Wilson Trucking presented with 500,000th U.S.-built Volvo truck

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VolvoVolvo Trucks on Wednesday, May 25, presented Wilson Trucking Corp. of Fishersville, Va., with the keys to a new Volvo VNL 300, the 500,000th Volvo truck assembled in the United States.

To commemorate Volvo Trucks’ North American milestone, company officials presented the new Volvo VN, assembled at Volvo’s New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va., to Wilson Trucking Chairman Chuck Wilson, President Guy Wilson and members of the Wilson Trucking staff. Wilson Trucking’s Volvo VNL 300 is equipped with a Volvo D13 engine, I-Shift automated manual transmission and one-of-a-kind badging to distinguish the truck as the 500,000th Volvo assembled in the United States.

“It’s a great honor to build the 500,000th Volvo assembled in the U.S. here in our New River Valley plant, where every Volvo truck sold in America today is produced,” says Patrick Collignon, Volvo Trucks chief operating officer. “The fact that it’s for Wilson Trucking, a neighbor located not too far up the road from the plant, who we’ve gotten to know very well over the years, makes this event even more special.”

“We’re pleased to share this important milestone with Wilson Trucking,” says Ron Huibers, Volvo Trucks’ senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Our history together dates back a long time, and we’re proud that Wilson Trucking continues to choose Volvo trucks to wear Wilson’s signature green and red colors.”

Several Volvo milestones highlight the company’s longstanding relationship with Wilson Trucking. In the late 1970s, Wilson Trucking purchased the first Volvo F86 sold in the United States. In late 1981, Volvo established a U.S. production presence, and in 1982, Wilson purchased the first Volvo – an F7 – to roll off the line at the New River Valley plant in Dublin. Wilson again purchased a “first” in 1996 when Volvo introduced the VN model.

“We’ve always enjoyed working with Volvo, and we appreciate the way Volvo trucks are built – safe, comfortable and quiet,” says Chuck Wilson. “It’s easy to retain top-quality drivers when they have a top-quality truck to drive. Now we’re adding trucks with the Volvo I-Shift transmission, which is yet another comfort our drivers really like – and it helps with fuel efficiency.”

Founded in 1926 by C.G. “Boss” Wilson, Wilson Trucking operates more than 740 trucks and 1,500 trailers from 35 terminals throughout the Southeast.