U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc., has ordered 500 new Volvo VN highway tractors, Volvo Trucks North America announced Friday. Delivery of the VNL780 models will begin in the second quarter of 2003, and is expected to extend over a twelve-month period.
One hundred of the vehicles will be equipped with Volvo VE D12 engines; the remainder will be equipped with Cummins ISX engines.
Despite evidence that fleets are pre-buying trucks to beat the October 1 EPA deadline for diesel engines with reduced emissions, Chattanooga, TN-based U.S. Express is the second major fleet to purchase the new VN trucks from Volvo. Phoenix-based Knight Transportation signed a long-term, non-exclusive deal last month to purchase VNL670 tractors.
“Since its introduction only a few weeks ago, the new VN model is generating a tremendous amount of positive feedback from our customers and dealers,” said Volvo senior vp-sales Scott Kress “We’re very pleased that U.S. Xpress has decided to add the new VN to its fleet.”
