▊ Versatile Usage Scenarios — Meeting Various Complex Demands
People: Fire trucks are not typically designed for personnel to stay in for extended periods. Usually, firefighters arrive quickly at the scene and carry out all operations outside the vehicle. Therefore, there’s little need for sleeper berths. However, in standby situations, drivers may need to rest inside the cab, so space remains an important consideration.
Cargo:
Fire trucks are generally only empty on the return trip. They are usually fully loaded with foam and water while en route to or on standby near a fire. As special-purpose vehicles, they aren’t subject to legal gross weight restrictions, making their total weight higher than regular 4-axle freight trucks. High power output is essential for rapid response to fire scenes.
Roads:
These trucks mostly operate on urban roads and highways during interregional operations. Although the average speed of a convoy is not particularly high, road conditions are generally good. However, extreme conditions may arise when entering fire zones, so overall vehicle reliability is crucial.
▊ Day Cab with No Sleeper — Still Excellent in Space
The new Volvo FMX has only minor changes in appearance. The cab structure largely retains the previous generation’s look, but some design elements align more closely with the updated FM series.
The new headlamps echo Volvo’s signature “V” shape and are enclosed in protective covers, distinguishing the FMX from highway models like FH and FM. This design helps protect the lights from damage, reducing future maintenance costs.
A well-retained feature is the factory-installed towing eye in the center of the front bumper. It can be activated simply by turning the towing bolt 90 degrees to the right, which is very convenient during emergency rescues.
The sturdy iron bumper improves impact resistance and can handle minor collisions in harsh conditions. It’s also cost-effective to repair.
The raised lower bumper enhances ground clearance and overall off-road capability—important in unpredictable fire zone terrains despite normally operating on paved roads.
Looking at the chassis, we see the engine is protected by a factory-installed skid plate, improving resistance to debris and boosting durability.
From the side, it’s evident that the FMX uses a day cab with no sleeper berth. This reduces manufacturing costs and helps control vehicle pricing.
Despite being a flat-top day cab, it still includes external storage compartments accessible via interior handles—very useful for storing dirty gear like gloves without cluttering the cab.
The vehicle also features a satellite antenna. According to the manufacturer, this unit supports an optional external remote control. In dangerous fire scenes where personnel can’t approach, the vehicle can be operated remotely to carry out rescue tasks—although this feature is optional.
Overall, despite being a flat-top cab version, this FMX retains high-end features and a user-friendly design. The cab space has also increased by nearly one cubic meter. Let’s look further into the interior updates.
▊ Dual Screens Added — Spacious Enough for Resting
The most noticeable interior upgrade is the addition of 2 large screens: a fully digital instrument cluster and a central Android-based touchscreen display, enhancing the cabin’s tech feel.
The new instrument panel not only shows standard speed and RPM, but also differential lock status, axle loads, cruise control settings, and more—practical and comprehensive.
The center console screen, built on an Android system, offers robust functionality.
The redesigned cab adds about 1 cubic meter of extra space. This is achieved through a smaller, sleeker gear lever that doesn’t obstruct movement between the driver and passenger seats.
The cabin floor has a lower center hump and side slopes, maximizing usable space and legroom.
The center console is shorter but includes expanded storage compartments, improving space utilization.
The seat slide rails have been extended, allowing more adjustment range. This offers a more spacious rest area when parked, enhancing comfort for standby drivers.
As for the seat, it’s among the best below the flagship FH model—featuring leather + fabric upholstery for comfort and breathability, a widened cushion for better support, and a highly adjustable backrest. This greatly reduces fatigue, even during long hours.
Optional features haven’t been sacrificed for their role as a special-purpose vehicle. The steering wheel supports 2-stage pneumatic adjustment. High-tech options like adaptive cruise control are also available.
The factory-installed 4-way camera system aids in observing surroundings—a practical feature for trucks often on construction sites. The wide-view cameras on both mirrors help eliminate blind spots.
▊ Up to 540 hp — Fire Emergencies Made Easier
For fire trucks, quick response and long idling times are critical, so a high-performance engine is a must. Volvo equips this FMX with the 13L D13K540EU6 engine.
For an 8×4 cargo truck, 540 hp is massive—even more than many tractor-trailers. With this engine, rapid arrival at fire scenes is effortless.
This engine has been specially tuned for fire and pump trucks, supporting extended idling with minimal fuel consumption—achieving efficiency and practicality.
The transmission is Volvo’s in-house AT2612F 12-speed AMT, widely used across Volvo models with proven reliability. It features a full-speed PTO that allows complete engine power output to external equipment—maximizing efficiency in firefighting operations.
The rear axle is also Volvo’s own, upgraded from a 32-ton capacity to 38 tons. With dual rear axles, the gross capacity reaches 76 tons—ideal for supporting tanks and pumps, enhancing reliability under special loads.
This is a hub reduction axle, improving torque output and performance on rough terrain—essential for complex fire scenes. It’s worth noting that not all domestic Volvo trucks come with this axle type.
With this powerful drivetrain, the FMX can meet diverse use scenarios. For those with lower power needs, optional 460 hp or other engine variants are also available to reduce purchase costs.
▊ Factory-Customized Chassis — 4 U-Bolts for Heavy Loads
Looking at the chassis, it appears similar to other cargo trucks at first glance. But on closer inspection, there are distinct differences.
Standard configurations align closely with other heavy-duty trucks, but component placement has been optimized. More parts are integrated within the frame, leaving exterior chassis space open for aftermarket modifications—reducing the need for later structural changes that might affect reliability.
The suspension is tailored for heavy-duty use. The leaf springs are reinforced triple-leaf units with dual U-bolts for secure fastening—enhancing both load-bearing and stability, ideal for specialized operations.
The FMX uses 2 tire types:
Front tires: 385/65R22.5 super-wide tires for better handling.
Rear tires: 315/80R22.5, slightly narrower as they are dual tires.
This Volvo FMX chassis is built for the extreme conditions of firefighting, but also suits specialized engineering applications. It ensures responders can rely on the vehicle in emergencies and provides better protection for public property.
This brief review of the all-new Volvo FMX fire truck highlights significant improvements over the previous generation—from a more comfortable cab and stronger chassis to an upgraded idle-optimized engine and optional remote control systems—all pushing the FMX to a new performance level.
