The new MAN TGS has won me over
For a long time, MAN vehicles were nowhere to be seen at Heinz Georg Forster’s company, Forster Transporte. Recently, however, there has been a new arrival, an MAN TGS 22.400, and it has been very well received by both the managing director himself and his drivers.
When Heinz Georg’s parents founded their modest transportation company in 1973, they relied on a single truck, an MAN 16.168. Back then, Heinz Georg’s father worked tirelessly to expand the company and, after a few years, he had a pride of six yellow Lions in the yard. Heinz Georg was still a child at the time, but made a habit of going out to the construction sites with his father. And just like that, his career path was already set in stone, the 39-year old tells us.
Shortly after completing his vocational training to become a technician, he got his truck driver’s licence, both with vehicles from another manufacturer. This is what led him to set up a fleet of trucks from this brand when he took over his parents’ business.
“I liked the new MAN straight away!”
Even though Heinz Georg had a clear strategy when it came to choosing his vehicles, the MAN salesman regularly stopped by to see him. Finally, on one occasion, Antonio Fabiano had the brochure for the latest MAN truck with him, and it piqued the entrepreneur’s interest immediately: “I liked the new model straight away and wanted to try it out,” says Heinz Georg. Ultimately, the test drive in the new Lion and the positive working relationship with MAN salesman Fabiano convinced him to purchase the MAN TGS 22.400. A decision that one of Heinz Georg’s drivers, Manuel Eichleiter (see article you never stop learning), was particularly pleased with:
“Manuel has always been a die-hard MAN fan. He was always trying to convince me of the benefits of the brand,”
his boss recalls.
But what really surprised him was the positive response from the rest of the staff. Manuel Eichleiter, who has the pleasure of driving the new MAN, knew the truck’s order list off by heart beforehand and could not wait to make use of the Lion’s fittings and features. “He is totally smitten with the vehicle,” says Heinz Georg. But the feedback from the other drivers also speaks volumes about the new arrival from MAN: “All of the drivers who have had a chance to test drive the new truck have given it the thumbs up.” Heinz Georg explains that one of the drivers arrived back with the MAN truck after only a few minutes of driving: “I shouldn’t go any further, or I won’t want to get back in my own truck,” was the driver’s feedback.
It sounds like the new MAN won’t be the only Lion in the yard at Forster Transporte. Because one thing is perfectly clear to the young entrepreneur: “If you want your drivers to stay with the company for a long time, it is vital that you ask them which trucks they want to drive,” he explains. And Heinz Georg’s very young workforce – the average age is just 35 – know that he will help them out in other situations as well.
“We’re like a little family here. My drivers know that they can call me at any time if there’s an issue. I’ve got their backs.”