Article published in TEAM 2021
Collectively, Powder-Trans drivers drive hundreds of loads and tens of thousands of kilometres daily on Nordic, Baltic and northern European roads. But the driving itself is ultimately only a small part of the work. In order for the loads to arrive safely, at the right time, with consistent quality and as environmentally friendly as possible, a lot is required.
A driver’s working day is very varied, from checking and washing the vehicle to loading and checking in for trips and deliveries.
For Juha Vuorinen, driving is natural.
– Driving is actually just a fraction of the responsibilities. To load correctly, to wash the tanks, to consider the environment and ensure that everything is done safely while taking schedules into account requires a lot, points out Christian Blomqvist, operations director at Powder-Trans.
Therefore, Powder-Trans also places high demands on its drivers, and as a result the company has knowledgeable employees. New drivers are attracted by an interesting industry, while many experienced ones have stayed for decades.
“It is interesting and varied work. I have worked in the bulk industry for 32 years, so clearly I enjoy it,” says driver Juha Vuorinen.
Vuorinen has worked for almost 20 years as a bulk truck driver at Powder-Trans. His colleague Johan Backlund has a similar background. Like Vuorinen, he has driven trucks and heavy vehicle combinations all his life. He has worked at Powder-Trans for over 21 years.
“When you have been in the industry for a long time, you know the working methods, but there is always something new to learn,” says Backlund.
It is early morning when Johan Backlund starts from the terminal in Lieto with a transport to Sweden. Before starting, he inspects the tires and lubricates the propeller shaft. The night before, he had connected the trailer as well as the electric and hydraulic hoses and washed the entire equipage in the washing hall a stone’s throw from the terminal.
“One day you can be in Sweden, the next in Norway. Of course, the variety is attractive. Many places are familiar, but even though I have been working at this for so long, I still always discover new places.” According to Backlund, the profession is very much a lifestyle.
“If you have been working in this job for a while, it is not possible to stop. In large part it is about freedom. You plan most things yourself, but of course you are also responsible for a lot. You do not have to wait for loading and unloading for several hours at a terminal. It is completely different from ordinary freight traffic.”
“Actually, I am a trained chef, but then I fell into the transport industry As a young man, I dreamed about driving big vehicles and a life on the road,” says Backlund.
“It is an interesting industry. It all starts from an interest in driving trucks,” concurs Vuorinen.
A typical day for Vuorinen starts early in the morning, sometimes around five. During the day there are usually a couple of loadings and unloadings.
“There are long days from time to time, but I do not see it as particularly heavy work.” Vuorinen thrives in every way both behind the wheel and at Powder-Trans.
“I look positively to the future. Sure, there are challenges, but I’m really happy.”
Backlund and Vuorinen are two of the more than 120 drivers who today belong to Powder-Trans’s own employees. In addition, the company employs a large number of drivers via contract carriers.
“They are our outward face to customers and on the roads. They are very important parts of the transport chain and handle the work with great competence. I really lift my hat off to our drivers,” says Director of Operations Christian Blomqvist.
The fact that many drivers also know their vehicles well, and can even make small repairs, is another plus. The industry has many challenges, but at Powder-Trans the outlook is positive. When asked about challenges, the drivers mention traffic culture.
“That’s the first thing I think of. Tidigare var det sämre i Sverige men nu har det blivit värre också i Finland, säger Johan Backlund och får medhåll av Juha Vuorinen.
“Sometimes it’s really challenging, just like driving on slippery roads during the winter.”
Other trials are, for example, ferry timetables and cramped loading and unloading facilities.
But the two drivers also agree that challenges are there to be solved.
– I always try to develop and improve something. That’s how it should be,” says Backlund.
Article published in TEAM 2021
Collectively, Powder-Trans drivers drive hundreds of loads and tens of thousands of kilometres daily on Nordic, Baltic and northern European roads. But the driving itself is ultimately only a small part of the work. In order for the loads to arrive safely, at the right time, with consistent quality and as environmentally friendly as possible, a lot is required.
The training took place on a practice track in Paimio a short distance from Turku in south-west Finland. The course, which was organized by Powder-Trans together with the CAP Group, attracted a full house with as many as 30 participating drivers.
