Ozzie Kenny’s from Huppo in Dubbo

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin

I’m Going to have to get a new brass plaque for the desk in my shed, saying; “Blog Forwarder”. I have been hoping for a while that you lot would start contributing your own blog content. Really I hoped you’d do this just to add a different view to what is shown on here. Bear in mind obviously I want the blog to be trucks, trucks, trucks and also as it’s amazingly read worldwide, it’s best you contribute truck stuff from your own part of the globe as really I can only add what goes on here in GB. Leading on from this I now have another Ozzie guest writer, more the merrier I say! Over to your new writer;

Hi Ben,

Joe Hupp from Dubbo, NSW, Australia here with my first contributions to your wonderful blog – sorry I’ve been so slow in getting these to you. I have included two photos of the latest iteration of Kenworth Australia’s very popular K-Series cabover, the K200, and a photo of the truck that came before it, the K108.

The black K200 is owned by F1 Logistics out of Mildura, Victoria, Australia (formerly GTS Freight Management). I did not catch the name of the owner of the white K200 while the third photo is of the model that came immediately before the K200, the K108. The photo of the K108 (the red one – Ben) was at the open day at Inland Truck Centre, the Kenworth dealer in Dubbo. The K200′s were photographed alongside the Newell Highway, the main North-South transport route through the heart of NSW. The key difference between the K108 and the K200 is the height of the cab. The cab was raised to allow a bigger radiator (1850 square inches) and all the associated EGR and DPF equipment that goes with the enhnaced emissions control system on the Cummins engine.

Looking forward to contributing more of my photos to your wonderful blog… especially the vintage and classic trucks that opened Australia’s road transport industry up.

Joe

Scania Platoon…

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin

One straight from the Scania newsroom that I thought you may find interesting, even for you non Scania fans!

Within short, Scania, in collaboration with the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), will start trials with so-called platooning on the 520-kilometre route between the Swedish cities of Södertälje and Helsingborg.

“Reducing aerodynamic drag by drafting comes naturally to fish, birds, cross-country skiers and cyclists,” says Tony Sandberg, Systems Pre-Development Manager at Scania Research and Development.

If the second truck is 25 metres behind, its drag is reduced by 30 percent and the third truck in line will benefit from a 40-percent drag reduction. The leading truck will also take advantage of platooning by reduced adverse rear aerodynamic effects as the tailing vehicle “pushes” the truck ahead forward. In the first phase, the convoy will only take advantage of the existing Adaptive Cruise Control system, which controls the speed of the vehicle relative to the speed of the vehicle ahead. The gap between trucks will be 2–3 seconds, which corresponds to 40–60 metres. The trials will only be conducted on two-lane motorways. At present, four to five tractor and trailer units depart twice daily from Södertälje en route to Scania’s production unit in Zwolle, The Netherlands, with engines, gearboxes and axles. These trucks are operated by the Scania Transport Laboratory, which tests and evaluates vehicle characteristics and performance in commercial road haulage.

“We plan to coordinate the departure of these trucks and form a platoon as soon as we reach the motorway,” says Anders Gustavsson, Managing Director of Scania’s wholly owned subsidiary.

Following a few months of operations, VTI will evaluate the trials through a questionnaire to drivers. How is their work situation affected and how do they perceive the effects on the surrounding traffic situation? Unless serious issues arise, Scania will move to the next phase in August 2012 when the distance between trucks will be reduced to one second or 20–25 metres, still using present-day technology. Once again, drivers will have the opportunity to state if they find this shorter distance acceptable. If that proves the case, Scania is prepared to take a major step towards the future. The trucks will then drive with a gap of merely 0.5 seconds or 10 metres. Present systems do not support distances this short and Scania will therefore employ wireless communications between platooning trucks. If the first truck brakes, all the following trucks will simultaneously and automatically brake.

In simulations, Scania R&D has demonstrated a fuel savings potential of more than 10 percent with compact platooning. “We’re now interested in ascertaining whether these substantial savings can actually be achieved in a real traffic environment,” says Project Manager Anders Johansson. How is surrounding traffic affected? How do drivers feel about platooning?” Scania has held consultations with the Swedish Transport Agency in planning these trials. It is clear that broad-based cooperation in society is needed to develop future transport systems.

“Nowadays, we speak about transport solutions rather than just products,” says Senior Vice President Lars Stenqvist. “Many of these solutions cannot be accomplished by Scania alone. We need national demonstration projects, such as the platooning trials.” In the Discovery Channel video series “Earth 2050: Driven by Design,” platooning is presented as new smart road technology that saves time, fuel and money.

