People are at the heart of Ahola

While our transport operations are built on vehicles, systems and schedules, behind everything are the people who carry out their work with professionalism and a shared commitment to our values.

 

Every day, we are building a work community in which well-being, safety and a sense of unity are a priority. In 2025, we implemented several concrete measures extended from our personnel to their families, and children, co-operation partners and our local communities.

 

Traffic safety is a daily responsibility

 

As a Group operating in the heavy transport sector, we feel a special responsibility for promoting road safety across society. Traffic safety is a theme we promote every year in dedicated events at our locations. During our Traffic Safety Days, pre-school and primary school children get to see the world from a truck driver’s point of view and learn, for example, how easily blind spots form. At the same time, we teach children to navigate traffic safely.

 

The encounters have been genuinely rewarding: we have received positive feedback from children, teachers and parents about the events. Ahola’s Traffic Safety Days have established their place as part of our social responsibility work. The goal is to have an impact at an early stage: to increase understanding through concrete actions and to prevent accidents before they occur.

 

       

 

Maintaining a presence where children grow

 

Safety work is also reflected in our efforts to be involved in children’s everyday environment where they move and grow. In honour of our 70th anniversary year, we made a donation to families with children in collaboration with the City of Kokkola. The playground at Kokkola’s Meripuisto Park was expanded with three new pieces of play equipment that encourage children to move and play together. The carousel, log swing and interactive game device encourage fun and physical activity to countless children and families.

 

     

 

Standing strong against bullying

 

Finland’s strongest man Mika Törrö is well-known for his competition success, but more and more people also know him for publicly encouraging young people and adults to act against bullying. Last spring, Mika, representing Ahola Transport, spoke to schoolchildren and students of different ages to convey an important message: strength does not mean just being tough, but rather having the courage to speak up when things aren’t right.

 

The theme The Strong Do Not Bully reached schools and young people, and the same message was also strongly present at the events of Ahola’s 70th anniversary year. In honour of the jubilee year, we awarded 70 schoolchildren with a The Strong Do Not Bully scholarship in recognition of their courage and consideration for others.

 

These anti-bullying efforts are directly linked to Ahola’s values: Respect for the individual, Openness and Total responsibility. We want to live these values both within our work community as well as outside of it.

 

Sense of collectivity arises from encounters

 

We celebrated Ahola’s 70-year journey at two events, in Kokkola and Naantali. In the spring, a celebration was organised in Kokkola for the employees and their families, featuring activities for all ages.

 

In August, a celebratory weekend held in Naantali brought together our employees and their families, as well as our partners and customers to celebrate Ahola’s 70-year history. The events showcased, side by side, the history and future of the Group: the technology of past decades and current solutions. Sharing the experience gave us an opportunity to show our gratitude for our journey together. Meeting in person strengthened our sense of unity and encouraged open interaction without roles or titles.

 

Shared learning advances the entire industry

 

As part of the ACE LIFE project, we also organised a Demo Day event in Naantali, which brought together transport industry stakeholders, authorities, researchers and companies. The goal was to share insights and experiences on how to advance responsibility and efficiency in the logistics industry.

 

At Demo Day, practical solutions and lessons learned were presented on topics such as reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and integrating new operating models into daily processes.

 

The event underscored that sustainable operations are not the responsibility of any single party; rather, they arise from collaboration, dialogue, and the ability to learn from one another. Openly sharing experiences creates the conditions for the entire industry to develop. Collaboration, dialogue, and continuous learning will remain essential in advancing the transport industry sustainably in the years ahead.

 

People make Ahola – now and in the future

 

At Ahola, social responsibility is a natural part of everyday life and of how we operate. Employees, families, children, partners and communities are at the heart of everything we do.

 

Safety, unity and mutual respect create the foundation of trust on which we build long-term cooperation with our customers and partners. It is this trust and the people behind it that form the cornerstone of our company.