“It was a very successful course about driving with heavy vehicles on wet roads,” says quality manager Juha Hietakari, who is also responsible for training at Powder-Trans.
As Powder-Trans has ISO 39001 certification for road traffic safety, it is important for the company to continue to improve traffic safety and driver knowledge. Powder-Trans has previously had several collaborations with, for example, schools and day-care centres, but exercises on a practice track are something new.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to improve traffic safety,” says Hietakari.
The idea of running heavy vehicle combinations on a slippery track was completely new even for the organizer CAP Group, but when Hietakari and Juha Kleimola from CAP Group visited Pemar, they started sketching the idea.
“Being out in the field is completely different from sitting in a classroom. The drivers could see how the rig behaves when the tires lose grip and how long the braking distances can be,” says Hietakari.
Hietakari also points out that as a driver you can be lulled into a false sense of security as modern vehicles today have so many technical aids. But if the tires lose grip, you have to know what to do.
“Therefore, it is very good to practice in the autumn before the roads become slippery.”
The training also focused on the importance of loading, speed and safety distances for road safety and how to act in dangerous situations.
“It was a very good education and really important for the drivers, especially before the winter and slippery road conditions arrive,” says driver Jouko Toivonen.
Toivonen has driven for Powder-Trans for three years. Although he was sometimes surprised by how fast the vehicle could stop, it was also an eye opener to see how the trailer could easily lose grip in slippery curves even at low speeds.
“It is really important to keep track of your speed, especially when turning.”
During the training, the drivers got to experience, among other things, how 40 meters of space is required to brake from 35 kilometres per hour to zero on slippery surfaces, while on dry surfaces less than 10 meters is needed.
“We learned how the car behaves in bad road conditions. Even if this was done under controlled conditions, we picked up a lot,” says Toivonen.
Article published in TEAM 2022
Powder-Trans has long had its own training department. After hiring a new trainer in Karl-Anton Karlsson in 2022, driver education has progressed.
“Training drivers and monitoring their driving habits is time-consuming. Therefore, it is good that we have hired a person to do this full-time,” says Juha Hietakari, who is responsible for quality and training issues at Powder-Trans, among other things.
Hietakari has previously handled part of the training himself and will continue to handle certain aspects. Thanks to the employment of Karlsson, Hietakari can now focus more on his other areas of responsibility, while education is strengthened.
Occupational safety is always the priority in Powder-Trans’s training activities. The goal is to minimize the risk of accidents both in traffic and during loading and unloading. Powder-Trans’s own tailored training is approved by the transport and communications agency Traficom.
“When we are training our drivers to receive the occupational health safety card, we can use examples from real life. It is easier to absorb the information and the training becomes more rewarding. At the same time, we can learn from potential situations,” says Hietakari.
The occupational safety card training is mandatory for Powder-Trans drivers. Most of the drivers also attend a first aid course. For new drivers, understanding safety and correct working methods are the focus.
“When a new driver is hired, they may go on transport assignments with a colleague for a few days. After that, there will be theoretical training and various practical questions, such as working clothes and learning computer programs. Finally, an evaluation is made. Everything is flexible according to how quickly the driver learns, and everyone learns at a different pace,” says Karl-
Anton Karlsson.
In addition to the first weeks of training, the drivers are monitored and educated throughout their career. Hur det görs beror på chauffören.
“It is usually done individually. Sometimes it is done by phone, sometimes I go along on a transport mission. Some drivers want to go through issues together,” says Karlsson.
In addition to the training sessions themselves, the work in the training department involves both planning and follow-up. Karlsson compiles training material, monitors statistics and prepares reports.
“I also monitor the drivers’ economic and environmentally friendly driving daily. The weekly report is a very important tool and clearly shows what can be improved. If you are interested, economical driving is not difficult. It’s a matter of attitude,” says Karlsson, who himself had a great interest in sustainable driving when he worked as a driver.
Overall, the training aims to develop the right attitude towards safety as well as customer service, driving style and the unique nature of dry bulk transports.
“It is completely different from ordinary goods. Mistakes in unloading can lead to major problems. I usually say that the driver should take an extra few minutes and make sure that everything is done correctly. Cleanliness is another matter, as is safety. It can mean large financial losses and hundreds of tons of waste if something is unloaded and mixed incorrectly,” says Karlsson.
