iveco International in Melbourne Australia as a part of the maintenance team , it was an amazing experience to see the process of a big truck being built from basic chassis rails to the truck driving out the door . Thanks for this awesome video !
Its awsome to see and be part of it i believe i wouldnt mind being there too.. But ivecos are really bad trucks, their electronics are awfull, they rlstart to rust in 2-3years😅at least the ones made in their mainland Italy. They are cheap tho... But they see repair shop more then roads. Interestingly i didnt know aus had their plants or even thst brand on roads.
9i877u778
no i have not.
I’m sitting in a 2020 Volvo 860 Vnl while watching this on my iPad as I am stuck in a snow storm in western Wyoming
Kyle Rider it’s on 25 or 80 ?
What color and interior options?
Ranjit Singh on I-80
SLID Tossed Pissed Elemental Into Bleu Cheese Salad it is a silver mush grey color the inside has bunk beds and all fridge and stuff nothing fancy but pretty nice.
@@kylerider7125 I, dont know if you are a driver / owner or a driver. I know Semi's can go for a NICE CHUNK OF Change. Factor in all of the options.. and it just keeps rising. If ya a owner / operator / driver, Id like to know why ya didnt get some color on that big bastard. If just a driver.. I can understand. Ya drive what ya given from ya Fleet Operator. But... The Unit that you in sounds like you are in is the Sleeper version with the high top, having a fridge and all.. isnt what I consider nice. Having a ipad, while attached to a wifi network, also responsible for monitoring all vehicle operations... isnt what I call "nice." Most of the stuff (sizes, details, fixtures / appointments) comes from the Camping and or RV Industry. Most of this stuff is a "slightly updated" version from what I knew about Camping in a 71 Winnebago Indian / 85 Allegro / 90s Freightliner Bounder.
Painting process alone was worth the watch! Great documentary!
I'm the proud owner of a 2019 Volvo VNL 860 premium package D13 13spd manual. 240 inch WB . I bought it used . previous owner took exceptional good care of the truck. I got the Volvo verified extended warranty and I really enjoy driving it
I love when I get issued a Volvo. They are beautiful machines, run smoothly, engine purrs, straight forward controls, and a good bunk, even base trim, as our company orders.
I love driving all american trucks more than 4 wheelers. But when they get problems in DEF, Sensors, and coolant is the thing that hurts me the most. They need to put accurate and expensive parts in the truck to make it more reliable
Yes, THE NOSE. This is exacty the Icon of American track!!
Windshield installed with a rubber gasket - just like my 1966 chevy pickup!! I give credit to Volvo for not over-engineering a simple but effective method for glass install.
old school... :D
Stop sign symbol smart idea!!!
“2 types of motion; in and out and up and down”. Well said lady
BUUAAHAHAHAHA. She should try sideways sometime.
Oink oink..
It's a great feat to witness everything that goes into making these beasts but what's equally amazing is the brilliant minds behind the design and setup of the factory to make everything as efficient as possible down to the last bolt.
Fred Flintstone how are you doing today fred
What about Kenworth or Peterbilt production line?
Not to mention the designers of the truck itself!
Had no idea it took Germany, Sweden and USA to make a single truck. Where there is a will there’s a way. God bless these United States. Blessings from Somalia 🇸🇴
It's a Swedish 🇸🇪 designed truck assembled in USA 🇺🇲 (with parts from the best manufacturers around the world) 👍
Man, so proud of all my USA truck drivers keeping the country MOVING!!! these are such amazing machines. USA USA USA USA USA
huge fart
I drove old Volvo Trucks in Europe and in the eighties in America. IThese new Volvo's are INCREDIBLE! This was an AWESOME documeentary!
I from Russia, thank you you brothers, someday and I have you perhaps'll work... May the Kingdom of God come... Love each other brothers...
Yes, thank you.
Thank you.:)
@kenneth taylor: Lots of Beautiful Girls, Too!!!!
