His grandfather already drove trucks for HOMTRANS. Sebastian Dornbusch was sometimes allowed to accompany him as a child. Back then, he decided: “I want to do that too!”. He has now been driving for the Rieck subsidiary for over ten years. And since 2016, the job has had an additional attraction: the Rostock native is one of four truck drivers at HOMTRANS who drive a long truck – initially during the test phase and since January 2017 in regular operation. “The first time I sat behind the wheel of a Gigaliners was during driver training by HOMTRANS,” says Sebastian Dornbusch. “Driving the 25.5 meters was immediately great fun!”
Technology for more safety
And the respect for the unfamiliar length quickly evaporated. “I had expected to need a larger radius when turning and perhaps end up in the opposite lane,” says the 36-year-old. “But if you’re aware of the length and steer accordingly, that doesn’t happen.” Electronically controlled braking systems and distance speedometers, which are mandatory for the “extra-long trucks”, also contribute to safety.
However, not every route is suitable for the use of gigaliners. 15 federal states now permit the so-called route-related continuous operation of most long truck types in a defined positive network, “but 70 percent of the roads approved to date are freeways,” says Sebastian Dornbusch. “Tours on country roads are therefore often out of the question for the Gigaliner.”
Efficient at full length
However, as soon as the long vehicles are used, they can be an efficient alternative to regular trucks. Two gigaliners transport the volume of three conventional trucks, but 44 tons is the maximum permissible weight, as is the case elsewhere. This is why Sebastian Dornbusch mainly transports light volume shipments. Currently, for example, he is transporting coffee capsules from Schwerin to Rangsdorf in Brandenburg and then groupage goods from Rieck in Großbeeren to HOMTRANS in Rostock. “That’s only about 500 kilometers there and back,” says Sebastian Dornbusch. “But I enjoy every meter. And my grandpa thinks the long truck is cool too – soon he’ll get to ride with me,” he reveals with a grin.