Part 3: Manchester to Manchester Via Rhodes, Greece

Posted on April 6, 2012 by admin

Now as it’s Easter weekend it’s time for the third and final installment of Ian Harpers recent road trip to Rhodes in Greece with a little Renault Midlum 7.5 tonner on removal duties. Over to Ian for the final installment;

Day 10
I arrive back in Piraeus not a bright sunny morn but mild and misty. I depart the ferry and take to the road traffics relatively light 30 minutes and I’m on the motorway. Stop at the first toll €8•10 its gone up 20 cents, oh well. I trundle along the 3 lane motorway until the road splits for either Tripoli or Patras , through the second toll which was still the old price of €7•90 then into Patras. I still come in the old way pass the BP right and down to the waterfront as all the immigrants have moved to the new way in there are the odd few this way but whichever way you will come across them. At a set of roadwork’s they all popped out, 2 jumped on the tail lift and onto the roof in full view of a police car with 2 officers watching, fag in one hand and a frappe in the other. I looked over and they say €100 and we will get them!! I just laughed. Pull into the marina and they jumped off and onto the port passing a few more along the way. In the port, ticket collected catch up with emails etc on the free wifi and wait for the Superfast XII to arrive, load and set sail.

Day 11
Once all the rattles and squeaks were either suppressed or eliminated, shower, food, internet then quick look at Ingoumenista, mainly freight getting on Turks, Bulgarians and Greeks. Woke up not to bad a nights kip quick shower and see what kind of day it is, warm but foggy my phone springs into life with a message from the Croatian tourist board so at least I have an idea where I am. Off the ferry normally it takes around an hour and a half to get off and out of the port as the port is way too small for the amount of vehicles that use it, anyway as I’m one of the last off not too fussed, Surprise! No queue so by 17:00 I’m out the port on the autostrada adriatica heading all points north. I get to Dirkendorf Germany for 04:00 in 9:25 and call it a day.

Day 12
Woke up about 09:00 freezing night heater on and must of nodded off I get up go for a shower and coffee time is going so slow I’ve started to get that “just want to get home” feeling. 13:00 eventually comes around and I’m away through Stuttgart just before it starts to build up with evening traffic. I pass a Davis International, we wave he flashes me in and I’m gone. I pull into the Standehoft total garage and guest house, As I’m getting out the cab “Mr Davis” pulls in and asks “You going for something to eat?” my reply prompted him to park and follow me in. A beautiful curried schnitzel with onions and potatoes and a coffee to swill down we departed, only to catch each other up at Capellen Luxembourg in the queue for fuel, 1hr 20 it took for me to get fuel and away will I make it to the tunnel / All4trucks?

No! I didn’t with the combination of wind rain and heavy sleet that slowed me down the as I pull on to the A8 around Tournai. Traffics stopped. Luckily we all reversed down the road and took another junction to get round the hold up , which was a wide load that had wedged himself between the concrete barriers in the roadwork’s. 01:16 bed.

Day 13
I woke up to some inconsiderate Belgian with his radio on full pelt playing euro pop! 10:30 comes and I’m away, only to make it as far the other end of the car park and one of the Belgian douanes flag me down quick check of passport load and manifest I’m away again, Lille is pretty quiet and up the A16 then again! a French douane flags me down into the lay-by near the house with the WW2 memorabilia all painted in pshycadellic colours. 10 minutes I’m away after explaining I was removals so didn’t need a CMR. On pulling into the tunnel the queue started at the roundabout by the x-ray machine 20 minutes and was in a lane waiting 51 minutes after that onto the train we go. Back in Blighty Woo Hoo!! I ring the customers to see if they will be in today one was in Bentley NR Ipswich and the other North Elmham just outside Dereham.
20:30ish the drops off will I make it back to Manchester? it will be close, as I’m crossing the A17 heading for Newark the trucks owner rings ” how’s it all going” and I said “I’ll be 30 minutes short of getting back to the yard,” no worries ring me and I’ll come and meet you”, with that I’m on my way A1, A57 Sheffield and then the snake pass. I had mentioned earlier in the week that I kept getting the whiff of diesel and when the truck go’s for its 10 week check see if there’s a leak. I prefer the snake pass it’s a lot quieter than Wood Head, so trundling along and I hear a different tone to the truck. The exhaust was blowing “there’s the fumes issue solved”! As I drove as quietly as I could through Glossop the meeting point was arranged at the McDonalds at the M67 we grabbed a brew and then on our way into the yard. By 00:30 that morning shower and in my own bed.

