The public enterprise Srbijašume has modernized and expanded its fleet with four state-of-the-art Volvo FMX 6×4 trucks featuring specialized Palfinger superstructures and two forestry trailers. The robust and durable Volvo trucks are tailored to the demands of forestry operations, equipped with heavy-duty tandem rear axles with air suspension and a load capacity of 26 tons. These axles are liftable, meaning the rear axle is raised when the vehicle is empty or lightly loaded. The front axles, with a capacity of 9 tons, are also adapted for heavy loads and challenging terrain.
The vehicles are powered by 13-liter Volvo engines producing 420 hp, with 2,100 Nm of torque, paired with an I-Shift automated gearbox featuring off-road software and an electronic load indicator. The cabs are ergonomically designed and well-equipped, providing drivers with maximum comfort during demanding workdays.
The trucks, with a payload capacity of 14,500 kg, are fitted with 6,600 mm-long forestry platforms for log transport, equipped with aluminum ExTe E6 stakes. Three of the trucks are equipped with Palfinger Epsilon M12Z83 forestry cranes, with a maximum reach of 8.3 meters—new-generation models featuring extended service life thanks to KTL cathodic dip coating, which provides additional corrosion resistance. All hydraulic hoses are routed inside the crane boom for protection against mechanical damage.
The PSM180 forestry trailers have 6,000 mm-long platforms, SAF axles with a load capacity of 9 tons, aluminum ExTe stakes, and a payload of 14,300 kg.
The superstructures and trailers were supplied by Palfinger Serbia, the official representative of the Austrian Palfinger Group, which specializes in the sale and installation of all types of Palfinger superstructures, as well as servicing the complete product range. Palfinger Serbia has been operating in the market since 2005, while the Austrian Palfinger AG, headquartered in Salzburg, is recognized as the world’s largest manufacturer of hydraulic cranes, present in 130 countries with over 5,000 sales and service centers and nearly 10,000 employees.
The new Volvo–Palfinger units will be used for transporting timber in the forest management areas of Loznica, Kruševac, Kučevo, and Kuršumlija. JP Srbijašume manages 892,598 hectares of forests and forest land and produces around 1.3 million cubic meters of timber annually. In addition to production, it regularly organizes reforestation campaigns, protects natural areas, and safeguards forests from fires and other hazards. Thanks to the new machinery, a significant portion of timber will henceforth be transported using the Volvo trucks equipped with Palfinger superstructures.