Sweden’s most famous TV dustman: on the go with Max Stålenhag

Max Stålenhag is the man who has given a face to the dustman's job. Max was one of the stars of the “Svenska Truckers” series over several seasons. What should we call his job? He has a straight opinion on this: "Don't call me a refuse collector an or environmental engineer. "I'm a dustman 'til I die!"

And what's good about doing this job these days? “My routine is straightforward, the pay is pretty good, training is brief, and you can get in people's way,” says Max.

Great visibility and an easy introduction.

He has now been driving the Econic for the Pre Zero company for a year. “This is exactly how a rubbish truck should be built,” he enthuses. "The cab is unparalleled on the market. The seat is low and you can look through a huge windscreen. This makes it easy to keep track of what's going on oustide the vehicle. I am at the same level as pedestrians and cyclists. It’s easy to make eye contact." Because the driver is practically sitting in front of the front wheel, the wheelbase is short, and the vehicle has a correspondingly narrow turning circle. “Thanks to this and its articulated rear axle, the vehicle can wind through the city like a snake.”

The shallow entry steps and the consistently flat floor ensure an unbeatable working environment. "You get in more or less straight through the door, without the need for any strenuous climbing. Anyone who has to get in the cab 200 times a day is very grateful for this." He also thinks the bus doors on the right-hand side, which don't get in the way when opening, are a great feature. 

Many Econics run on biogas, but Max is on the island of Värmdö in the Stockholm archipelago, and it’s quite a distance to the biogas filling station. This is why hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) has been chosen as the fuel source. Max: "The version of the vehicle we have at the moment is already great. With an electric drive, it will probably be unbeatable as a rubbish truck."

Photos: Johann Marklund