Excellent Ian, thank you very much. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. It’s a good read and some great photo’s as well. If you didn’t get them, please use the links to go to the other parts of the story. Just to let you know I Have another of Ian’s stories ready an waiting to show itself on the blog, so keep checking back, it’ll be here soon.

Part 1 – Click HERE.
Part 2 – Click HERE.

New Truckblog Stickers On The Move!!

Posted on April 4, 2012 by admin

As some of you may well be aware, a few months back I asked you all who was interested in having a new Truckblog sticker and surprise surprise some of you were keen on a freebie…..tough time’s I know! Anyway, some how or another I have just 3 of the original 50 left and I have no idea where they have all gone, really I haven’t! What better way to show them off in all their glory (the stickers that is) than put a few, that I do know the where abouts of, up here on the blog as Truckblog on the move. I even have had a few photos sent through of the new sticker but I can’t find them, what a bummer!! Anyway lets get started and who best to get the ball rolling than top blog contributor Steve Marsh Express. This is the sticker in place on the little euro busting MAN TGL, along with the older long version blog sticker, if you look carefully that is!;

TB on the move in Norrkoping Docks, Sweden.

TB on the move in Innsbruck, Austria.

TB on the move in Maiori Salerno, Italy (a bit fuzzy driver!).

Next up we have Andy Blunsden. An owner driver from Bristol, known to many of you as Carrot (I think!). Andy has stuck one on the back of his trailer that he hauls all over Europe and also to the Middle East, although I don’t think the sticker has made it to the desert yet! Hopefully Andy will get some inspiration from Marshy’s efforts and send a pic or 2 of the sticker on the move, perhaps even in the dustier parts of the world!

This is Andy’s DAF and trailer.

Last up on this sticker update is Ceva Logistics Autralia’s top car transporting subbie, Julian Baker. This is probably the furthest away sticker that I know of. Julian is based near Melbourne in Oz and he and his little UD mini artic travel all over Oz carrying cars. Great pics;

Another terrrible sunset in Oz!….really makes the colours in the sticker stand out, very artistic!

In the next month or so I will be ordering some more stickers, so if you want to join the club, I will let you know when they are here and you can buy one for yourself, on the premise that you send a photo of the sticker some where on the move! Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk If your sticker pics haven’t made it to this update, they may well make the next…..

Miss Lowra’s Law 4 Lorries – Falsifying Tachograph Records

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

Something informative for you to browse through during this week. Keep coming back if you want to read a bit more, as I know some of you weren’t impressed with the lack of photo’s in this feature, but all I can say is tough. This stuff will help you out, so it’s up to you. The help comes in the form of transport law solicitor Laura Hadzik (twitter: @LittleMissLowra), from Manchester solicitors JMW. Laura specialises solely in road transport law and regulation, good news for you lot!

11 HGV Drivers Lose Their Vocational Driving Entitlements
For Falsifying Tachograph Records

Scottish Traffic Commissioner, Joan Aitken, has revoked the vocational driving entitlements of 11 HGV drivers who worked for Boyle Transport Limited (“the Company”), one of Northern Ireland’s largest haulage companies, for falsifying tachograph records. One driver has been disqualified from holding, or obtaining, a vocational driving entitlement indefinitely and the others for between 18 months and 3 years. This follows Operation Cadillac, one of the largest ever joint investigations by Cumbria’s Road Policing Unit and VOSA, which began in October 2008 when 8 of the Company’s vehicles were stopped in Cumbria on a journey from Glasgow. 5 of the vehicles were seized and found to have modified wiring systems and further investigations revealed that each had had their tachograph equipment interfered with. This led to the seizure of a further 7 of the Company’s vehicles and a search warrant being executed on the Company’s offices in Newry. Each digital tachograph owned by the Company had been interfered with and the Company’s drivers had been driving for up to 22 hours per day (up to 12 hours longer than the law permits) and failing to take the minimum required breaks and rest periods.

On 18 February 2011:

Patrick James Boyle, 65, and his son, Mark Anthony Boyle, 36, directors of the Company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create false tachograph records, admitting that they manipulated and encouraged 15 of the Company’s drivers to falsify their tachograph records. They were sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to 2 years’ and 18 months’ imprisonment, respectively, and both were disqualified from acting as a company director, which includes having any management position within a company, for 5 years;
15 of the Company’s drivers received suspended custodial sentences and orders to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to creating false tachograph records. During sentencing, the Court made it clear that, had it not been for the drivers’ assistance of the prosecution, the starting point for their sentences would have been 12 months in custody.

