Transtema has a car fleet of approximately 900 cars. In order to reach the goal of zero fossil emissions by 2030, we are faced with a transition to 100% electric vehicles. The person leading the transition is Henrik Olsson, who has been responsible for the vehicles at Transtema since 2018. Henrik began his journey at Transtema as a technician, then he moved to being responsible for instruments and tools before he took the step over to the role of responsible for the vehicles.
As responsible for the vehicles, Henrik works with the day-to-day operations, everything from moving cars as needed and handling cars that have broken down, to damage and insurance cases. The work involves close collaboration within the company, where problem solving and following up on changes in decisions are part of everyday life.
Henrik is also working on a strategic plan to achieve our goals and get good finances in the fleet. It is about finding new solutions and adding new equipment, which, for example, enable the technicians to charge their computers and store and secure the equipment in a safe way. When cars are no longer profitable to repair, begins a gradual replacement with electrified alternatives that can meet company’s needs and reduce the fleet’s CO2 emissions.
It is the company’s needs that govern the car fleet, while it must be in accordance with the ambitious environmental goals we have set. This involves a daily dialogue with the service managers and staff. That’s what I like best about this job – I get to get up close and personal with what’s going on in the business, what the staff thinks, and gather the information to the best of my ability to make their working environment better.
What do our vehicles mean to the technicians’ working day?
The technicians spend a lot of time in the car, often sitting in the car eating lunch, charging the computer and reporting their jobs. The vehicles therefore play an important role in the technicians’ working day, and we must provide them with the right conditions for a good working environment. I think our vehicles are well equipped, but it’s a continuous job – constantly twisting and turning things to find new solutions and improvements.
The business is changing all the time and then we need to think again when it comes to vehicles too. For me, it is important to be responsive and that proposals for changes are evaluated and discussed with our technicians as well as settled with the production management.
How do you see the transition to electric cars, what does it mean for you as a person responsible for vehicles?
I think we have an important role in this transition. Transtema has such a large vehicle fleet that a transition to electric cars will have a significant impact, where we really have the opportunity to be a role model for how companies can change their fleet. It won’t be easy because we do a lot of contractor work, but if we succeed, we will be able to show more people that this is the way to go.
What challenges and opportunities do you see related to the transition?
The challenges will be to meet the needs of the business according to what the car market has to offer. We cannot send out a Golf to a technician who will tow an excavator. We will also need to optimize our planning to avoid having to charge extra during working hours, and that is something we need to look at more than we have done in the past. There are great opportunities and there will be many questions along the way. It will be important to have the right mindset, to think anew. If one has that, it will solve quite a few problems down the road.
The green changeover is a big adjustment, but everything is feasible, it’s just a matter of seeing this as a new way of working.
What is the best part of your role at Transtema?
It is fast-paced, there is a lot of contact with many nice employees, and I like that there are always new challenges. I think my role is important, it is not easy, but I feel every day that what I do is necessary, that I am useful and that I contribute with what I can.
