The year 2025 was spent by the Unitruck team in close cooperation with forestry companies, listening to their experience, expectations, and practical needs when planning their daily workhorses – timber trucks. These discussions formed the foundation for solutions that combine strength, safety, and long-term durability.
This intensive planning process culminated in January 2026 with the first Unitruck-designed aluminum timber truck superstructure, developed based on real operational requirements in Latvian forests.
Volvo FH500 Log Truck with a Custom-Built Body
In accordance with the requirements of Čiekuri NH, a Volvo FH500 timber truck chassis was equipped for this project. The chassis delivery was carried out in cooperation with Volvo Group Truck Center Valmiera, which provided professional customer consultation and ensured precise chassis specification tailored to the intended application.
Based on the customer’s needs, detailed body planning and consultations were conducted, during which the most optimal technical solutions for the timber truck superstructure were selected.
Aluminum Body Structure – Lightweight Yet Exceptionally Strong
The base structure of the body consists of 190 mm thick aluminum longitudinal beams, securely mounted to the chassis frame. Structural strength is ensured by:
- 10 aluminum cross members,
- 4 steel fixation cross braces,
- Flexible connections at the front of the frame, protecting the body against torsional stress.
Additionally, elastic brackets for pipe fixation are installed beneath the plywood floor, improving service life and reducing load concentration within the structure.
For the crane installation, a high-strength steel console is used, ensuring stable, safe, and precise operation of the timber truck crane, even under demanding working conditions.
JW-Tec Timber bunks and Pneumatic Load Securing
The timber truck is equipped with JW-Tec aluminum timber bunks from a German manufacturer, featuring steel bases. Their 7-ton load capacity ensures safe and reliable timber transportation.
Both the timber truck and the trailer are additionally equipped with JW-Tec pneumatic load tensioners, providing automatic load securing even while driving, significantly increasing road safety.
Kesla Crane for Professional Forestry Operations
The body configuration is complemented by a Kesla 2209ST crane from the Finnish manufacturer, featuring a premium-class cab. According to customer requirements, the crane is equipped with:
- an autonomous heating system,
- mechanical control levers,
- an LS hydraulic system.
The crane delivers 9 tonne-meters of lifting power, which, combined with the Kesla ProG46 grapple, ensures efficient, precise, and timber-grade-appropriate operation.
Secure Coupling and Complete Timber Truck Combination
A TAV pneumatic coupling from a Finnish manufacturer with automatic lubrication has been installed, ensuring convenient and, most importantly, safe trailer coupling to the chassis.
For a complete log truck combination, the customer selected a Närko Ab three-axle timber trailer equipped with SAF disc brakes. The high-strength steel frame and well-engineered trailer configuration ensure exceptional safety and durability, even in the most demanding forestry conditions.
The trailer frame length in this configuration is 6,900 mm, allowing convenient load positioning while remaining within the maximum permitted total combination length in Latvia – 18,750 mm.
Both the timber truck and the trailer are equipped with the ZF SCALAR telematics system, providing the customer with full, real-time control of the vehicle combination. The system allows real-time monitoring of the location of both the timber truck and trailer, as well as key technical parameters such as tire pressure, load weight, tire operating temperature, and remaining brake disc wear, thereby improving operational safety, efficiency, and overall equipment lifespan.