@@user-fp5fz7pz4s You're welcome
Ну наконец-то,а то я думал комментов из России не найду))) хотя бы на английском..
Lots of Respect for Truckers The back bone of any country
My company bought 3 2021 VNL760 with 455 hp/1750 torque 12.8 liter Volvo inline 6. All have 12 speed auto. I love the truck. The cheap seat my company bought is hard as a bench. It has a wonderful ride and is very fast with such a small engine. My truck had 400 miles when I got it. In less than 400 miles the dash light started to flash when I hit large bumps. At 20500 miles. The truck broke at a red light in a construction zone. The dash readout said the abs computer could not communicate with the pcm. The dealer fixed the truck a few days later and it broke again 100 miles away. This time it took them 6 weeks to fix it. I just got the truck back and I've put 400 miles on it without any problems. I will be uploading videos.
Fascinating! Hard to believe that many trucks are dispatched every day.
👍👍👍
This is so exciting to watch as a Truck Driver myself. And to anyone that has worked on an Assembly line . That is not an easy job. I tried it myself but realized Truck Driver is my passion.
I am thinking about becoming a trucker. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 15. I was put on ssi and foodstamos because I couldn't work, Because the seizures became debilating. Now at 34, I am questioning whether I still even have epilepsy, no seizures and no epileptic activity. Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a trucker. Now I think I may be able to truck. I respect truckers, without truckers America would stop.
@@AaronJohnson-qg3fr go for it!! You can do it. 👍.Good luck !!
Hello how are you doing? I’m Natasha, I’m single and Im from Cali. What about you?
@@natashafoster8544hello
I’m in a 2020 vnl 64T740 and I love it…. Definitely buying one for myself when I become an owner operator
I love this documentary on this amazing truck by Volvo... :)
Absolutely one of the best beginning to end fantastic tutorials I have ever seen! After watching this video, it makes any American very proud of the quality workmanship placed into such wonderful Trucks! I have never seen, or imagined any Truck facility being so clean. There is such superb dedication that each individual displays while putting these very high quality Trucks together! It makes me want to get out of retirement and either work here or buy a new Truck! Thank you all for making America great!
But Volvo Mack is a Chinese company. How long before its made overseas? 🤔
@@article1934 Volvo is actually 2 different companies. Volvo Cars is owned by a Chinese corp. Volvo Group (how makes trucks) is still Swedish.
And also they’re literally built completely by robots 😂
@@provethemwrong5604 except for all of the operations shown in this video...
@@article1934 Volvo Cars is owned by the Chinese, Volvo Trucks, Construction and etc is 100% Swedish
ENJOYED THE TOUR OF VOLVO FACTORIES BY SITTING IN MY DRAWING ROOM.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD STATEMENT THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH.
@@JamesBond-fg6bt CAPITAL LETTERS MAKE THE STATEMENT BETTER.
@ORANGE COUNTRY GUY What is your address?
Kenn seems like a bit of a legend
When it comes to documentaries, you get what you pay for.
I worked for Navistar building trucks before I changed careers to a technical manager for a telecomm company. If doings all over again I would have stayed building trucks
What a great video, I retired as a truck mechanic, Volvo is an impressive company, after watching this if I was a trucker I would definitely go for a Volvo. Beautiful piece of engineering.
Volvo trucks (10% of the US market).
It always amazes me to see "how things are built" and this was no different. Great detail in the video. Thanks for this awesome video !
Happy New Year to you too… 🎉🥳🎊how did you like video?
Beautifully made in usa with pride God bless America 👍👍👍👍👍
After that young lady straddled the chassis to cross over to get inside (4:00), I have a new respect for truck chassis' 🚚
Was that a lady? Couldn't tell. Her chest is flatter than yours and a sheet of plywood..
@@latinoclint Fuuuccccckkkkkk!!!! 😂
@@latinoclint That's a lot of damage 🤣
Keep these Documentaries coming. We're Loving the Videos.
