Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition for many people worldwide. But it also requires a lot of planning, preparation, and coordination to make it possible. One of the most important aspects of Christmas is the decoration of the Christmas tree, which symbolizes hope, peace, and goodwill.
But how do you transport a Christmas tree from one place to another? How do you ensure that it arrives in good condition and on time? And how do you make sure that it fits in the vehicle?
One company that knows how to answer these questions is Martin Riedel KG, a family-owned business based in Türkenfeld, Germany. Martin Riedel KG has been delivering Christmas trees all over southern Bavaria since 1950, using its fleet of Unimogs.
Unimogs are versatile and robust vehicles that can handle various tasks and terrains. They are powered by six-cylinder diesel engines that offer high performance and low fuel consumption. They have spacious cabins that can accommodate up to four people. And they have modular designs that allow them to be customized for different purposes.
Martin Riedel KG uses Unimogs as its main means of transportation for its Christmas trees. The company has nine Unimogs in its fleet, each with a different configuration and capacity. The company also has a trailer that can be attached to any Mercedes-Benz Unimog for extra load space.
The company operates from February to December, delivering fresh Nordmann firs from its own forest to various sales points across southern Bavaria. The company has about 400 trees ready for delivery at any given time.
The delivery process involves loading the trees onto the trailer at the company’s Windorf base near Passau. The trailer is then attached to a Mercedes-Benz Unimog and driven to the nearest sales point. The trailer can carry up to 100 trees at a time.
The loading and unloading of the trees are done manually by hand or with the help of a forklift truck. The driver does not need any special license or permit to drive a Mercedes-Benz Unimog on public roads or motorways as long as he follows the traffic rules.
The driver also does not need to pay any tolls on motorways, as his Unimog is registered as an agricultural tractor unit. This saves him money and hassle.
The driver then drives his Unimog back to Windorf, where he repeats the process until all the trees are delivered by December 24th.
The company claims that its delivery service is reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. It says that it delivers more than 10 million trees every year across southern Bavaria, covering an area of about 1 million square kilometers.
It also says that it uses only natural gas as fuel for its trucks and trailers, reducing emissions and noise pollution.
The company’s customers appreciate its service and quality. They say that they trust Martin Riedel KG with their Christmas trees because they know that they will receive them fresh, healthy, and beautiful.
They also say that they enjoy seeing their neighbors’ reactions when they see their decorated Christmas trees on their front yards or balconies.
Martin Riedel KG’s success story shows how a small family business can adapt to changing times and customer needs by using innovative solutions and technologies.
It also shows how a simple vehicle like an Unimog can perform complex tasks like transporting Christmas trees across long distances with ease and efficiency.
Unimogs are not only useful for transporting goods or people; they are also versatile enough for other purposes like firefighting, rescue operations, military operations, or even art projects.
For example:
- In 2019, Martin Riedel KG used an Unimog U 430 as part of an art project called “Unimog + Art”. The project involved installing artwork made of recycled materials on various parts of an Unimog U 430. The artworks were then displayed at different locations around southern Bavaria.
- In 2020, Martin Riedel KG used an Unimog U 430 as part of an environmental campaign called “Unimog Green”. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability by showing how an Unimog U 430 could run on renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines.
- In 2021, Martin Riedel KG used an Unimog U 430 as part of a humanitarian mission called “Unimog Solidarity”. The mission involved delivering medical supplies and equipment to remote areas affected by natural disasters or conflicts around the world.
These examples show how an Unimog can be transformed into different vehicles depending on its purpose or function. They also show how an Unimog can be used for good causes beyond transportation.
Unimogs are more than just vehicles; they are also expressions of creativity, innovation, and social responsibility. They are the ultimate multipurpose machines that can tackle any challenge and any terrain.