Therefore, the training department is working hard to improve knowledge of these aspects. Quality is a watchword, and thanks to Powder-Trans already having such a knowledgeable staff, they aim even higher. That pleases Karlsson.
“We have truly professional people at work. That Powder-Trans has become such a well-functioning company would not have been possible without good drivers.”
Even though you have come a long way, there is always room for improvement. Juha Hietakari lyfter upp att uppföljningen skulle kunna göras alltmer i realtid, längs dagen just då chauffören kör, lastar och lossar.
“Such following-up has already been done but should be expanded,” he suggests.
Then one could follow up the same parameters again after a month or two to analyze the improvement. Karl-Anton Karlsson agrees.
“Safety is a high priority. But you can also always improve your economical driving. Especially now with high energy prices and ongoing crises, you want to optimize even more.”
This benefits both the environment and the economy, and by extension, society and the customer as well. Powder-Trans’s training department is there to motivate improvement among the workforce.
“Training is based more on the idea of the carrot than the stick. I’m here to help,” says Karlsson.
Article published in TEAM 2023
Collectively, Powder-Trans drivers drive hundreds of loads and tens of thousands of kilometres daily on Nordic, Baltic and northern European roads. But the driving itself is ultimately only a small part of the work. In order for the loads to arrive safely, at the right time, with consistent quality and as environmentally friendly as possible, a lot is required.
The new system was introduced on a trial basis two years ago but has been implemented on a larger scale in 2023.
We have moved more and more into shifts. Now most drivers are on a six days on, six days off schedule,” says Michael Stertman, Operations Manager in Sweden.
Powder-Trans uses several parallel systems to ensure that all drivers have a work schedule that suits them, depending on their place of residence and family circumstances, among other things. This will continue to be the case, but the new system will remain the main one.
– The majority of our own drivers drive under the new system and appreciate it. You can plan your free time in a completely different way. In terms of pay, there is no major difference, but the drivers get more continuous leave,” says Stertman.
Powder-Trans drivers can choose which system they prefer to use. Fülöp Károly is among those who recommend the new system. He and his colleague Andreas Lindstrand were the first to test the new system two years ago. At first, Károly was a bit skeptical but soon realized all the benefits.
– This is how you achieve a work-life balance. This is undoubtedly the best system available. I really enjoy it.
Before the new system was introduced, Károly found it difficult to plan trips to family living abroad, for example, other than during his summer vacation. Now there is time for longer trips even between working weeks.
– I’ve never had this much free time. Of course, it means that you’re completely stuck at work for six days straight, but it suits me perfectly.
Fülöp Károly and Andreas Lindstrand plan most things together. One picks up where the other leaves off, even if it’s in the middle of a load. This flexibility benefits both them and their customers. Károly is perfectly happy. Previously, he drove smaller trucks, including a garbage truck in Stockholm. But my years at Powder-Trans have been the best.
Andreas was the one who taught me the job. He has a lot of experience and is very knowledgeable. Today we work as a team, and everything is going smoothly.
Drivers who live farther away from the depots also benefit from the new system. They would rather work longer shifts and reduce the number of trips to and from work. Powder-Trans har därför ytterligare ett system där man kör onsdag tili onsdag och är ledig vartannat veckoslut.
– We want to keep our skilled drivers and of course attract new ones. That’s why we’re constantly trying to improve working hours and conditions,” says Stertman.
The new system is much more efficient, as the vehicles are in service more or less constantly. Previously, most drivers worked Monday through Friday. At that time, cars usually sat idle over the weekends.
– This benefits all parties and also increases delivery reliability, but also requires more drivers,” says Stertman.
Unfortunately, it remains difficult to find new drivers, but Powder-Trans has fared relatively well and hopes that the new system will provide further assistance. The company is actively working to recruit new drivers and also asks its current drivers to recommend colleagues.
– This benefits all parties, including supply reliability. “For the system to work, we also need more drivers,” says Stertman.
Unfortunately, recruiting drivers remains a challenge, but Powder-Trans has been quite successful and hopes that the new system will make recruitment even easier. The company is constantly working to recruit new drivers and also encourages its drivers to recommend the company to their colleagues.