The legislation imposes maximum permitted driving periods and minimum break and rest requirements to protect road safety and provide a level playing field for operators. False tachograph records (which, at the lesser end of the scale, prevent enforcement authorities from establishing whether or not the particular driver has complied with the driver’s hours and tachograph rules, and, at their most serious, will have been created with the express intention of hiding breaches of the driver’s hours and tachograph rules), are therefore viewed by VOSA, the Police and the Traffic Commissioners as extremely serious! Drivers who falsify their tachograph records will be prosecuted and called before the Traffic Commissioner for regulatory action to be taken against their vocational driving entitlement. Operators whose drivers flout the rules, or who encourage their drivers to falsify their tachograph records, will also face prosecution and regulatory action being taken against their Operator’s Licence by the Traffic Commissioner.

For passionate and pragmatic assistance, advice and representation in relation to false tachograph records or any other aspect of road transport law, contact Laura Hadzik, a Solicitor specialising in road transport law at JMW Solicitors LLP, on 0161 828 1849 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

A Fond Farewell to H.C. Wilson Transport

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

I’m back! I know I haven’t been on here much in the last week but that is mainly due to the news that it has been my last week at H.C. Wilson Transport. I have been offered a new job and a new challenge, a little closer to home. It will soon become clear who I will be working for from tomorrow. Until then i just wanted to say a huge thank you to all at Wilson’s and especially to GW and SW for everything they have done for me in the last 4 years I have been there. I just wanted to leave a small photographic tribute to a professional company that clearly have the ability to change with the times and keep the wheel of international abnormal transport turning.

Yesterday (Saturday) was my last morning. We had a busy week last week and I had a trainee to look after, so as I was working the Saturday, it made sense to save the desk clearing exercise for the weekend rather than try and do it on a busy Friday afternoon. I had one last wander round the yard and took some pics as my fond farewell (careful i’m getting a dry throat!). I’m not going to say to much more, but I will say one more last big Thank You to all at Wilsons. I’m sure we’ll meet again some sunny day………

You have to agree the big red Scania’s are quite photogenic. I have avoided putting to much Wilson stuff on the blog as it would be very easy to flood the blog with stuff about the company I am working for. From now on I can freely put on here what I like without worrying about doing to much Wilson! In fact my lovely wife has suggested that we do a “Wilson Wednesday”, so for any of you Wilson drivers or spotters, if you want to text me or email me your weekly Wilson photos, we can do a regular “Wilson Wednesday” feature. My email is; ben@truckblog.co.uk

As a final farewell, as one last request and as an ode to the happyiest, constantly cheery, always tanned, cake loving, driver you’d be lucky enough to meet, Mr Geoff Tarbun, I’ll end with his DAF, WIL 2219.

Maiden Trip to Sydney

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

Remember our Ozzie reporter Julian Baker, based in Seymour, Victoria (down near Melbourne). Julian has now got his new UD mini artic on the road. It has taken a few weeks of converting a rigid chassis into a tractor unit and adding all the bits and bobs before finally getting the new motor on the road.

The first trip for the little beaut was a steady trip loaded up with a full load of 6 vehicles.

Load Point: Melbourne, Victoria, Oz.
Delivery Point: Sydney, New South Wales, Oz.
Distance: 870ish Kilometres

View Larger Map

What more is there to do, but hit the road Jack! So off Julian went. Heading towards the home of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge Sydney is quite an impressive 1st destination in my book. In a new truck you want to get the first trip under your belt, so after 500km where better to stop than the The Dog on The Tuckerbox near Gundagai. Being a famous place for travellers to stop as its a statue tribute to all Pioneers, Julian could resist stopping on his way past. I dare say the food is pretty good too!

By all accounts it sounds the little UD has been well specced as it coped with the trip to Sydney with no problems. I asked Julian what he did after tipping in Sydney;

“I actually spent a week working locally in Sydney Ben. The ships carrying the cars no longer come in into Sydney Harbour, that stopped about 10 years ago. Instead they Dock at Port Kembla at Wollongong. Ceva Logistics (who Julian pulls for) has its own yard integrated into the Port Kembla wharf complex and we do direct deliveries from there of Mazda’s and Subaru’s, as well as general wharf cartage from the wharf itself to distributors of other product i.e. BMW’s. So I spent a week in Chateau UD and did local deliveries into Sydney from Wollongong.There is a nasty climb out of Wollongong, Mt Ousley (click HERE for a rough Map “B” is the climb, it’s worth looking on Street View to see just how steep it is!). It certainly tests any truck, let alone my little banger with 6 cars on. One load was BMW’s: an X5, X6, two X3s and two X1s. I would have been right up on my max GCM, back into second gear, but the heavier drive line in the little UD handled it no worries ) Headed back to Seymour on the Friday after a profitable and enjoyable week mate!!:-))”

