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The trajectory of Ladair Michelon, a pioneer in the transport of heavy loads and a key figure in the evolution of national logistics
The first Scania manufactured in Brazil had a visionary owner: Ladair Michelon. More than just a buyer, he was one of those responsible for promoting the use of double trailers and transforming road freight transportation in the country.
Road selection process: from cart to Scania
Ladair Michelon's story is one that sums up the spirit of Brazilian transportation: sweat, vision and stubbornness. It all started with his father pulling wood with a cart. Over time, a landlord recognized the family's efforts and gave them a simple truck, a D30 with a wooden cabin.
According to what he said in an interview with the channel On the Road Program, Michelon obtained his driver's license while in the Army, where he was already working in logistics with military trucks. While still young, he hit the road even without documentation, driving through the colonies in the South. One of the most influential figures in national road transport was born there.
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Michelon and the milestone of the first national Scania
In 1965, Ladair founded his own transport company and acquired the first truck Scania produced in Brazil. At the time, the model had no trick, but that was no problem for Michelon. He himself ordered the installation of the extra axle, anticipating the need for more load capacity. A pioneering and bold solution.
According to Estradão, Michelon was not only the first buyer of the brand in the country but also played a fundamental role in the adaptation and adoption of transport models with multiple trailers, the famous double trailers. In meetings with engineers and authorities, he was the one who suggested changes to allow trucks of up to 30 meters, even in the face of technical and political resistance.
B-trains, international routes and political recognition
Michelon's boldness didn't stop there. In the 70s, his shipping company was already operating international routes through countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela. It was in this context that he began to use large vehicles to transport cargo such as potatoes for McDonald's, reducing the number of trucks on the road and optimizing freight.
His model inspired debates in Brasília, where he was called by the Ministry of Transport to explain his ideas. Many self-employed workers feared that the double-trailer would take their jobs. But Michelon argued that it was an efficient solution to avoid crop losses and increase competitiveness in the face of rail transport. He was not inventing the double-trailer, but showing Brazil how it could really work.
Michelon's legacy and the challenges of the future
Michelon believes the future of transportation will be dominated by electric trucks, but he warns: Brazil is still far from having the necessary infrastructure. “Today there are no roads that can handle it. Everything will have to change,” he said in the interview.
Still, what he has already accomplished is enormous. With his legacy, Ladair Michelon helped transform national logistics. He popularized solutions that made road transport more efficient, connecting continental distances with intelligence and courage. His name is marked not only in the history of Scania, but also on the asphalt he helped shape.
