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By Steve Morris
 Swedish students Robin Östlund, Joakim Näsman and Robin Persson, along with their instructor Kennet Berg, were in the middle of their two-week visit to North Branch and needed cash quickly.
With check cards handy, the crew drove to the North Branch Minnco Credit Union ATM to take out much needed cash. Sounds innocent enough, but not when you factor in the ATM’s security technology.
Right: Three students and their instructor from Sweden stayed with North Branch’s Stefan Larsson for two week to learn about the American trucking industry. (l to r): Robin Östlund, Kennet Berg, Joakim Näsman, Robin Persson, Stefan Larsson.
The foreigners drained the ATM of more than $2,500 with 13 transactions. Their behavior at the ATM sent red flags to local authorities who viewed it as a possible theft.
Later in the week, the four were driving in town when North Branch police officer Dan Meyer spotted their vehicle and pulled them over to question them about the transaction. A total of three police squads were on the scene in minutes. Soon, officer Meyer and his colleagues learned they weren’t dealing with criminal minds and let them go.
In a thick Swedish accent, and with officer Meyer’s business card in hand, the group’s instructor Kennet Berg said, “Tell officer Meyer I said hello.”
Learning the details of the American ATM machines was not what the Swedish students came to American to learn.
The students visited North Branch as part of their one-of-a-kind senior project to learn about the American trucking industry. At home in western Sweden, the students are studying to become truck drivers and they developed the class project to gain greater insight to the American way.
As part of the project the students wrote daily blogs about their experiences and must also write a paper.
If all goes as planned, the three will graduate in June. Unlike many graduates in America, the students already have jobs waiting for them.
Their instructor Kennet Berg said truck drivers in Sweden can expect to make around $4,500 in American money a month.
During their stay, the group visited Midwest Diesel in Blaine, Anoka Hennepin Technical College in Anoka, Bay and Bay Transfer in Rosemount and Volvo Truck Repair in Roseville.
They noted some major differences in how the two countries regulate their trucking industries. Berg noted Sweden truck drivers are allowed to drive nine hours a day while in America 11 hours is the maximum. A second difference he pointed out was the weight difference allowed between the two countries. In America 86,000 pounds is allowed per load compared to 136,000 pounds in Sweden.
During their two-week visit, the group stayed with Stefan Larsson and Diana Smith-Larsson of North Branch. The boys didn’t have to worry about paying for their senior project as Sweden’s government and a sponsor paid for their visit.
The North Branch connection
The idea for the project started last fall when North Branch’s Stefan Larsson, a native of Sweden, visited his home country to go moose hunting. He met with some people and soon the discussion centered around hosting students in the spring for a class project. Before he knew it the students were at his door step and ready to experience the American way.
Larsson, who works as a truck driver and mechanic said, the process moved along quickly.
After all the planning, the three students and their instructor were thankful to have had the experience to visit America.
“It’s been really interesting to be here and very enjoyable,” Berg said.
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