Swedish Ski Team uses Scania truck as ski-waxing trailer

Since its launch last summer, Scania’s new truck generation has been rolling out across Europe. Now one of our the new trucks has even reached Sweden’s national cross-country skiing team, although it’s fair to say they will be using it for a very different reason than Scania’s other customers do.

The skiing team recently took delivery of one of Scania’s new generation R 500s, which it will use to transport a ski-waxing trailer that is used during international cross-country competitions.

“The Swedish cross-country skiers have been very successful in recent years and we at Scania are proud to contribute to this,” says Erik Ljungberg, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Relations.

Setting new standards for international competition

It’s the third truck that Scania has provided since it began supporting Sweden’s national team in 2008, when their initial cooperation set a new standard in international skiing with the development of the world’s first ski-waxing trailer.

These innovative trailers are used to ensure waxing technicians prepare the perfect skis with which their teams can compete. With a ventilation system that replaces the air inside the truck every six minutes, the trailer provides waxers with a much healthier working environment.

The first trailer quickly became an instantly-recognisable, key element of the team’s organisation, and today such trailers are used by all major nations competing in cross-country skiing.

“Runs like a dream”

Prior to receiving the truck, the team’s waxing manager Urban Nilsson and its driver, Roland Enberg, visited Scania’s DemoCentre in Södertälje for a test drive.

“The truck and trailer mean everything to the waxing team. It’s fantastic to be able to be part of yet another truck,” said Nilsson.

Roland Enberg was impressed by the new truck’s handling. “The vision is great; a big part of the blind spot has been removed. The truck is stable and, above all, very silent. It runs like a dream.”

Tailor-made service plan

The new truck isn’t all the Swedish Ski Team is getting; a new service package was also included in the deal – Scania Maintenance with Flexible Plans. Offering tailor-made support for the customer’s needs Flexible Plans analyses vehicle data and the circumstances experienced by the vehicle such as cold, the weight of the load it carries and the terrain allowing Scania to keep track of when the vehicle needs a service. When it’s time the workshop calls the customer to schedule an appointment.

“This way we make sure that the vehicle receives the right maintenance at the right time to maximise its uptime,” says Claes Åkerlund, Head of Service Concepts. “It’s a proactive plan; you don’t call us, we call you.”

For Urban Nilsson, that’s one less thing to worry about in an intense competitive environment. “It will be nice not to have to keep track of when the truck needs service. Scania will take care of that for us and will let us know when it’s time.”

“It’s very beneficial to us. We have to reach our destination, and the truck carries the skis, so if we don’t arrive on time to a contest our athletes won’t be able to compete. It’s a security to have this service deal to rely on,” he says.