On the road for almost 50 years
Christian Schooff has spent his entire career behind the wheel of a truck. And even reaching retirement age has not prevented the ambitious trucker from staying on the road with a new MAN TGX 18.470 for Grieshaber Logistik.
Among other things, Grieshaber Logistik expects increased efficiency and particularly satisfied drivers from the purchase of modern MAN trucks. That is why as many as 21 new Lions are to be put into service at Grieshaber in 2022. The first nine of the modern vehicles were handed over directly to their future drivers at the MAN Truck Forum in Munich in February.
‘I was there, I liked it,’ says Christian Schooff, happily. He is one of Grieshaber’s long-standing employees, with 19 years for the company. After a detailed briefing, he was able to get behind the wheel and drive straight home with the new MAN TGX. The vehicle is new for him, but not the brand. Since 1995, he has exclusively driven MAN trucks. He has been working as a trucker since 1973, and even reaching retirement age has not stopped him continuing to work as a driver. ‘I’m a clingy person and I like to stay where I am,’ laughs Schooff. That is also why he agreed when the management of Grieshaber explained that they were reluctant to do without the experienced employee and suggested a contract extension, initially for a year. ‘One step at a time,’ says Schooff.
Right now, however, it is still full speed ahead. ‘What can you do sitting around at home all week?’ he laughs. That’s why he drives long-distance with his MAN TGX throughout the week and takes on special transports of freight, some of which are extra-wide, where precise loading and the right know-how in dealing with all the necessary measures are important. In the process, Christian Schooff relies on his experience and his MAN. ‘I am happy with my MAN. It is a reliable vehicle,’ he says. What he particularly likes about his new truck is the ability to operate many of the instruments from the truck bed. ‘I’ve been waiting for that for a long time,’ he says happily about the additional convenience.
Convenience is not always part of his job, as Christian Schooff can tell you. Above all, the issue of a lack of parking spaces is a big one in today’s world. At the expense of the drivers and their nerves: ‘Essentially, you always have to think four and a half hours ahead to get to the nearest available parking space or to find a place to stay overnight,’ he says, describing one of the greatest challenges of his everyday working life. Quite often, he has had to be inventive and put up with detours in order to get to a parking space and take his break in time. On the plus side: thanks to his long career, he knows every possible place where a spot could be found. He also likes to share his wealth of experience with his colleagues and, above all, supports the younger drivers with helpful tips.
‘We help each other.’
He says regarding the good atmosphere working at Grieshaber. Next year, Christian Schooff will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a trucker. How long he will continue, he cannot say – ‘After all, I am not a clairvoyant,’ he explains. But reading between the lines, you get the impression that his 50 years behind the wheel could well be followed by more.