You're hot 😍
Yes we love it & we love u ......,,way from Belize central America 😍
Keep the Documentaries loving the videos. We're cumming.
TV3
Sumreen you are gorgeous 😊
I started working there in 2018...Now Dec. 21 still there ...glad to be a part in building Volvo trucks in Dublin Va
Nothing as beautiful as the 359 Peterbilt.
No way
Amasing to see Chuck Wilson. I worked out of Wilson Trucking's Orlando Terminal for a while. They were my first introduction to Volvo trucks. Ever since, I've been hooked on Volvo. I now drive a 2018 Volvo Cabover in UK hauling Vauxhall cars to dealerships.
I agree. I've seen that first green Volvo truck before, but never knew of the family who it was built for.
Hello how are you doing? I’m Natasha, I’m single and Im from Cali. What about you?
@@workingguy6666 Hello how are you doing? I’m Natasha, I’m single and Im from Cali. What about you?
THIS IS JUST DEFINITELY BRAGGING
Pretty Dam Cool Made In America Baby!!!!
One can gain a wealth of fashion and grooming tips from this documentary .
That's cool they dont have uniforms. Although the factory issue gear can look more professional.
That was really enjoyable and interesting to watch.
Agreed. Actually hit a lot of the interesting detailed parts as well.
Tell me about it 🙂
39:15 "his driving technique is legendary" Proceeds straight from the right only lane on the test track
14:54 Nice Tokyo drift / R & R beat ya got there.💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That looks like a great place to work. Their dedication to doing things 'right the first time' is what being an American factory worker means. Good proud people.
Working for a Swedish multi-national. Lol.
It's not really American though.
I think the best job i have seen in this movie is a crane operator at 26:47 :) All day ride up and down, forth and back!
What an excellent documentary! 👍🏽
Thank you very much!
These Volvo trucks are so smooth that they feels like driving a car.
Sound like you have driven one. I damn near fall asleep driving it.
@@blackericdenice yes. I drove one.
I'm in training to become a diesel technician and I love these trucks!
Excellent tour, extremely informative, thank you for sharing!
I worked for Volvo trucks belgium , great company !
39:15 "his driving technique is legendary" Proceeds straight from the right only lane on the test track
You can only become a legend by being a rebel.
@Deryk Klein What is your address?
@@mehrojsharofiddinov276 😦😐
For normal people watching truck driving isn't always as glamorous as in tv shows. Stay in school if you can.
Thank you for the tutorial. I am gonna try this!
At 36:40 "How did this scratch happen on this new paint job?' Nice job Jethro.
This factory is from the future....so much automation and neat points for safety.....everything is thought out and a tool is applied to help against manual labour....I want to work there
Boy oh boy you would enjoy working ar TESLA
My hat is off to your people and operation. I love to work hard and I respect high quality. This is an operation that has improved itself so many times and if always looking for ways to improve. There are so many things that go into the smallest details and this is a huge undertaking. Once again thanks for the chance to peek in on your plant. I have a lot of experience as several skilled jobs including design and build welding carpentry builder. Small stuff. I was a Technology Teacher which I taught from a design angle. Anyway, I love your style.
Love the test driver
Beautiful truck! The automatic transmission is perfect for those who has arthritis on the left leg and foot for pressing clutch over the years. the sleeper is perfect to those who likes to invite a Lizard onboard.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lmao dying, a lizard🤣🤣
Invite a lizard? You are a VERY BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM In the Trucking industry today. Should have kept your money for Truck driving school and kept your day job!
@@jerryhouse6455 Dude it is a joke. Chill!
That is an automated transmission, not an automatic. The isn't is an engine that was used in Europe for almost a decade in Europe before coming over here. It is a computer controlled gear type transmission, an automatic has a torque converter such as Allison. Just saying
"The mobile lifting platform means women can also work at the station." LOL damn that's a brave thing to say these days. I wonder how old this documentary is.
