The Schleswig-Holstein forwarding agent Matthiessen is broadly based. They have protected their latest trailers from Krone with a warranty extension – for even more security in cost planning.
M
egaliners, crane vehicles, forklift trucks, silo plates and other special vehicles can be found in the fleet of the forwarding agent Matthiessen from Schleswig-Holstein. “We try to stand on different feet”, Marion Matthiessen-Voss explains the diversity. The main business areas of the company are forwarding and logistics. Recently, however, it has also opened its own truck wash in Schwerin, for example. “Customer demand was there, so we not only clean our own vehicles there, but also offer it to other companies.”
FAMILY BUSINESS THROUGH AND THROUGH
The medium-sized company was founded in 1971 by Wolfgang Matthiessen. Today it is run in the second generation by his daughters Marion and Maike. Their husbands also work in the company, together with around 70 other employees. The son of Marion Matthiessen-Voss and Thies Voss is already being prepared for succession in the long term – so it is a family business through and through. Customers feel this above all through personal, reliable support. “We are in operation daily and always available, even on weekends when transport is in progress”, says Marion Matthiessen-Voss. “We are in direct contact with the shippers, and the decision-making paths are short – we usually find solutions quickly.” Their work is based on values such as honesty and respect: “We continue to apply these values: A word is a contract.”
The modern vehicle fleet is characterised by Krone products.
“That puts us on the safe side for four years.”
Thies Voss, Head of Fleet Management
NETWORK CO-FOUNDED
Matthiessen supplies many customers in the paper and building materials industry. One focus is the supply of construction sites. The vehicles used for this purpose are equipped with forklift trucks with which the goods can be parked directly at the consignee – for example, plasterboard, dry construction materials, windows and doors that are unloaded at construction sites. Together with five other companies, Matthiessen has founded a network for this specialty: The members of the B2B/B2C truck-mounted forklift network bring bulky goods, such as saunas or terrace planks, directly to the customer – a growing business in view of the booming online trade. “We have a central hub in Erfurt that handles such goods, and in future we will be even more active in sales here and address online retailers directly”, says Matthiessen-Voss. In all this, it is always important to her that the company not only becomes larger, but also remains innovative: “We grow together with our customers, take ideas from them and develop new offers ourselves.” Another field of application of the Matthiessen forwarding company is the transport of vegetables. “Our home in Dithmarschen is the largest cohesive cabbage growing area in Germany”, says Marion Matthiessen-Voss, “the roots of the company lie in this business.”
WARRANTY EXTENSION
• Every Krone new vehicle comes with a twelve-month warranty. • When purchasing and until three months after delivery of a vehicle (registered in D or AU) individual Warranty extensions can be booked for up to three additional years. • Compensation in the event of damage applies to: Trailers without bodywork and interchangeable systems – Flatbed semi-trailers, dry freight trailers, trailers with bodywork – Cool Liner/ refrigerated semi-trailers (refrigeration units excluded) • Advantages: high planning reliability and minimisation of downtime
Family business through and through: Managing Director Marion Matthiessen-Voss (left) manages the company together with her sister Maike. Her husband Thies Voss (right) is responsible for fleet management.
ON THE SAFE SIDE FOR FOUR YEARS
Spedition Matthiessen has been using Krone products for around 35 years. In the past two years 19 new trailers have been ordered in Werlte, six more will follow. Matthiessen makes use of Krone's extended warranty: when purchasing or up to three months after delivery, the customer can book packages that extend the twelve-month standard warranty for up to three additional years. “Our sales representative at Krone told us about it, and we decided to try it out”, says Thies Voss, who is responsible for fleet management at Matthiessen. When he received the offer, he realised: “We have been concluding service contracts for our pulling units for a long time. We haven't done that with trailers yet – this is the first step now.” He also sees the warranty extension as a service contract for the trailer: “This puts us on the safe side for four years. If a breakdown should really happen, there are workshops all over Germany that we can visit and where competent partners can help us.” For him, the advantages are obvious: “The warranty extension gives us security in planning and enables us to handle claims in an uncomplicated manner. You make an exact arrangement that you can rely on. In this way, it also secures our future viability. That makes me sleep better at night.”
