Road Tests: Volvo FM9.380

Driver Graham Wilkes took the FM9 for a drive and compared it with his FM12: “The cab is higher than mine but it’s no problem getting in and out. I can’t see the bottom step lasting long though. Mid-range pulling power is on a par with my FM12.340. I seemed to use the same gears at the same places on the same hills, probably due to the similar peak torque levels, but spread isn’t the same and the engine speed drops away more quickly below 1,200rpm. The gearing’s a bit wide in the top half of the box and sometimes the drive would benefit from half gear increments. Mine is noisier. “This air-con system controls the temperature better than mine, which either runs too hot or too cold. My cab also gets very dusty, which doesn’t seem to be a problem here. The overhead compartments aren’t much good for paperwork but the box on the engine cowl is the right size and in the right place. I like the way the reversing camera’s screen pops up out of the dash but you still need some indication how far the back of the truck is from an obstruction. The electric mirrors are good, especially if you can’t see properly at a difficult junction, but I don’t like the wind deflector around the window: it distorts vision and it’s not needed anyway with air-con. “Making trucks pedestrian friendly is an ideal but the mirror forward of the screen does not give a clear view of the area in front. I like the appearance of the front of the truck with the powerful headlights but items like the indicator repeaters look vulnerable. Overall, I’d say it is a nice trick.”