Eight trips to the moon with a MAN TGX

Even experienced logisticians will be astonished by the fact that this MAN TGX 18.360, built in 2008, has clocked up 3,266,208 kilometres. That’s about eight times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Or, to put it another way, this MAN TGX could have travelled around the equator almost 82 times. This makes the truck owned by Helmut Heckmann, managing director of Osthavelland Transport GmbH, the MAN truck with the highest mileage in Europe – and thus the winner of the first “MAN Truck Max Mileage Master 2025.”

The competition, which was advertised on social media and online, was aimed at all MAN customers in Europe with vehicles dating from 2007 – and it proved just how reliable these trucks are. The results exceeded all expectations: over 70 entries were received, including many trucks that already had over one million kilometres on the clock. The year of manufacture ranged from 2007 to 2019 – evidence of the vehicles’ longevity over different generations.

What’s particularly impressive is that the total mileage of all vehicles that entered the competition amounts to over 75 million kilometres. That’s about 100 return trips to the moon, or more than 1,800 complete trips around the earth. The “MAN Truck Max Mileage Master 2025” competition highlights the endurance and performance of the 880,000 or so vehicles that make up the fleet of MAN trucks in Europe.

The winner’s recipe for success: good quality, good maintenance and good personnel

The winning truck has been owned by Osthavelland Transport GmbH since its very first kilometre and is still used for traditional, long-distance transportation in two-man operation, with two drivers taking it in turns. This intensive use is what made the huge mileage possible. “I was curious to find out if there were any other companies that had been using their trucks for so long. Thanks to good quality, good maintenance and good personnel, damage can be avoided. The trucks are still reliable on the road,” reported Helmut Heckmann.

Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus, was enthusiastic about the result of the competition. “Congratulations to the winner – and a huge thank you to everyone who shared their enthusiasm and experiences with their MAN Truck with us. It clearly shows that MAN vehicles are reliable and robust partners in everyday life – often covering distances of more than one million kilometres. Our latest trucks are also made with the same DNA, including the extremely fuel-efficient PowerLion diesel vehicles and our electric trucks for all transport tasks from 12 to 50 tonnes. Our customers can rely on their MAN.”

Exclusive tour of the Alps with the fully electric MAN eTGX for the winner

As a reward for his extraordinary achievement, winner Helmut Heckmann can now look forward to an exclusive experience involving the new MAN eTGX: a personal overland tour of the Alps, a ProfiDrive eTruck training course, a factory tour in Munich and a high-quality merchandising package. Meanwhile, his record-breaking truck has already started its ninth trip to the moon.