XxMsrSzprzxX funny is I thought the exact same thing
Didn't look too old to me, judging by some of their Milwaukee battery powered tools.
Dam you know they (the female workers) can sue for the derogatory statement.
This came out today haha
Well somewhere in a dimly lit basement, the faminazi brigade is getting ready to roast the producers of this documentary on burning coals.
I drove a truck and I can say Volvo is the Cadillac of trucks.
That is awesome. Something I like to do. Even though I have very little skills. The only thing I've done was loading up trailers by hand or with the use of a pallet jack. But watching this video is so amazing. I can watch this forever.,👍👍
These trucks are sick but nothing compares to the look of the big 'ol front ends of Peterbuilts and Kenworths from back in the day.
Hello how are you doing? I’m Natasha, I’m single and Im from Cali. What about you?
Amazing. I love those Volvo tracks that are made for USA 🇺🇸
The precision omg and recording each block!
OMG that truck at the end is my dream truck!!!!!
I always wanted to know how these huge vehicles is made I always admire these powerful trucks and wanted one or two of these machines just plain beautiful .right on!.
I’ve had the privilege of going to gymnasium (17-19) at a school sponsored by Scania (a Swedish truck manufacturer), it’s really cool to see cus we have been out in the factory and the Scania was over in Sweden is incredible similar to how Volvo does it over in the US, down to the station grouping and tools
I worked as a production engineer at a Volvo north American option. This appears to be filmed at the New River Virginia assembly facility. This documentary needs to be reviewed by an engineer for accuracy because those aren't girders. They are frame rails. The completed frame isn't painted with clear lacquer. Its black enamel with the paint code MS0036.
This video is an advertisement, involving engineers would interfere with the bs.
My state DOT had these Volvo's, they had a rust problem and cracking cross members, the welding/fabrication dept. had to drill an press break many new cross members a expensive repair. When it was time to purchase new trucks the State worded the truck specks to keep Volvo from being able to bid. The local Volvo dealer took the state to court, the dealer lost.
I love the American concept of; the bigger the better
We have gone to mostly Volvo and I cannot say enough what a great machine it is . I do a lot of tight congested city work and highway blasts and it does everything right time and time again ! .
The end was very happy and wholesome
Lol worked hear when i was a kid as a security guard! Me and a fellow employee got let go for racing the golf carts through the plant but in our defense it was night shift
Hello how are you doing? I’m Natasha, I’m single and Im from Cali. What about you?
@@natashafoster8544 move it along scammer
Volvo it’s a great company that makes very good trucks hurrah!!!
Good job my hard working American 🇺🇸 ppl Quality matters here in USA 🇺🇸💪🏾
I have been inside a Volvo truck cabin....it's very good and exceptionally comfortable
Very good documentary. I like watching things being built. I turned down a job at Toyota 20yrs ago working on the cam, crankshaft line, and then transmissions. I think it takes a special kinda person to be able to put the same 10 bolts in 8-12hrs a day every day of their lives. It didn't seem for me. I work in an aerospace alloy facility now.I like watching the assembly line jobs trying to figure out what jobs the senior people would want. Some are so much better than others lol
I got offered a similar gig at a factory in Detroit. Other than moving there, I thought about how awful doing the same thing all day every day would be! I'm a KZheadr on here which pays probably 1/10th of what I would make but at least I get to travel and have fun!
I love that he calls them "Screws" for the engine bolts. We have never called them screws in the engine plant I work in.
....and this was a free doco? This was a superb doco, very comprehensive and entertaining. Thanks for going to the effort. Cheers.
FH 16 is pure gold.
Whoever designed the robots are smart asf
No, they just went to college and learned how to do it.
@@toomanyhobbies2011 Hopefully you just like being a lame troll.
I asked numerous Volvo Truck Drivers 2 Questions. 1. Do you like driving the Volvo Truck? They responded without hesitation Yes! 2. Why? Again without hesitation answered Quality of Build and Ride Comfort.
