Volvo Trucks North America recently conducted cold weather testing of its all-new Volvo VNL in Fairbanks, Alaska, where winter temperatures can reach minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40°C). The testing aimed to assess performance, reliability and driver comfort under extreme operating conditions.

“Alaska is one of the harshest places on Earth to operate a truck, and that is exactly why we are here,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We test in extreme environments so when our customers face unpredictable conditions, they can count on their Volvo to perform.”

Purpose-Built Testing Program

Each winter, Volvo’s cold weather testing team travels over 3,000 miles from Colorado to Alaska to conduct field testing outside of laboratory environments. The team runs the new VNL through a variety of real-world driving scenarios — from highway travel to urban stop-and-go traffic — to evaluate how the truck performs across a range of operations and environmental conditions.

Driver Feedback and Data Collection

Professional drivers with experience in Alaska’s terrain provide daily operational feedback. This input, combined with vehicle data collected during testing, informs engineering adjustments to components including the powertrain and in-cab systems.

Cold Soak Testing for Startup Reliability

A key part of the evaluation process includes "cold soak" testing, where the vehicle is parked overnight with the engine off until all components reach subzero temperatures. After a 12-hour cold soak, engineers verify whether the vehicle starts and functions as expected in freezing conditions.

“The all-new VNL was designed to change everything and that includes how we approach testing and refinement in real-world conditions — to challenge our trucks and gain insights that would be impossible to replicate in a lab,” said Voorhoeve. “What we learn in Alaska helps us deliver a truck that is not only innovative but proven where it matters most: on the road, in the real world, and in the hands of our customers.”

Continuous Testing to Inform Product Development

The VNL was developed with North American operating environments in mind. Its design incorporates features influenced by five major U.S. landscapes — urban areas, deserts, prairies, coastal forests and Arctic tundra — to support long-distance hauling across varied terrain and climates.