Lets just hope the Little Banger as Julian calls it, has started as it means to carry on. Hard working, reliable and earning money!! Also can you beat this photo?? The new tractor unit parked and posing underneath Sydney Harbour bridge. As you can see the trailer has been dropped off, i’m guessing it’s not the kind of place you want to be taking a trailer of any size, come to think of it you might not be allowed to take your trailer in.

Do you want to share a maiden voyage in your new truck?? Email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk - See if you can get your new beast in an impressive location and send me a photo.

Out & About with Leicester

Posted on March 25, 2012 by admin

If you go down to the woods today……actually if you had gone between Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire and Corby, Northamptonshire last Sunday you would have been in for a VERY big surprise! In the form of a Leicester Heavy Haulage 8×4 680hp MAN TGX, carrying a 20ML x 6MW x 6.2MH and weighing in at 29,000 kg. For those of you outside the UK, our maximum dimensions for a vehicle are 5M wide and 5M high. So in order to move such a large piece of cargo we have to apply for a special route from the Government that should take you from start to finish missing as many low or narrow obstacles, but this isn’t always the case as you will find out reading this. There are also plenty of wires across our roads, low trees and of course the UK’s love of signposts and street furniture means that along with Police and private escorts they are a convoy of other vehicles on the job, including telephone company vans, electricity vans and council vans to name but a few and also plenty of folk on foot taking photos and hoping their house’s won’t get hit!

For the rest of the story I will hand you over to Paul Rodwell from Leicester Heavy Haulage;

There were a lot of issues with the route due to the sheer size of the piece. It took us 5 months to find a route as the 2 that we were supplied with by the Police (the ones going to be used and cancelled a couple of days before) were either going to hit a bridge or electrocute the driver. I had to drive the route with a tree surgeon as we needed a large amount of branches to be cut along the journey.

The journey started at 6.30am on Sunday with the piece loaded onto one of our wafer bed Nooteboom Low Loaders with the extra beam section slotted in to accommodate the length of the load (17m along the bottom / 20m including the cone). The main part of the route followed the A17, A52 and A15 until Bourne and then veered off cross country to a place called Carlby. In Carlby we had to pay a farm machinery dealer to use their courtyard on Sunday to lift the Silo from the Low Loader onto the back of a 5 Axle 850mm deck height, steerable, Nooteboom semi low loader for the second leg of the journey.

This is due to the original Low Loader being too long to negotiate a very tight left turn in the village of Great Casterton, near Stamford. Once we had made this turn the load then had to cross over the A1 and travel towards Rutland Water. The route then ran through the countryside alongside Rutland Water via North Luffenham and Edith Weston through to the A47 where we turned East and then South onto the A43. Due to the load now being 7.03m high on the Semi Low Loader we then had to leave the A43 and travel through a very narrow village called Bulwick in Northamptonshire.

We had to arrange a leaflet drop in this village and speak to locals to ask them to keep the road clear of cars as at some points along the main street we were only inches away from the houses on either side.

We then got back on the A43 and arrived at site at 8.30pm that night. The whole thing was escorted by ourselves, Lincolnshire Police, BT Openreach and Western Power. We had to have over 100 electrical lines either isolated (turned off) or lifted to allow us to get through. The Silo is now installed and is to be used to hold 250 tonnes of grain for the manufacture of animal feed.

The whole thing was such a big deal for everyone and it involved so many people in one way or another that it even made the local BBC News. Click the link HERE to see the news clip.

Have you got a big / interesting / odd / unique load that you or your company have carried?? Send photos and details to me at; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Part 2: Manchester to Manchester Via Rhodes, Greece

Posted on March 22, 2012 by admin

Here we go again, time for Part 2 of Ian Harper’s trip to Rhodes in Greece. In PART 1 we got to day 4, sitting on the Minoan Lines ferry in Italy waiting to set sail for Patras, Greece and onwards toward his final destination, the Greek Island of Rhodes. Hop into the little Renault and enjoy part 2 of 3;

