Rising to the occasion

Top management has come a long way since the days where they just sat behind a desk and gave orders … But Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo Trucks, is taking things to the next level as he didn’t hesitate to stand on a truck, dangling more than 21 m up in the air, to star in a film that puts Volvo’s new construction truck to the test.

“Yes, I have to admit I had butterflies in my stomach and I certainly wondered more than once what I’d let myself in for! I’m no mountain-climber and I don’t like heights, but I’d promised to do the stunt, so I couldn’t very well back out,” says Nilsson.

He had to spend almost two hours standing on the front panel of a Volvo FMX that had been hoisted more than 21 m above the water in Gothenburg harbour, Sweden.

“Of course filming is a time-consuming process and there were many retakes. It was fairly cold – about 8°C – and the wind blew at about 40 km/h, so my hands got pretty cold after a while. But it all went very well and, as safety was paramount, I was never really afraid,” continues Nilsson.

“The idea behind the film – called The Hook – is that we wanted to show that the truck’s front towing hook is dimensioned to handle far greater stresses than those to which it is normally subjected. It’s all about spotlighting the strength and quality of our construction trucks,” explains Nilsson, adding: “And you can’t do that more clearly than by hoisting the 15 tonne truck up into the air via its own towing hook.”

The film was shot from a helicopter, so everything had been prepared in advance down to the tiniest detail.

“It was difficult to shoot the entire film in one take from a helicopter,” says Filip Nilsson, director of Folke Film. “I’m really impressed by Claes Nilsson, who stayed cool and focused throughout the two hours that he was hanging in the air. I tried it myself, but just for 15 minutes, and it was pretty scary I can tell you.”

See Nilsson’s bravery and the FMX hook’s capabilities here.