Owner of 3.5-ton refrigerated truck inherited vehicle from father

Has driven it for two and a half years across the country

'No major breakdowns beyond routine consumable replacements'

Equipped with ZF 8-speed transmission and full air brakes

Yoon Sang-woo (left) and his father Yoon Seok pose with the Tata Daewoo Mobility mid-size truck "The Ssen" after the vehicle surpassed 1 million kilometers of cumulative mileage. Yoon Sang-woo took over the 3.5-ton refrigerated truck his father had been driving and has spent about two and a half years hauling cargo across the country. [Tata Daewoo Mobility]
Yoon Sang-woo (left) and his father Yoon Seok pose with the Tata Daewoo Mobility mid-size truck "The Ssen" after the vehicle surpassed 1 million kilometers of cumulative mileage. Yoon Sang-woo took over the 3.5-ton refrigerated truck his father had been driving and has spent about two and a half years hauling cargo across the country. [Tata Daewoo Mobility]

A son who inherited his father's truck has driven it past the 1 million kilometer mark — a distance equivalent to circling the Earth roughly 25 times.

Tata Daewoo Mobility said Wednesday that the vehicle operated by Yoon Sang-woo, a driver of the company's mid-size "The Ssen" 3.5-ton refrigerated truck, has surpassed 1 million kilometers of cumulative mileage.

Yoon hauls frozen and refrigerated finished goods to destinations across the country. Now in his sixth year behind the wheel, Yoon entered the freight business at the encouragement of his father, Yoon Seok, who had worked in the same industry.

The Ssen that reached the milestone was also originally purchased and driven by his father. Yoon took over the vehicle about two and a half years ago and has been crisscrossing the country with cargo ever since.

Mid-size trucks typically travel urban and regional roads more frequently than heavy-duty trucks, meaning they go through repeated cycles of stopping, starting, and loading and unloading. Refrigerated trucks add another layer of demand, as the refrigeration unit must run continuously to keep cargo at a stable temperature.

Yoon cited the truck's ability to keep running over long distances without major breakdowns as its greatest strength.

"Over two and a half years of driving, I haven't had any serious breakdowns — just routine consumable replacements here and there," Yoon said. "What I appreciate most is being able to trust the vehicle and drive with confidence."

Yoon also expressed satisfaction with the truck's performance under load.

"With other vehicles, I've felt the engine struggling on uphill stretches when carrying cargo, but The Ssen has enough power that I don't feel that strain," he said. "The solid engine and transmission are also something I notice as an advantage on long hauls."

The Ssen is a mid-size truck Tata Daewoo Mobility first introduced in 2020, with a facelift model released in 2023. Its defining feature is the application of technologies typically found in medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles to a mid-size platform.

The truck comes with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and full air brakes to support driving and braking under load. It also features a spacious cargo bed and an air-suspension seat, among other amenities suited to freight transport.

Yoon, who spends long hours behind the wheel, also singled out the seat and cabin space as highlights.

"The seat gives good lumbar support and the cabin is roomy enough to help on long drives," he said. "The relatively compact body also makes it easy to maneuver on narrow roads."

Regular maintenance has underpinned the truck's journey to 1 million kilometers. Yoon said he has been diligent about preventive upkeep — changing engine oil and other consumables on schedule and visiting service centers to check the vehicle's condition.

For commercial vehicle operators, breakdowns translate directly into lost income, making it critical to prevent failures and minimize time in the shop. As mileage accumulates, the importance of after-sales support — including service accessibility and parts supply — grows alongside the vehicle's own performance.

Tata Daewoo Mobility has been expanding its service network. In September, the company extended its service footprint to Yesan in South Chungcheong Province and Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province, and improved its procedures for emergency dispatch and customer communication during repairs. As of September, a cumulative 14,400 customers had used the company's mobile and seasonal free-inspection services.

"One million kilometers in a mid-size truck is a rare achievement even within the industry, and it is meaningful that a customer has proven The Ssen's durability firsthand in real-world freight operations," a Tata Daewoo Mobility official said. "We will continue to strengthen our product quality and service competitiveness so that customers can focus on their livelihoods with peace of mind."


kwater@heraldcorp.com