Heavy machinery: Jürgen Fichtinger transports construction machinery

Feature

Alpine hut relaxation in the Arocs.

Jürgen Fichtinger enjoys using the power of his Arocs 3363 with the top-range engine as much as he enjoys its powerful sound system.


Jürgen Fichtinger is a passionate, dedicated truck driver – even though you don't notice his enthusiasm straight away. This tall young man from the Mostviertel region keeps his cool through the hustle and bustle of the Riedler Kies und Bau GmbH and Co KG premises in western Lower Austria.

Calm and unflappable.

While trucks pull up behind him, are loaded with gravel and set off to their customers, he looks into the distance, his hands in the pockets of his green working trousers, a hand-knitted woolly hat pushed back behind his ears. Jürgen is waiting for the dispatcher. A few minutes later he is given his transport job: a 27-tonne heavy articulated tipper truck has to be returned from a construction site to the company headquarters in the industrial zone of Kematen. The truck driver nods. “Let's get going,” he says, climbing into the StreamSpace cab of his Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3363 LS.



Powerful uphill.

The roughly 15 kilometre long route to the construction site is via the B121 towards Waidhofen an der Ybbs. Between the villages of Gleiß and Rosenau he leaves the major road and heads for the Mostviertler Höhenstraße. Now there are 400 metres to climb up the Sonntagberg with its well-known basilica which is a landmark for miles around. For the steep ascent, Jürgen can rely on the power of his 460 kW strong engine. “The high engine power is really useful to us here in the foothills of the Alps,” he says. “When I accelerate again after a sharp bend, the truck really pulls away well even with 60 tonnes, and on building sites setting off is much easier.”

A real treasure: the turbo retarder clutch.

Pulling away on steep slopes or difficult terrain is no problem either with the wear-free turbo retarder clutch. The system combines the functionality of a hydrodynamic start-off clutch and a primary retarder in a single component and makes pulling away uphill easier. It provides real braking power even at low speeds, controllable on the steering-column lever, considerably reducing the wear-and-tear on the brakes. This provides high ride comfort. What is maybe even more important for the two company bosses Andreas and Gregor Riedler: the turbo retarder clutch reduces the fuel consumption compared with conventional torque converter solutions.


“The all-round package of the Arocs is really good.”

– Andreas Riedler


Swift, competent assistance for breakdowns.

“The all-round package of the Arocs is really good,” says Andreas Riedler. The company was set up in 1953, and Andreas and his brother took over the management a few years ago. The most decisive factor for the many years of partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks (about 80 percent of the fleet of 25 trucks currently boast the three-pointed star) is the good service and workshop care. “It's important for us that we get swift, competent support and we can get the trucks back on the road quickly,” says Gregor Riedler. “And that's definitely the case with Mercedes!”



Good equipment for good drivers.

The business of the two entrepreneurs is mainly concentrated on sales and transportation of sand, gravel and raw materials, and also on excavation, demolition and stone-laying work. They operate particularly in the close vicinity of the company headquarters in Winklarn and the site in the industrial park of Kematen. “Our regional position has the advantage that all our staff and drivers can go home in the evenings. So they get to see their families.” Is that a perk to make sure good drivers stay with the company long-term? “The shortage of drivers is a real problem in the business,” says Andreas Riedler. “We treat our drivers well by investing in good truck equipment.” Jürgen can only confirm this. “It's a really great vehicle,” he says, braking the truck.



Favourite extra: the sound system.

The tipper truck is at the edge of the construction site waiting to be picked up. Jürgen prepares the low-loader and guides the building vehicle driver with hand signals. A little bit to the left. A bit more. That's fine. Then he secures the 27-tonner with chains. He makes sure to check his heavy freight once more, then he sets off homewards.

Is there an equipment detail of his truck he's particularly fond of? The truck driver thinks for a moment and pushes his knitted hat back off his forehead: “Yes, I particularly like the sound system. I play the Styrian harmonica myself and I like real folk music, hits and après-ski tunes. That's the best entertainment on the road.” Alpine hut relaxation in the Arocs then? He grins, glances in the side mirror and turns the volume knob up a little. “Sure, why not?”


Photos: Florian Engel
Video: Christoph Kölbel
 

16 comments