trailer world issue One 2008

Panorama 4 Issue One 2008  Transport companies using the in- ternet to search for new drivers talk of an absolute flood of applications. The international transport com- pany Wiedmann & Winz from the Greater Stuttgart Area has specially commissioned a web agency to de- sign an internet portal. The aim was to find 40 qualified truck drivers. References to modern, new trucks, good maintenance, driver contests, driving courses and interesting tours aim to attract drivers to the company. Managing Director Micha A. Lege is satisfied with the results: “Up to now we have received more than 150 ap- plications, and will be able to fill all the vacancies.” No details are given about the costs of his recruiting cam- paign. Markus Werries, Managing Direc- tor of Reinke International south of Stuttgart reports of a similar experi- ence. Drivers are particularly scarce here. Within just a few days, Werries received 50 applications for three jobs via the portal top-trucker.de, and had to remove his job advertisement from the net again. This kind of echo is far better than using the news- papers or the depot noticeboard. Bernd Albrecht, founder and boss of top-trucker.de, reports that initial contact is frequently prompted by wives and girlfriends: “Life partners still have a major influence on the choice of job.” After all, the women want their boyfriends or husbands to come home quickly and in a satisfied state of mind. Cool, heroic visuals and music pumping out the testosterone: www.top40-actrosfahrer-gesucht.de kilometres long is India’s road network. Highways only account for 2%. Germany has a similar share with12,200 kmhighwayscomparedto 630,000road kilometres altogether. Sources: NHAI, German Federal Statistics Ofﬁce Truck heroes from the net Sailing freight  In the trailer world interview of the last issue, Beluga boss Niels Stolberg announced the christen- ing of “MS Beluga SkySails”, the world’s ﬁrst freighter to be oper- ated with an additional towing kite propulsion system. Mean- while Captain Lutz Heldt (57) is back home from his maiden voyage with the innovative heavy goods freighter. “It’s an incred- ible feeling when a 160 square meter kite ﬂies aft of the ship”, says Heldt. Already at windforce 5, the towing kite pulled the ship 3,316,452 Record turnover  BPW Bergische Achsen Kom- manditgesellschaft, Wiehl/Ger- many achieved record turnover intheﬁnancialyear2007ofmore than € 940 million. BPW sold altogether more than 475,000 heavy-duty axles and trailer chassis systems, two-thirds of which on the European market, thus expanding its leading po- sition in Europe. The turnover with a force of ﬁve tons, reliev- ing the ship’s engines by around 20%. Projected to a full day’s op- erations, this corresponds to fuel savings of 2.5 tons and thus more than 1,000 US$ per day. In fu- ture, kites will be used with a sail- ing surface of 600 square metres, bringing even greater savings in terms of costs and emissions. growth of 27% compared to last year results from the growing demand from commercial vehi- cle manufacturers who are prof- iting from the increase in inter- national goods transport. Sales increased particularly in East Europe and in the Near and Mid- dle East. BPW already generates more than two thirds (67%) of its turnover abroad – growth of 2% compared to 2006. Growth was driven by product innovations such as the axle generation ECO Plus 2. BPW has also expanded its interna- tional service network and sales organization. “Growth based on uncompromising quality in products and service: this strategy has paid oﬀ completely in 2007”, says Christian Peter Kotz, personally liable manag- ing partner.

trailer world issue One 2008

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