VOLVO

Brazilian truck rental company highlights the importance of the 
famous "I-Shift" transmission

Construction truck and machinery rental company highlights the high performance of Volvo's automated transmission. “I-Shift has a performance 10% to 12% higher than that of its competitors”, says Marcelo Amaral, the company's contract and fleet manager.
According to the executive, I-Shift is the most advanced and fastest transmission on the market and provides convenience to the driver by eliminating gear changes. “It is also very robust, it does not break, which increases availability,” says Amaral, who sees the same qualities in the 32-ton Volvo VM. In addition to the trucks, the company also acquired a preventive maintenance plan for part of the vehicles. The deal was made by Treviso, a Volvo dealership that operates in the states of MG and RJ.
Zocar leases the VMs for mining operations. The models move the ore, assist in the excavation, transportation, construction and deactivation of dams for 28 customers spread across Brazil. The company also rents out models for civil construction, such as roads. “Volvo is recognized for the robustness and high availability of its vocational trucks for mining and other off-road operations. The 32 ton VM is one of the best options for this type of application and the sale of 120 units with I-Shift to Zocar is an acknowledgment of the model's quality ”, says Alcides Cavalcanti, Volvo's truck director.
The purchase of 120 VM is part of Zocar's fleet renewal and expansion plan. In total, the company acquired 280 trucks and increased its portfolio from 520 vehicles in 2019 to 800 this year. The company only operates with its own vehicles. Their trucks have an average age of one and a half years. In addition to trucks, Zocar has more than 600 machines for the yellow line, the green line and support vehicles, with a total fleet of 1,400 vehicles and equipment.

The company
Zocar has been in the market for over 35 years. Founded by the Zoboli Dadaldo family, it was born in the city of Castelo, in Espírito Santo, with a bulldozer purchased and renovated for rental. The business grew and in 1984 the company migrated to Rio de Janeiro. Zocar has 150 employees and four branches in Rio de Janeiro, Altamira (PA), Castelo (ES) and Itabira (MG). Among the various differentials of the company, we highlight the personalized service for each type of operation, fleet 100% tracked by satellite and telemetry with remote access by application for all customers. Another area of ​​activity of Zocar is the sale of used vehicles, due to the constant renewal of its fleet.

The segment
The company is experiencing a rapidly growing coronavirus pandemic. According to Amaral, Zocar's operation grows on average 50% per year. In 2020, until July, the expansion was 40%. The mineral sector is one of the least affected by the health crisis. Data from the Ministry of Mines and Energy show that revenue from mineral production grew 1% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2019, with a positive balance in the trade balance of US $ 5.2 billion in the first quarter.



The I-Shift
Volvo was a pioneer in offering an innovative transmission that at the same time is very simple to use. Advanced electronics eliminated the old synchronizer rings, previously essential for smooth and precise couplings. I-Shift's intelligence is capable of processing thousands of information per second to always select the best gear. For this, it takes into account factors such as speed, engine load, temperature, topography, inclination, transported weight and others. With smooth changes, the transmission also increases the durability of the entire power train - engine, clutch, cardan shaft, differential, rear axles - and reduces tire wear. This year Volvo reached the mark of 100 thousand I-Shift boxes produced in Brazil (here).

The truck
The 32-ton VM(image above) is part of Volvo's large family of vocational vehicles. It meets a specific demand: the segment of trucks that work in earthworks, light mining and construction. Equipped with the traditional 330 hp engine and a 6x4 axle configuration, it is also the lightest truck in its category, with a tare weight that ensures greater payload capacity and thus more profitability for the transporter.

Source: Volvo