How Tony Rose from Thuringia became a businessman.

Tony Rose from Großbreitenbach in the Thuringian Forest took the plunge into self-employment after quitting his secure job at the motorway maintenance depot. Fascinated by the Unimog since his childhood, he founded his own company in 2018 and now looks after rescue routes and carries out winter services. With three Unimog of his own and one rented Unimog, including the new Unimog U 535, he masters every challenge.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Quit your job at the motorway maintenance company, which will provide you with security until retirement, to become self-employed? Tony Rose (38) from Neustadt am Rennsteig in the Thuringian forest had a few sleepless nights when he asked himself this question. But true to the motto "Nothing ventured, nothing gained", he resigned after more than 15 years at the Zella-Mehlis motorway maintenance company to start his own company.

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Since his training as a road maintenance worker, he has worked with the Unimog almost every day. “The vehicle fascinated me even as a child,” Tony Rose enthuses. He now has three Unimog of his own and a rented fourth one when needed.

The vehicle fascinated me even as a child

Tony Rose, Managing Director, Tony Rose Services for Forestry and Municipal Management

Here’s what happened: in 2006, Tony Rose started his own business as a sideline in snow-clearing operations and mowing work. That went well and a helper was hired. Until the day in 2018 when Deutsche Bahn asked him whether he could keep the 110 km of emergency routes around the new railway line in the Thuringian forest free of snow – including mowing and pruning in the warmer times of the year. “I simply founded my own company,” Tony Rose laughs and is enthusiastic about the harmonious cooperation with the railway.

One Unimog, numerous tasks.

He was able to assert himself against three other bidders on the basis of his expertise in order to win this contract. And so the path was clear to purchase his first and brand-new Unimog U 318 – of course in municipal orange (RAL 2011).

After all, roads, gravel and forest paths must be maintained at altitudes between 500 and 900 m. In 2020, the company grew and a second Unimog had to be purchased, this time the Unimog U 430. The most recent new addition to the depot was a Unimog U 535 last year.

Tony Rose designed it the way he knew it from the motorway maintenance company: robust vehicle hall with individual boxes for each vehicle, lean-to roof hall for firewood – and plenty of space around for turning and manoeuvring.

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With the Unimog in year-round use.

For some time now, he and his seven employees have also been working in winter as assistants for surrounding municipalities and the local road maintenance service. Tony Rose’s flexibility, reliability and fairness are appreciated. In winter, his vehicles are equipped with Bucher+Schmidt snow-clearing packages, including automatic gritter and plough (clearing width up to 3.70 m), and a Kalbacher cultivator is always ready for use on particularly tough days. In the summer, the Mulag MKM 700 mower combination is attached. Tony Rose can also convert the Gögl trailer with Palfinger loading crane (C70Z) from a timber loading vehicle to a three-way tipper vehicle.

He has not regretted his decision to become self-employed, on the contrary. However, the price for this is being on call – 24/7/365. His customers thank him for it.

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