Day 5
Quite an uneventful crossing. The food is not the best and some of you may be asking why I didn’t get the Superfast ferry instead, well it doesn’t sail on a Monday that’s why. We dock in the new port at Patras just up the road from the old one. I had time to kill as there wasn’t a ferry that day so there was no rush to drive to Pireaus, so I went in the terminal used the free wifi and then got on my way.The immigrants were out in force looking at new ways to get in and on to vehicles for their free taxi to pastures new and benefits a plenty! They are still building the motorway from Patras to connect with Athens and if anyone has driven in Greece they know that even a single carriageway has 2 lanes on it as you drive on the hard shoulder. I pull into gate E1 at Pireaus docks as it is the gate I need and is the easiest to get in too. My ferry is in but it’s not sailing for another 20 hrs so round to gate E3 weigh off and park up where I can. A quick walk to the cafe, kebab n chips, a couple of bottles of beer to take away and into the cab as its blowing a gale and starting to snow. From where I’m parked I watch the unorganised mayhem of the Crete boats loading then slipping away into the darkness of the night.

Day 6
Why is it when you don’t have to get up that you can’t lie in or in my case wake up early and can’t get back to sleep? I have a wander about take some pics of old Volvos, Scania’s and anything else that was worth taking.

My phone rings it’s our other driver Paul he’s in a sprinter van and catching me up as we are both heading for the same Island. Paul had another 6 removals on, all small deliveries for the regulars we deal with. As you do, first thing is a brew then book in as we were both booked in on the same number. Tickets acquired we joined the mayhem of loading. If this was the UK health and safety would have a field day, how no one gets run over is amazing.

Cabins on our own, showered, then some food. Blue Star Ferries are part of the same company that own Superfast but the food on these ferries are run by Goodies which is a fast food outlet in Greece. Saying that the food is cooked warm and plenty of it. We arrive late but considering that the boat had 3 other stops and struggled getting on the docks with the wind they had done well.

Ok we better do some work so the truck was being emptied first then parked up until Sunday when we leave, as the collections were in tight spots etc not very accessible even for a 7.5 ton truck. A phone call and an hour later we are outside the new home, which wasn’t (as usual) finished. The Greeks don’t seem to comprehend time and completion dates.

Any way we could still unload and with extra hands we were done in 2 hrs then a brew and some sarni’s we said our good buys and onto the next job. Luckily all the drops were pretty local to where we were based at Lindos 3. We’re in Lindos itself and if anyone has holidayed there, knows how narrow the streets are so up to the amphitheatre, and take it from there. One drop was in the florists opposite the amphitheatre and another was picked up in a car the last was to a bar on the top road things were going great. 2 more drops in Lardos up the road and the last was where we park the truck at blue line villas. 9pm and we were both empty, shower and bed.

Day 7
It snowed throughout the night and the was still a smattering of flakes on the floor the sun warmed up and it had gone. First job a collection for the truck some people moving back to Whitehaven, it was even tight for the van to get in. 2 hrs and 1 very full 4.3 metre sprinter van later and it’s back to the truck to tranship. Thats the big one out of the way back to Rhodes town, 8 small boxes. Then Falaraki 18 boxes and Krematsi for another 24 boxes we got back to the truck it was cold dark and blowing a gale so shower Chinese couple of beers and bed.

Day 8
As we had done so well with all the collections and deliveries all we had to do was tranship 2 of the collections on to the truck and that was that done. So nipped round to one of our regulars for a couple of hrs for a brew. Graham the manager of the villas came down and said how do you fancy a night out with us, we said yes please so we all went to Lardos meal and a few jars.

Day 9
No rush today so up give the truck and van a wash check them both over then say our goodbyes and a hour drive back to Rhodes town to catch the ferry that night. Nowhere is open at the moment so we had a wander around and Paul has an interest in the last wars so a visit to the war memorial and he takes pictures of the headstones. You may think this a little morbid but Paul is helping the Commonwealth War Graves Comission in a program of logging who is buried where. It helps relatives see and find out where they are laid to rest in peace. It took us an hour or so to do the job and if this helps 1 person out then whats a couple of hours in our lives? Back to the port, kettle on, tickets collected, wait to get on the ferry. Paul was only going as far as Kos as his main collection was on the Island.

Mini Artic Weights from MAN

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

For ages I have been harping on about mini artics, or mini sattelzug for our continental friends, and in particular I have been trying to find out what the deal is with the weights of these little trucks. If a little rigid is plated as a 12 tonner then what is its gross weight when its converted into a mini artic?? To me it would seem pretty pointless if 12 ton was the gross train weight of a mini artic, although I know it can be if required. It makes more sense if a mini artic has a higher GTW and finally I think I have found the proof to back this up. I managed to get hold of a 30+ year long servant of MAN Trucks UK by the name of Keith Mulhall. Mr Mulhall emailed me a copy of the brochure “MAN Leichte Sattelzugmaschinen” as you may be able to tell its in German! But it does list the Gross Train weights for the various models in the TGL range.

