Major customers and a step closer to the green transition

The rise in energy prices and the shortage of components posed challenges for Ahola Transport in 2022. At the same time, we won some major clients and had high transport volumes.

2022 was an exceptional year in many respects in all sectors. The rise in energy prices accelerated with the onset of war in Ukraine and had major impacts on the logistics industry. We had to respond quickly to the situation and rethink our pricing policies. Further increasing the pressure to raise prices was the Mobility Package, which aimed to harmonise wages within the EU and resulted in a number of increases to drivers’ wages.

In the course of the year, the component shortage became more acute and led to a capacity shortage. For example, the delivery time for new lorries and trailers was very long, as a consequence of which there was a shortage of transport vehicles. At the same time, the shortage of drivers worsened further, as sickness absences remained high in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

The global political situation also caused changes in the flows and balances of goods. There was a significant decline in imports to eastern Finland, for example, as transit traffic to the east ended due to sanctions.

 

We focused on drivers’ well-being

The driver shortage has been one of the biggest problems for the logistics industry for some time now. To determine the reasons behind the shortage, we carried out a broad survey related to working as a driver among our drivers.

We used the results of the survey to develop our operations. At our Naantali location, we built new social premises for drivers, including automatic showers and rest areas, among other things. In co-operation with our occupational health-care provider, we planned an outdoor gym for drivers to promote their well-being. We also offered our drivers tailored mental health support. Every Ahola driver now has the opportunity to have confidential discussions with a trained professional.

Moreover, we have made efforts to increase occupational safety by adopting automatic tyre inspections. In terms of driving arrangements, we added a ‘Call back’ feature that improves reachability. We also continued our eco-friendly driving style and, for example, rewards for good partnership.

 

The year brought some big clients

Despite the industry’s many challenges, 2022 was a highly successful year for Ahola Transport. We had a high volume of transports and our customer situation was good. Ahola Transport was chosen as Gigantti’s transport provider for the year. We also concluded a major deal with Jysk and launched a new on-board forklift for unloading goods.

In Sweden, we secured a major contract with Scania for handling their inbound logistics. We built a new hall in Nykvarn for sorting goods and delivering them directly to production. In Nykvarn, we use an electric truck.

 

We took a step closer to the green transition

Our partnership with Scania demands major investments in personnel and equipment. The introduction of a new electric truck placed its own demands on infrastructure, and we now have a great opportunity to learn the new practices of tomorrow.

In the green transition, gas-powered trucks will also play a significant role particularly during the transition period. We started using our first gas-powered truck and are conducting tests to determine the kind of demands it will place on, for example, transport planning and fueling. A second gas truck as well as our first e-axle trailer have already been ordered.

Our focus on the environment, on our personnel’s well-being at work and on improving the attractiveness of the industry played a significant role in 2022, and we will continue to focus on those themes this year as well.

 

We started using our first gas-powered truck and are conducting tests to determine the kind of demands it will place on, for example, transport planning and fueling.

Ahola Transport in 2022

FREIGHT TONNES 1.6 m.
NUMBER OF DISPATCHES 140,000
VEHICLES ON THE ROAD 500
N U M B E R O F S H I P DEPARTURES 43,300
KILOMETRES DRIVEN 39,311,000 km
EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION 8.2/10