“I will never forget IAA 2024.”

An exciting week at IAA Transportation has come to an end. The Hanover event saw MAN celebrate world premières, innovations as well as the rich and varied Trucker’s World Community. Thomas Nies, our community reporter, was at the heart of the action..

When we started our social media search back in late July for a community reporter for IAA Transportation in Hanover, Thomas Nies had no idea that we would be turning his life upside down for pretty much an entire week. The 31-year-old from Hesse is a professional driver for Gerhardt Bauzentrum. He enjoyed a first-hand perspective of IAA with our production team and had the chance to learn about scores of models – including a world première – from his perspective as a trucker. Read on to find out all that he saw and experienced.

A passionate trucker

“I’m an out and out MAN fan. I’ve been driving trucks for 12 years, and in my spare time I work with the voluntary fire brigade – I love being there to support people needing help. That’s one reason why I joined Trucker’s World – because of the “Fahrer helfen Fahrern” (Drivers helping drivers) aid fund. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call; I was delighted to be getting a first-hand look at the new MAN products on show at the trade fair!”

Let’s get this trade fair started

“My first impression? Wow! I entered the trade fair grounds on Monday and glimpsed the MAN logo from a distance. This is when the nerves hit, with a few butterflies in my stomach. The stand was bright, clearly laid out and packed with amazingly kitted-out vehicles. I got my bearings straight away, with all my questions being quickly answered. eTruck expert, Achim Demattio, really took the time to explain all about the MAN eTGX. It really is quite a ride to be guided around the stand first hand and then jump into brand-new vehicles.”

The heart of the trade fair stand

“Those visitors who weren’t walking amazed between the vehicles, met in the Trucker Bar. The highlight there was the huge photo wall featuring scores of photos of driver club members – some of them were even able to find themselves on the wall. Visitors could also take their own Polaroid selfie then and there. And, of course, I didn’t hesitate in joining in. It really is fantastic how the driver community is valued by MAN and Trucker’s World.”

In front of the camera

“The first point on the agenda was going through the shooting and photography schedule. We had to make sure that we included all of the trucks on show. When asked which one I liked best, my answer was simple: the MAN eTGX – preferably with a crane body. It would be my perfect choice for transporting construction materials. Incidentally, Achim and I had an in-depth chat about the topic of charging and battery safety for the MAN eTGX. I was already aware of him from other articles on the website. However, I needed to find out all about the MAN eTruck for myself.”

On the test track

“My greatest wish came true when I was allowed to take the MAN eTGX for a test drive at IAA. That’s what I had set out to do. Driving it felt amazing. The MAN eTruck turned on immediately and was incredibly quiet. I could definitely get used to driving one. I was also impressed with MAN OptiView – the digital mirrors are extremely clear. A real upgrade! I received some great tips and instructions from Andreas, a driving instructor from MAN ProfiDrive, the MAN training team. To sum up, I can only say: I don’t know why many people are so sceptical about eTrucks. They are great fun and offer a good solution for a range of applications. The eTrucks are actually available in a million configuration options.”

Innovations and a world première

“On Tuesday, it was the turn of the MAN eTGL to be presented to the public here for the first time. It really is exciting to see what’s happening with new trucks. I was also able to get a close look at the MAN TGX with its new D30 driveline, and was particularly struck by the paint colour and cab interior. The fuel consumption of this truck can be reduced up to 4%. However, my highlight came on Wednesday with the star attraction being the MAN hTGX – a new truck with hydrogen combustion engine. There was obviously huge excitement around the stand, and there was a queue to get in the cab for a look.”

The 20-second challenge

“The team from MAN and Trucker’s World was fantastic and really made my visit to IAA a special experience. However, they did make me work for my goodbye by giving me 20 seconds in the MAN shop to cram as many things into a Trucker’s World backpack as I could. I was allowed to keep everything at the end of the 20 seconds – I couldn’t believe it! I even managed to grab a pink T-shirt for my girlfriend.”