Semi trucks are one of those marvels of modern engineering that we can tend to take for granted. Sure, you've seen semis on the road plenty of times. Maybe you used to drive them back in the day. Maybe you still do. But, do you know how they're made? If not, have you ever thought about the ins and outs of the assembly process? If you answered yes to that last question, then you're in luck. Thank god for documentaries.
In the above YouTube video from Free Documentary, we get a look at "The Making of the American Truck." Now, upon seeing Volvo right off the bat, you might be thinking, "Wait, I thought that was a Swedish company?" That's true, but they've actually been making trucks in North America since the 1970s. And doing a damn good job at it.
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As the doc points out, a new Volvo truck rolls off the assembly line every 10 minutes. And these just aren't your one-size-fits-all type of trucks either. The production line caters to any and all customer requirements. Volvo is clearly all about customization. For the cab paint alone, more than 500 color tones are available. Gotta love options!
These incredible machines are also pretty much ready to hit the road right off the jump. After just one day in assembly, a Volvo truck will then undergo a test drive on the factory's special track. If the truck successfully completes the test drive, it's ready to take off on highways all across America.
And there you have it! It's pretty cool to get an inside look at how a semi truck is actually made. Really makes you appreciate all the hard work that goes into crafting such massive and reliable machines.
[sweeps]
This post was originally published on May 28, 2020.