Volvo launches global community for drivers

Volvo launches global community for drivers

Volvo Trucks has today launched its Worldtrucker community, 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.

“We know that truck drivers have strong professional pride, and that's
exactly what Worldtrucker is about - sharing that passion for trucks and
for life on the road,” says Worldtrucker manager Paula Kühnel.

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.

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.

“Most haulage firms have various truck makes in their fleets. All their
drivers should feel equally welcome,” says Paula Kühnel.

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.

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. “We have not yet seen any
competitor matching our setup and believe we have the chance to become
the trucker's first choice all over the world,” says Paula Kühnel.

February 14, 2011

Link to images:

http://icp.llr.se/CumulusE_Z/VTC_ImageGallery/Login2.jsp?assets=T2011_10
47;T2011_1048;T2011_1049;T2011_1050;T2011_1051;T2011_1052;T2011_1053;T20
11_1054;T2011_1055;T2011_1056;T2011_1057;T2011_1058;T2011_1059;T2011_106
0;T2011_1061;T2011_1062.tif (http://icp.llr.se/CumulusE_Z/VTC_ImageGalle
ry/Login2.jsp?assets=T2011_1047;T2011_1048;T2011_1049;T2011_1050;T2011_1
051;T2011_1052;T2011_1053;T2011_1054;T2011_1055;T2011_1056;T2011_1057;T2
011_1058;T2011_1059;T2011_1060;T2011_1061;T2011_1062.tif)

Captions:

T2011_1047:

The web page 'find trucks'.

T2011_1048:

Boije Ovebrink's page.

T2011_1049:

The web page ‘Groups'.

T2011_1050:

The web page 'Forum'.

T2011_1051:

The web page 'Find truckers'.

T2011_1052, T2011_1053, T2011_1054, T2011_1055, T2011_1056, T2011_1057,
T2011_1058, T2011_1059, T2011_1060:

The startpage in several languages.

T2011_1061, T2011_1062:

Paula Kühnel, Worldtrucker manager.

For further information, please contact:

Per Sundström, PR & Online Communications Manager, phone +46 70 586
7160, e-mail per.sundstrom@volvo.com (per.sundstrom@volvo.com)

Visit
http://www.thenewsmarket.com/volvogroup (http://www.thenewsmarket.com/vo
lvogroup) to access broadcast-standard video about the Volvo Group's
various production plants and products. You can download graphic images
in the form of MPEG2 files or order them on Beta SP tape. Registration
and video are free to the media.

Images are available in the Volvo Trucks image bank
http://imagegallery.vtc.volvo.se/ (http://imagegallery.vtc.volvo.se/).