MAN driver forever
Happy at work and happy with his ‘lion’: Professional driver Andi Koller sees himself as part of a big family with his MAN TGX ‘Emma’. Once a lion, always a lion – for him, there is no mistaking this.
Andi Koller from Teisendorf is someone who has already been a professional driver for a long time and is still passionate about the job behind the wheel. He started driving back in 1991 – at that time, still with a VW MAN 8.150 with a sleeper cab on the roof. A lot has changed since then in terms of vehicle technology, but nothing has changed in Andi’s attitude to the job: “I like the freedom and the opportunity to determine the organisation of my day myself. I also like the contact with the clients and customers.”
He is excited by the further development of technology, which flows directly into his everyday work, and he is still fascinated by how the large vehicles could be moved down to the millimetre. On the other hand, he finds it a real pity that the driving profession often has a pretty bad image from the public’s point of view. Moreover, this does not do justice to the profession at all. He also counts the issue of young talent as amongst the challenges facing the industry. However, it is a challenge that he and the company G. Reich Transport GmbH (for which he works) recognise, and would like to actively help with:
“The Reich company also trains drivers and is happy to have motivated young talent.”
The company also takes care of the issue of continuous professional development for its employees, facilitates crane training and gives beginners a chance to get on board and gain a foothold in the profession. Andi himself is on the road during the week within the expanded local transport network between Bavaria, Tyrol and Upper Austria. “I’m lucky enough to be with my family in the evenings, despite being equipped for long-haul transport,” the 49-year-old says happily. For him, home is simply the best place to relax a little after the challenges of the day, and to be able to start again the next day well-rested and focused. Then “the most hidden delivery places in the farthest corners” often await him, as Andi says. “Many customers don’t even know how big a truck really is.” In the case of his MAN TGX 26.510, a Palfinger loading crane also comes along for the ride.
He and his MAN ‘Emma’ are a top team. But of course, Andi, like many other drivers, still has dreams as far as the choice of MAN vehicles is concerned. If he could choose, he would go for a MAN TGX with a horsepower of 640, a very large cab and MAN Individual equipment. “And definitely MAN HydroDrive for safety on back roads, dirt tracks and snow,” he says. Since truck tuning is one of his hobbies, his ‘Emma’ will soon get another Light Fix styling package. He would also like leather seats and a straight central tray on the instrument panel instead of the current sloping one.
He feels a connection with the MAN brand: “MAN is one big family, from the sales staff to the authorised workshop and from Management to colleagues, as well as the great events of ‘Trucker’s World by MAN’ and, currently, the ‘Driving for Germany’ campaign,” Andi says enthusiastically. He is certain that he wants to stay in ‘Team MAN’.
