Eleven Mads captures trucks from motorway bridge in Rødekro, Denmark
Eleven Mads Christensen, 11, has taken to a motorway bridge in Rødekro, Denmark, eagerly watching for trucks to capture with his phone camera. He is particularly attracted to those with numerous orange and white lights or unique features. As a truck spotter, he shares his passion by photographing and filming trucks to connect with fellow enthusiasts on social media.
Mads can spend hours on this hobby, especially during school holidays. “On a typical day, I can spot up to 100 amazing trucks here,” he mentions, enjoying his time away from school.
This interest amongst children is viewed positively by the Danish transport and logistics organization ITD, especially amidst a severe shortage of truck drivers in Denmark, estimated to be around 10,000. Dennis Hartung, head of member services at ITD, emphasizes that this situation poses a significant challenge for the sector. He believes that youth involvement in truck spotting and sharing their experiences online could inspire more people to pursue careers as truck drivers.
Nearby, the transport company Sejer and Sønnichsen also notices children’s enthusiasm. Sales manager Nicolai Sune Nielsen observes groups of young spotters daily after school. Drivers like Allan Nielsen actively engage with the kids, offering friendly honks and sometimes giveaways like sunglasses, fostering their excitement about the profession.
Mads dreams of becoming a truck driver himself and has no reservations about the job’s demands. “If you love it, you just have to do it,” he asserts. The local police confirm that truck spotting is legal as long as it adheres to traffic laws, addressing earlier concerns from motorists about children’s safety near motorway bridges.