One of 400: Wolfgang Gabl on tour with his Actros Edition 2

Her body is only wrapped in robes, her gaze clearly directed forward. With her right hand she holds up a torch, and with her left she bears an inscription plate with the date of the American Declaration of Independence: 4 July 1776. While the real Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York harbour looks rather pale, the smaller copy in the garden of an Innsbruck restaurant even wears lipstick. Her fingernails are painted red and the seven-rayed crown is gold-plated.

– Wolfgang Gabl, driver and company boss

Wolfgang smiles. Not because the Austro version looks much more charming than the original. Rather, because the seven-metre statue stood around for several months, years ago at the site of his company in Roppen in the district of Imst in Tyrol. “We transported it from the Netherlands to Austria by truck,” he says in his broad Tyrolean accent. “But because there was a some kind of problem between the supplier and the buyer, we had to put the statue into temporary storage.” And what better place to do that than on the grounds of his company headquarters in the Roppen industrial estate? “Many people must have thought: now he’s going completely crazy, that Gabl guy.”

We asked the entrepreneur whether he often transports statues of liberty. The 57-year-old’s face breaks into a wide grin. “That was our only experience in this business so far,” he says. He is much more familiar with transporting aluminium profiles in a wide variety of dimensions and lengths. Wolfgang has worked closely with a company in Telfs for years. With his four semitrailer combinations, he handles practically all export and transport tasks for the aluminium, automotive component, machine and plant manufacturer.

He has even leased one of his trucks to the customer on a long-term basis. “We are mainly on the road in Germany and the Benelux countries,” says the self-driving boss. “It’s not so common that a business owner takes a seat behind the wheel himself. But I couldn’t bear to sit in the office all the time. I’ve always liked being on the road. It gets me around, and I have time for myself and my thoughts.”

Making the most of every kilometre.

His two sons Florian and Martin have long since joined the family business as drivers, while his wife Marlies takes care of all administrative matters back home. This also includes winning additional orders for the return trips. “We try to drive empty as little as possible,” says Wolfgang, “because we need to make every kilometre count.” He is not choosy in the type of freight. Grave candles and bonsai trees are welcome on his loading area, as are apples, vintage cars, machinery, construction vehicles, tractors, furniture, flowers, large tents, zinc and even statues of liberty if necessary. “There’s not much we haven’t transported in the past few years.”

Exciting new arrival.

After years as a driver for other companies, Wolfgang went independent with his own rig in 1999. In 2008, he then brought his first Mercedes‑Benz truck into the company. “Mercedes was technically far ahead of the other manufacturers with Active Cruise Control and Lane Change Assist in its vehicles.” Since then, he has remained loyal to the brand. Recently, he has been experiencing “pure luxury”: An Actros 1963 Edition 2 is new to the fleet. The special model, limited to 400 units, comes with black leather steering wheel, leather door handles, nappa leather dashboard and roof hatch with ambient lighting. On the outside, the most striking features are the moonstone grey front of the vehicle, the headlamp surround with darkened trim, the many stainless steel trim strips and the “Edition 2” logo on the sun visor.

150,000 kilometres a year.

“I drive around 150,000 kilometres a year in my truck, and the cab is both my workplace and my living room. So it was simply worth it to me.”

Otherwise, Wolfgang likes to do the math when it comes to expenses: “Do you know what a coffee now costs at rest stops?” he asks and answers himself. “Almost four euro! If you drink two or three coffees a day on the go, five days a week, it adds up to a pretty penny.” He has had his own coffee machine in his cab for years. Recently, however, it stopped working. “The prices almost knocked me over,” says the Tyrolean, who then comes back to the pleasant sides of trucker life.

He talks about previous long-distance journeys that took him to Russia, France, Sardinia and Sicily. He recently worked for an event company on Mallorca. Next week, he will probably add another 2.000 to 3.000 kilometres when he sets off for Belgium as early as Sunday evening with today’s already loaded freight. Unloading is planned for Tuesday morning near Brussels, after which he is to pick up paper in Antwerp that is destined for the Kempten area in Bavaria. “And then we’ll see what other orders my wife can get in,” he says. Maybe another statue of liberty? “Unlikely,” says Wolfgang and smiles yet again. “But never say never!”

Photos: Alexander Fuchs
Video: Whiteroom GmbH