This isn’t easy to list on hear but for all of you who are still awake, this is what the brochure states;

MAN TGL 8.XXX BLS – Gross Train Weight = 18,750 kg
MAN TGL 12.180 BLS – Gross Train Weight = 21,000 kg
MAN TGL 12.220 BLS – Gross Train Weight = 21,000 kg
MAN TGL 12.250 BLS – Gross Train Weight = 24,000 kg

This is the simple summary of the whole thing, but obviously it all depends on the rest of the drive train. There are various axle rartio’s and gearboxes to choose from to achieve your desired weight and I dare say that dependant on your country will depend how many axles you need in total to achieve said weight. I’m guessing that what ever make of truck, the train weights must be similar if not the same.

Got anything to add? Email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment below, i’m off to read “How to Watch Paint Dry” by Major Lee Board!!! I just wanted to share it with you as i’ve gone on about it so much and no one could give the answer. Now you know and just think, I don’t have to tell you again……….But I might do more on the Duvenbeck if I can get a response from them.

WANTED: Aston Clinton Haulage

Posted on March 18, 2012 by admin

Are you an ex ACH / Aston Clinton Haulage employee?? Do you have a collection of ACH photos?? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, then please email me at; ben@truckblog.co.uk or if your a Facebook addict, go to the ACH FB page, click HERE.

I’m trying to get together as many ACH photos as I can, so if you have any at all they are highly likely to make it to the blog. I’m chasing a certain Mr Fowler but he is quite elusive!! See what you can dig out, Hopefull Neil Jarrold of www.euro-wheels won’t be the only contributor!

Which Would You Prefer??

Posted on March 18, 2012 by admin

I think I know the answer, but I had to find some good reason for putting these great pics on the blog. Both trucks are currently for sale with Moody International, so get onto his new and very professional looking website by clicking HERE. If your interested please contact Mick, although I think the 143 is one truck he will be a touch reluctant to say good bye too. 1230hp of Scania V8 power, if I could i’d love to have them both!! The 143 is a true classic and is already becoming a sort after collectors item, which is putting the prices up and up. As for the year old R730, a modern master piece, with what is arguably the best ride of any of the current factory built trucks. Note the V8 620hp Scania Viking in the back ground which unfortunately is now sold!

Part 1: Manchester to Manchester Via Rhodes, Greece

Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

Tonight we have a new guest writer on the blog. Ian Harper has recently driven a 7.5 ton Renault Midlum from Manchester to Ipswich to Rhodes, Greece. Luckily for us he has sent me his diary for the trip. This will be a 3 part story so keep your eyes peeled over the week and try and keep up with Ian on his road trip. These words are all his own I haven’t edited it in anyway as I thought it best to leave it as was. I hope you enjoy the read, over to you Ian;

Day 1
03:45 Get up cold dark wet and miserable even the cat didn’t move, kettle on flask filled brew made and last night’s left over sausages and a tin of beans warmed up in food flask and out the door.
04:15 on my way down the M67 A57 over snake pass through Sheffield and onto the A57 then the A1 the roads are so quiet for a Friday morning even the A14 at Huntingdon isn’t slowing down, into Cambridge services for my sausage and beans brew and an hour’s kip I’m well in front of myself not loading till 12. I’ll be in Ipswich early, ring the customer they are waiting for me that a result into Hadleigh Rd Ind Est, Ipswich find the storage unit and 3 hrs later all their worldly possessions were loaded and ready to move to their new house in Pyloma on the Island of Rhodes. Can I get round to the Eurotunnel without hitting any traffic? Yes apart from the Dartford Bridge I didn’t slow down.
16:15 Not to bad a wait for the train 25 minutes and were loaded on the train waiting for the bus to take me up front why some drivers don’t move up the bus for others to get on baffles me there’s enough seats for all of us!
17:30 off the train and on our way got an hour left on a 9 need a “splash of juice” to get me to Luxembourg so head for Vuerne.

