New market areas, energy sources and digital tools – Ahola Transport

For Ahola Transport, 2024 was a year of growth and development. We expanded our operations in the CEE countries, were the first in the Nordic countries to begin cross-border transports with a fully electric truck and trailer combination and developed digital solutions that optimize our operations and improve safety at work.

 

The Nordic countries have always been our biggest market area, but because of the geopolitical situation production has increasingly moved back to Europe, which has strengthened our operations in other regions as well.

 

We have been actively developing our business operations in the CEE countries for several years now. Working together with our long-term partners, we reached almost 100% growth in the region last year. Our operations grew especially in Poland and Romania, where we can also see significant future potential.

 

Use of electric power increases

 

In accordance with our Way Ahead vision, we strive to be pioneers in our industry and learn more about new energy sources so that we can offer our customers increasingly cleaner transport solutions.

 

Piloting and introducing new energy sources is at the core of our sustainability strategy. Based on our trials and calculations, electricity is currently the most viable option based on life-cycle emissions.

 

In the summer, we made great progress in the development of electric heavy traffic, being the first in the Nordic countries to start cross-border transports with a fully electric 64-ton truck and trailer combination. This is already our second fully electric vehicle – the first one has been in use in Sweden’s internal traffic for two years now.

 

Based on our experiences, driving an electric vehicle hardly differs technically from driving a diesel-powered vehicle, but the importance of anticipatory driving is all the more highlighted.

 

High-power charging station in Naantali

 

The inauguration of an electric fleet also has an impact on transport planning, as the availability of energy, vehicle charging times and new cost structures must be taken into account.

 

As part of our development work, we inaugurated a high-power charging station in Naantali, which was designed particularly for heavy vehicles but which also serves the charging needs of passenger cars. The four charging points at the station enable the charging of four passenger cars or two heavy vehicles simultaneously. The maximum power output of the charging points is 720 kW, which makes it possible to fully charge a battery in as little as 20–30 minutes depending on the vehicle’s limitations.

 

Environmental concerns have also been taken into account in the energy sources of the charging station. Electricity generation is supported by our own solar panels, and energy storage will be gradually increased in the future.

 

AI-based application development

 

In co-operation with Ahola Digital, we are continuously developing digital solutions that support our operations by optimizing processes and improving safety.

 

The new Gatekeeper system at the Cargo Center in Nykvarn automates the access and traffic control of the gates. This improves the flow of traffic and the safety of the area. The system makes the drivers’ work easier, as the instructions are updated in real time on the screen at the gate.

 

Another innovation is the mobile app for checking that the cargo is correctly secured. The app, which is currently in the pilot phase, scans the secured cargo and assesses whether it is secured according to safety requirements. This enhances driver safety and ensures that the cargo is properly secured.

 

A new practical training route to becoming a driver

 

In 2024, we launched Ahola Academy, our own training program for people who want to either be drivers or start their own transport business. The objective is to make the path to this sector easier and to offer a more practical alternative for the traditional educational paths.

 

The training program provides each student with a personalized training path, and each student is assigned a mentor who knows both the industry and the customers. The mentoring program lasts through the entire training program and even beyond graduation.

 

At its fastest, finishing the program and becoming a qualified driver takes two months. The first student will graduate in 2025, and we are continuously developing the program to meet the needs of the sector.

 

Development of sustainable transport solutions continues

 

The logistics sector is developing rapidly, and new opportunities are constantly emerging. Ahola Transport continues its steadfast growth in new markets, invests in low-emission energy solutions and uses AI to develop its operations.

 

In 2025, our goal is to further strengthen our position, expand our training program and develop new solutions for our customers.

 

 

 

 

Åke Nyblom

Managing Director, Ahola Transport