Abandonment of the Initiative “Safe Roads Now!” in Switzerland
Apr 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Requirements for the Implementation of the ‘KV-Stat’ Platform Met
Apr 3, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The first Volvo FH with liquefied gas drive delivered in Germany has now surpassed the one million kilometer mark. The high-quality LNG tractor has been operating since November 2018 on behalf of Brunsbütteler Friedrich A. Kruse jun. International Freight Forwarding e.K. in local and long-distance transport. Mostly, the 460 hp gas-powered 40-ton truck is used in container service, making the distance between Brunsbüttel and the Port of Hamburg multiple times a day in double shifts with changing drivers.
(Ismaning/Hamburg) Despite the nearly round-the-clock traffic, there have been no technical problems with the LNG from Volvo in the past six and a half years. To celebrate the anniversary, Christian Uhl, Regional Sales Director North at Volvo Trucks in Germany, presented a plaque to Friedrich A. Kruse Junior, authorized signatory and member of the management board of Spedition Kruse.
“Spedition Kruse has been driving the Volvo brand for over 40 years and has always been on the safe side. There are no unplanned outages, and all ten Volvo FH LNG trucks operate reliably and have seamlessly integrated into our fleet without any issues,” emphasizes Friedrich A. Kruse Junior. The company was the first freight forwarder in Germany to put Volvo trucks with liquefied gas drive into service to promote more sustainable road freight transport in Germany.
The LNG trucks achieve ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers, similar to diesel trucks. Their 13-liter engines operate on the diesel principle but predominantly run on gas. Only a small amount of diesel fuel is needed for igniting the gas-air mixture in the combustion chamber. The Volvo truck with gas drive offers the same performance but with 20% less CO₂ emissions. When using biofuel, emissions can even be reduced by up to 100%*. Additionally, AdBlue consumption decreases by about 20%.
Just as quickly as the topic of LNG is gaining traction, so is electric mobility at F.A. Kruse jun. The freight forwarder now transports machine parts and containers with five fully electric Volvo FH trucks to customers. While the electric vehicles are charged at the company’s headquarters in Brunsbüttel at their own charging stations and with energy from their own PV system, the gas vehicles refuel at the special LNG stations in Neumünster or Hamburg, depending on the route. The LNG refueling network has steadily expanded and now includes nearly 200 stations in Germany, covering more than 90% of bio-LNG. Climate-neutral transport is highly valued by the 39-year-old, who runs the company in the fifth generation.
Currently, the company has a total of 65 of its own trucks, all equipped with ADR equipment except for the five e-trucks, and they have a power range between 460 and 500 hp. The electric trucks operate with an equivalent of 666 hp. The Volvo FH and Volvo FM with diesel, LNG, and electric drives can pull tarpaulin, refrigerated, and tank trailers. On average, the vehicles cover 150,000 kilometers per year and remain in the fleet for up to eight years. Primarily, the trucks operate in Germany but also travel internationally.
Repairs and Maintenance in-house
The repair and maintenance of the fleet is largely handled in-house by Spedition F.A. Kruse jun. For this purpose, there is a dedicated workshop at the headquarters, which can always rely on the Volvo service network for complicated issues. The company has always been supported by the Volvo location North, formerly Uhl Trucks, in Marne. The close and trusting cooperation continues to this day.
*This value refers to emissions during vehicle operation (“Tank to Wheel”).
Photo: © Volvo Trucks