I love the Uniforms at the Volvo Factory. It gives the worker a sense of belonging. Lol
Correction. It’s not a “V6”. It’s a 6 cylinder, or called a “Straight 6”. There is no “V” shape to the engine.
Yeah but they use 32 "extra strong screws" to hold the fifth wheel to the chassis!
Only European Volvos get V8s, the sort that crank out up to 750hp and 3150Nm of torque
@@Ultrakillerism no mate, even those 750hp 3150Nm Euro Volvo Beasts are 6 cylinders !!, Scania are the ones that still do a V8 at 730hp, here in New Zealand and also Australia we also get the Mack's ( part of Volvo Group ) with the 6 cylinder Volvo in them but only rated to 685hp
@@hootizzz my bad, was thinking of the Scanias.
[PREMIER][PREMIER]
Volvo is popular because of its safety system and technology. They ensure that drive is safe and driving should be run smoothly.
🇲🇿 much love for engineering
Driven all types in last 40years best most reliable and fatigue free Volvo
I love that the Volvo engines are being transported by Kenworth's and Peterbilt's.
And Volvos.. I drive a 2021 Volvo and deliver engines there all week long
I work at the factory in the Cab Plant and love every minute of it. I have a double role as a Logistics Facilitator and as a Plant Ambassador. I get to help keep the parts flowing to build the trucks, then I have opportunities to give tours to show our plant to anyone who requests a tour and is approved. Sad part about this video is that to get the true feel of the plant it would have to be almost 4 hours long to get the true experience. Just watching the robots in the Cab Plant work their magic can be mesmerizing. That alone can take up just one hour of video. But it is a great video and they might need to do another one soon with great things in the works coming down the road soon.
they are a thing of beauty art & engineering combined.
I’m a big rig myself right now watching this.
I was surprised at 36:40 that the screw gun that's used to tighten the screws on the grille is placed on top of the painted surface. I would have thought that you would not want to take a chance to possibly damaging the paint.
Yeah and bet he does it to everyone he puts a grill on
Thought the same thing. Very surprised that’s allowed
I am speechless because i am so impressed.I started developing this liking for trucks but this video has really increased astronomically my love for trucks and this VNL series is my favorite now ,from production to testing an amazing video, yeah the bearded chap who tests round the tracks and that couple who live their lives as truckers,a case of your job being your home,they own an amazing truck with gorgeous bunker.I am now a follower and i hope one day i visit the USA to experience these wonderful machines.Seen a few in my country..
That sweet ol motor turning on at 22:16 for the first time was music to my ears
Toured the Brockway assembly plant in NEW YORK state with 2 friends in 1971, every truck was custom built to order.
Now Brockway Motor Trucks, Cortland, New York, was an American owned, engineered, manufactured and sourced company in the USA with the profits staying in the USA. The profits did not flow to Germany or Sweden. You saw an American truck being built. Even the engines being ASSEMBLED now in Hagerstown are not American but have their birth in Europe as the Hagerstown part of the video said. When Mack Trucks Inc.(under Signal ownership) engines were built there, they were American designed, manufactured and owned(profits stayed in the USA)The New River Valley factory was also not a Volvo factory but a factory built by another great American company White Motor Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio USA.
good job keep up the superb documentaries
We like Mike! Goooo Mike!
First the designer of the truck second the machines/robots that put it together faster than a human with precise, accuracy and overall amazing the salute to the workers. If I should get a job at this manufacturer company although it's hard work i wouldn't miss a shift
First off it doesn't have 3 air compressors to run the air ride, it has 1 compressor filling 3 tanks. 1 to be the primary side of the breaking system, 1 to be the secondary side of the braking system and 1 to operate the rest of the air operated systems including the air ride cab. Second the 5th wheel is not held on by "screws" there is a huge difference between bolts and screws.
Oh wow. Absolutely Amazing, Takes so much coordination to produce 1 truck!
The two meters hood extension than its European cousins is simply aesthetic I won't go without.