Volvo’s dedication to safety has been extended to not just drivers, but drivers’ best friends.
The truck maker announced a partnership with the Center for Pet Safety, which will promote safer and more comfortable travel for truck drivers and their pets.
“Truck driving is a lonely profession, many drivers want to take their best buddy with them,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, during a press conference at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition. “We are going the extra mile to make sure your pet, your best buddy, is safe in the truck.”
The Center for Pet Safety is assessing the cab design and safety systems and will offer feedback on how to make the truck even safer for pets. The organizations will also provide information and coaching to professional drivers on how to keep their pets safe.
Volvo said a major focus will be on its parking cooler and other systems designed to maintain comfortable conditions for drivers and their pets alike. A digital guide will be released next year to help drivers optimize cab comfort and safety for their pets.
Market update
Turning his attention to the broader Class 8 truck market, Voorhoeve said he expects sluggishness to continue through the first part of 2026.
“The current market environment is tough,” he said, noting the freight recession – at three years in duration and counting – is the longest on record. “There’s lots of uncertainty in the market.”
While there are still uncertainties around emissions standards and tariffs, Voorhoeve said the truck population is aging and will need replacement. He touted how the new VNL can improve fleet efficiency and reduce operating costs. And he quipped Volvo won’t be slapping a 10% price increase on trucks for Canadian customers, referring to Trump’s latest threat to add another 10% tariff on Canadian goods.
“On tariffs, I don’t have a strong opinion whether they’re good or bad. The only think I know is we are a 100% U.S. manufacturer and have been that for 40 years,” Voorhoeve said.
The company also touted its new Load Finder loadboard provider to help fleets reduce empty miles. The recently released feature has already matched more than 22,000 loads with drivers, Volvo noted.
Updating its autonomous trucking initiatives, Volvo Autonomous Solutions said it’s getting closer to removing the safety driver on its trucks currently operating autonomously in Texas. Just when will that happen? It’ll be measured in quarters, not years, was all the company would say.
It also hinted at another product update in the works, likely the VNX, if you’re to read into the tagline ‘The power of X is coming.”
