Torsten traded in his diesel for the MAN eTGX
For 18 years, Torsten Zimmermann from East Frisia has been behind the wheel for Diekmann Handel + Transport. Until recently, he drove diesel trucks, but now he's also been driving the MAN eTGX.
Actually, Torsten Zimmermann had a completely different job before: he was a bricklayer. "I just didn't enjoy it anymore," he says with a laugh. Retraining as a professional driver was purely a gut decision, but the right one for him. His first trip back then? In a MAN. And that hasn't changed to this day.
"We drive everything here," says Torsten, "but I prefer driving MAN. The driving experience is just right." From the coast to the Emsland region, from Bremen to the Netherlands, he and his colleagues transport all kinds of goods for their customers in northwestern Germany. Sand, gravel, and crushed stone in tipper trucks, asphalt in insulated trailers, salt, waste, and construction debris – a total of over 100,000 tons of goods per month.
On the road in the Northwest – every day is different
Torsten's daily routine is as varied as his cargo. Sometimes short trips, sometimes up to 700 kilometers at a stretch. "Every day is different," he says. "And that's exactly why I love the job."
What's something Torsten insists he never has to be without in a truck cab? "A really big GPS," he says without hesitation. "But otherwise? Pretty much as it is." By "it," Torsten means his new truck: a MAN eTGX. Managing Director Hermann Diekmann recently acquired seven MAN electric trucks to supplement the fleet of around 50 vehicles.
Curious about new things
Torsten was among the first on the team to get behind the wheel of the MAN eTruck. Overwhelmed? Not at all. Curious? Definitely. "We already had two electric trucks on trial last year. That was exciting, just something different," he recalls. And it worked out well for both him and the company.
To ensure a smooth transition from diesel to electric, he received prior MAN driver training specifically for the eTruck. "That was great," he says. "They explained to me exactly how the vehicle works, how to drive efficiently, and how to charge it. That really helped." When Torsten finally rolls out of the yard with his eTruck for the first time, he's instantly hooked. "Wonderful. Fantastic. So quiet," he raves.
It feels just like a diesel – only much quieter. And it has more power, too. “
It really accelerates." With his first MAN eTruck, Torsten is now experiencing firsthand how the world of transport is changing. And he's convinced: "The charging network will continue to expand. It's all going to get even better."
Whether diesel or electric, Torsten's conclusion remains: Once MAN, always MAN.
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