Getting the show on the road
Every Heide-Logistik truck is an eye-catching, one-of-a-kind work of art. The company commissioned airbrush artist Roland Just to turn a MAN TGX into a show truck that pays homage to the golden age of piracy.
For Mario Bruns, director of logistics company Heide-Logistik, the show starts as soon as one of his specially designed trucks leaves the site. “Our airbrush trucks are real eye-catchers out on the motorways. The roads are full of normal white trucks – we wanted to do something a bit different that would make us stand out from the crowd. It’s not just about creating something special for us or the drivers, it’s about bringing a bit of joy to other road users who can’t believe their eyes when they drive past our trucks.” Heide Logistik brings a touch of artistic flair to the tough world of refrigerated haulage – to the delight of its customers in Northern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The show trucks leave a lasting impression on customers and drivers alike: “The airbrush trucks are poles apart from other vehicles. Wherever they are – at service stations, on the motorway or at customer sites – people always want to take photos of them. As a driver and as company director, it makes you incredibly proud to know that your vehicles are so popular,” says Bruns.
“Lots of hauliers like to bring some style to their trucks”
Bruns works with top artists to make sure that the truck designs are truly striking. Roland Just, who created the MAN pirate truck, has a wealth of experience when it comes to airbrush art. The MAN is the hundredth truck that Just has decorated in the last 25 years. Just trained as a dental technician and started airbrushing trucks in his spare time, but now works full time as a freelance artist.
“Mario called me and asked if I would be interested in airbrushing a truck-trailer combination for him. We got together and swapped a few photos, then we looked each other in the eye, shook hands, set a date and got to work,” recalls Just. Two and a half weeks later, the truck-trailer combination is resplendent with incredible images that evoke the golden age of piracy, and it is ready for its clear coat finish. “When a vehicle like that is out on the roads you can expect to get a fair few comments and photos on social media,” says Bruns proudly. “For me, the important thing is that it makes the driver feel good when they get a smile or a thumbs up on the motorway. I think it’s much better than driving a normal car.”
“We’ll do it!”
When it came to deciding on a manufacturer, MAN was enthusiastic about Bruns’ idea of decorating a complete truck-trailer combination with airbrush art. “I asked MAN if they would be interested and they loved the sound of the project. They said ‘yes, we can do that, no problem, we’ll provide the manpower and take care of the vehicle modifications’ – and just like that, we had a deal. I am incredibly proud to have the beautiful MAN truck as part of my fleet, and to be able to drive it.”
As far as the company director is concerned, the pirate truck won’t be the last complete MAN truck-trailer combination to be airbrushed for Heide-Logistik. After all, the show must go on.