32 metres, 88 tonnes: Miikka Niemitalo drives the superlative Actros
Economics & Logistics
It was taking part in the Fuel Duel fuel consumption duel that convinced Markku Sjögren to choose the Actros as a towing vehicle for his 88-tonne heavy duty transport operations.
“The automated gearshift system also functions very well in icy conditions and prevents the wheels from spinning. When you’re at the wheel of an Actros you can concentrate on the driving.”
– Miikka Niemitalo, driver at Sjögren Oy
The main goal that Oulun Autokuljetus Oy (OAK) has been pursuing is to reduce the CO2 balance sheet, with the environmentally friendly Green Double vehicle combinations which have now been operating from Oulu for over three years with a special permit issued by the Finnish authorities for transportation safety. Green Double vehicle combinations consist of a towing vehicle with two semitrailers connected by dolly axles.
They are 32 metres long, 4.40 metres high and have a total gross weight of 88 tonnes. The load volume is in excess of 200 cubic metres – thanks to intermediate levels the vehicles can hold 132 Euro pallets. The fuel consumption of the new vehicle combinations is lower in relation to the load capacity. Also the number of vehicles on the road is reduced as the payload of the Green Double trucks is more than 50 percent higher than that of conventional vehicle combinations with 60 tonnes.
The two vehicle combinations owned by Eero Sjögren Oy were put into operation immediately after the special permit was issued. The third and youngest towing vehicle owned by the company is an Actros and has been used for Green Double transportation jobs between Oulu and Kerava since autumn 2018. The special permit for heavy-duty transportation is valid until 2021.
Family succession is secured: the third generation is already working in the family business. Markkus with his daughter Brita.
The head of family-run Eero Sjögren Oy, Markku Sjögren, chose the Actros based on his own experience and the competition results of the Europe-wide Fuel Duel fuel consumption test. Sjögren was able to test the Actros on the road and compare it with two of the company's own towing vehicles in Green Double transportation operations. The results were in favour of the Actros.
Sjögren’s Actros has a Euro VI 6-cylinder engine with an output of 460 kW and a displacement of 15.6 litres as well as a 16-speed PowerShift 3 automated gearshift system. “Today fuel consumption plays an important role both for small and large haulage companies. The Actros is the most cost-efficient vehicle in our fleet. Compared with the next most efficient vehicle it consumes a good three litres less,” says Markku Sjögren.
Until the mid-90s the company’s fleet consisted only of Mercedes‑Benz vehicles. Sjögren: “At some point we strayed to the competition. But we have now found a very well-functioning overall solution again.”
Flawless: at the beginning of the 90s the Sjögren fleet was made up entirely of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Flawless: at the beginning of the 90s the Sjögren fleet was made up entirely of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
After completing 70 000 kilometres there had still been no problems with the Actros. “The oil and fuel filters were replaced once and the first maintenance is still pending. Our vehicles cover about 300 000 kilometres every year. They drive to southern Finland about four or five times a week and are usually replaced at the one-million-kilometre mark,” the head of the company tells us.
The company’s two Green Double vehicle combinations are driven by a team of ten drivers who also have a company car and an apartment in Vantaa at their disposal. The team also drives a third extra-long vehicle combination but its total gross weight is “only” 76 tonnes.
“None of the drivers need to sleep overnight in the vehicle. When a driver arrives at the apartment at the end of his shift, the next driver takes over the truck – he deals with loading and drives back to Oulu. The drivers use the company car to travel between the apartment and the loading location,” Sjögren reports.
Miikka Niemitalo has driven the Actros from Kerava back to Oulu. He has been a driver at the haulage company since 2009 and was one of the first to begin operations with the Green Double heavy duty transportation for OAK. “I drive the Oulu to Kerava route. We take products from the forestry industry such as paper and cellulose to the South and on the return journey we transport convenience goods. Over the years I have become well-acquainted with the E75,” says Niemitalo with a grin. “The Actros is good to drive and runs smoothly and stably. Its suspension is soft – not too soft, just pleasant. And even with a long semitrailer the Actros is easy to manoeuvre at the loading and unloading yards.”
According to Niemitalo the spacious cab offers a great deal of comfort. He says the 16-speed PowerShift 3 automated gearshift system is very user-friendly. “The automated gearshift system also functions very well in icy conditions and prevents the wheels from spinning. If the vehicle were to get stuck, it can be rocked free using the gearshift system. But we haven’t had to use this function yet. The best thing about it is: when you’re at the wheel of an Actros you can concentrate on the driving.”
Today Eero Sjögren Oy is located in Kempele. Eero, Markku Sjögren’s father, founded the transport company in 1955 – initially with one truck and located in Värttö, a suburb of Oulu where he had spent his childhood. “Amongst other things, my father drove for the local drinks factory,” says Markku Sjögren. “Later they bought more and more vans and trucks as well as vehicle combinations.” Eero Sjögren died in 1992, but the family continued to run the business and founded Eero Sjögren Oy. Gradually they switched to vehicle combinations. Since the generation change in 2004, Markku, Eero’s eldest son has run the company with his family. In addition to family members, the company specialising in climatised transportation currently employs 26 drivers.
Photos: Marko Mäkinen
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13 comments
Diese Längen ergäben in der restlichen EU doch schon ordentliche Probleme mit Strassen, Einmündungen, Kreisverkehren und Betriebshöfen, wie ich aus meiner Spezial- u. Schwertransportzeit oftmals erfahren durfte 😒 Die GG´s sind mutmasslich für die heutige, moderne Nfz-Technik wohl eher das geringere Problem mit entsprechender Motorisierung und Achsanzahl. Würd mich nur mal persönlich interessieren, wies in der Praxis mit rangieren solcher langen Kombis aussieht -- geht das überhaupt (noch) oder muß vorher geteilt/abgekoppelt werden ?
Diese Längen ergäben in der restlichen EU doch schon ordentliche Probleme mit Strassen, Einmündungen, Kreisverkehren und Betriebshöfen, wie ich aus meiner Spezial- u. Schwertransportzeit oftmals erfahren durfte 😒 Die GG´s sind mutmasslich für die heutige, moderne Nfz-Technik wohl eher das geringere Problem mit entsprechender Motorisierung und Achsanzahl. Würd mich nur mal persönlich interessieren, wies in der Praxis mit rangieren solcher langen Kombis aussieht -- geht das überhaupt (noch) oder muß vorher geteilt/abgekoppelt werden ?
Wünsche der Truppe allzeit gute Fahrt.
Wünsche der Truppe allzeit gute Fahrt.
Und auch die Fahrleistungen der Fahrer und der LKW sind Interessant . Und das zum größten Teil auf Straßen mit Ortsdurchfahren und viel Rondells . Denn Autobahn gibt es nur im Süden in Finnland .
Und auch die Fahrleistungen der Fahrer und der LKW sind Interessant . Und das zum größten Teil auf Straßen mit Ortsdurchfahren und viel Rondells . Denn Autobahn gibt es nur im Süden in Finnland .
Grüße Jörg 👍👍👍👍⛟😎
Grüße Jörg 👍👍👍👍⛟😎