The Globetrotter cab was designed to provide a safer option for
long-haul operations. Haulage from Western to Eastern Europe
increased steadily during the 1970s. Journeys lasted several days,
and it was common for two or more drivers to share a truck and
drive in shifts. Often, the only accommodation solutions available
were add-on plastic superstructures that left a lot to be desired
in terms of safety. Volvo wanted to offer a safer, more comfortable
option.
Volvo's low sales projections were quickly shattered. The
Globetrotter cab met a need that nobody could have foreseen.
Instead of catering to a niche, Volvo opened an entirely new
market.
In the 1980s, Volvo was first to introduce a revolutionary
development concept for truck cabs. Instead of being designed
around the truck, the cab was designed around the driver. As part
of Volvo's cab improvement project, a mock-up of a driver's cab was
built and used to measure drivers' sitting positions at motor shows
worldwide.
Over 2,000 truck drivers helped develop the new cab by sitting
in the mock-up and then answering questionnaires regarding
different aspects of trucks. After eleven years of product
development, the new Globetrotter cab was launched along with
Volvo's new FH truck series in 1993.
"There's no doubt that the Globetrotter cab has played a key
role in Volvo's success over the years. Safety has always been one
of our core values, and this is a prime example of how our safety
efforts pay off," says Claes Nilsson, President of the Europe
division at Volvo Trucks.
The Globetrotter cab has been continuously refined and upgraded
since then. In 1996, Volvo introduced the Globetrotter XL, the
first truck with a full standing height of 193 cm inside the cab.
The driver environment was given new seats and a new instrument
panel in 2002, and a new audio and video system was introduced in
2008. Other new features introduced at the same time included a
fold-up bed that offers a variety of adjustments and an optional
swivelling passenger seat.
Current truck regulations do not permit any changes to the cab's
outer dimensions. However, constant efforts are underway to make
better use of the available space and adapt the Globetrotter to new
regulations.
"The Globetrotter concept was a way of combining smart driver
cab solutions and optimising the scope for creating a safe,
comfortable working and living environment in a limited space - and
this work still continues," says Volvo Trucks' design director
Rikard Orell. "And it's equally important to offer advanced safety
and communication equipment. Thanks to Scandinavian design focusing
on shape, function and quality, the Globetrotter concept will
remain successful in the future."
1979: The first Globetrotter cab is born. Volvo is
the first manufacturer to offer a complete solution for driving and
living comfort in a truck.
1993: A newly developed Globetrotter is launched for
Volvo's new FH series, and quickly becomes Volvo's best-selling
cab.
1996: The Globetrotter XL is launched as a variant, with
full standing height of 193 cm from floor to ceiling.
2002: The driver environment is upgraded with features
including a new instrument panel and new seats.
2008: The cab is made more spacious. The audio and video
system is upgraded, and a new folding bed is introduced that
converts into a chair. A new swivelling passenger seat is offered
as an option.