WORLDWIDE – Today Swedish truck manufacturers Volvo officially revealed their new Worldtrucker idea, with the aim of making it the largest and most active truck driver community in the world. By offering an Internet community to drivers, the company hopes to boost interest in the profession and support the recruitment of new drivers. In many countries rising driver average ages are becoming a problem as younger people avoid the profession, put off by ever more stringent regulation, particularly in the freight haulage sector.
More than a forum it was decided from the start that Worldtrucker would be open to anyone interested in trucks regardless of the brand they use. Volvo Trucks as a company would maintain a low profile and let members build the content. Worldtrucker manager Paula Kühnel believes hauliers driving all types of trucks have a strong professional pride and share a passion for trucks and life on the road. With this product she thinks Volvo have the jump on any competitors and foresees the product will become the first choice for drivers everywhere.
Worldtrucker helps drivers keep in touch with their families. Friends and colleagues can easily discuss experiences and establish new cross-border relations. They can share photos from the road by uploading directly through their mobile phone, thus making it possible to stay connected without carrying a laptop. By offering these social elements, Volvo Trucks hopes to stimulate the driver’s working life and increase interest in the profession. The worldwide driver shortage is a vital issue for the industry.
The community attracted almost 10,000 members during the development stages. Local community operations have been established in ten countries and there are language versions available in Italian, Swedish, Dutch, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Polish and English. With the final update, including a mobile phone version and design upgrade, the community has now been launched on a global scale. Worldtrucker has already spread to over 40 countries even though no promotion was undertaken outside the start markets, so Volvo Trucks’ expectations on the global launch are high.