Day 2
03:30 Alarm goes off brew made checks and on my way at a foggy dark 04:00 morning I should make Luxembourg in 4:30 on a Saturday morning, 4 hrs 12 minutes later I’m pulling into Berchem services fuel up and round to the car park for a break and a free brew. The fog lifted and I was on my way the roads were busy but no problems a lot of Dutch cars heading south, off the motorway and through the hills and forests by Pirmaseans and down to Pforzheim and an hrs break taken, how far will I make it? I’ve set the sat nav for the Shell garage on the Germany – Austria border at Vils. I’m 25 minutes short of making Vils so the services at Dietmansreid will do for tonight as I know I can make Ancona in a day’s drive.

Day 3
00:30 Its freezing snowing and the night heaters got the little cab like an oven don’t really feel like moving, away we go into Austria some little snow flurries but the Austrians are on top of it the gritters and ploughs are out ,through the fern pass which is a lovely drive some excellent scenery in the day time. An hour and a half later I pull into the shell garage just off junction 3 at Innsbruck to fuel up. A free brew and 15 minute break I’m away down the Brenner Pass some little flakes of snow on the windscreen turned into bloody big flakes and for 15 minutes it was an interesting drive, the snow stopped and I was on the Brennero on my own for most of the way not many headlights anywhere.

An hrs break around Trento daylight was poking its head out over the Dolomites and on my way I go another break after Bologna and straight into Ancona get my tickets for tomorrow’s boat and a 26 hr break on the lorry park with free mix of Bulgarian and Greek folk music.
The Minoan ferry was loading as I walk pass and into Ancona town. There were a couple of Pulleyn trucks at the truck park so I had an idea where they would be having a pint, I recognised one of the lads and he clocked me so I went and said hi and was asked if I wanted to join them and grab a pizza later I accepted the invite we watched the 6 Nations Rugby and chewed the fat for a couple of hours.

Day 4
I was awoken with the combination of folk music loud talking and someone very kindly emptying the contents of his nasal passages. I couldn’t be bothered moving as I was warm and snug so I put the night heater on for 15 minutes to warm the cab up then eventually got up. To my surprise it had snowed through the night not a lot but enough to cover the ground. I got dressed and wandered up to the terminal used the facilities and got myself a coffee and a cheese pannini for my breakfast, on my wandering back the 2 Pulleyn lads were going so a quick bye, take care and they were gone, they were loading oranges near Rome so a nice drive over the tops but I didn’t envy them the drive up the A1 to Bologna it’s not the best of roads. I had 4 hrs to kill so I started this blog and had a sit in the sun on the harbour it was warm in the sun and I watched the world and the fishing boats go by, from where I was sat I could see the ferry terminal the Superfast had just come in then 2 hrs later the Minoan came in an hour after that I was on the ferry ,got a cabin to myself and went to watch us leave from the top deck and as usual we were an 1 and a half hrs late.

Lets Play Who’s That Owner Driver….

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

After my recent uneventful trip to Douvres I only saw a few British trucks coming home on a Saturday morning. Two of the trucks were what looked like Owner Driver or small hauliers, most likely O/D’s I think. Both were driving DAF Super Space Cabs of different vintages. Do any of you know who they are? Have you seen them before? Put your answers on a post card or better still leave me a comment or even better than that email ; ben@truckblog.co.uk any help would be much appreciated. I’d like to congratulate both of these dying breed with a truckblog sticker to thank them for keeping the legendary British Owner Drivers reputation alive!!

Cotton Picked DAF

Posted on March 11, 2012 by admin

This very very tidy DAF CF made a visit to H.C. Wilsons yard a couple of weeks back. I wanted to share it with you as it rather caught my eye as being a specialist bit of kit, hand picked for its daily tasks. These daily tasks usually involve deliveries of machinery to small sites and farms, so the 3 steering axles have made the drivers job a whole lot easier than his old single steer vehicle. The truck belongs to Cotton Transport of Derbyshire and the driver was only to happy for me to take a photo of his new steed. The truck is a DAF CF with the big 480hp engine. Fitted with a big crane behind the cab, chassis lockers, and beaver tail and flat top hydraulic rear ramps. Cotton clearly know what they are doing when it comes to getting spec right. All that is left to come is the addition of a new drag trailer, which might even have been delivered by now, other than that keep your eyes peeled, its worth a look.

Astran Big & Small

Posted on March 11, 2012 by admin

Not a great photo I know, but I am hoping that the owner of the real version will email a few more better ones for us all to enjoy. The truck in the fore ground is the latest Tekno release in the Astran’s series. The truck being M509 WCK, the lovely Scania 143 Streamline, that I think i’m right in saying was the one of the last Astran liveried Scania’s. The Tekno model is as true to life as possible and has a matching trailer, that is also a full on replica of Owner Driver Trevor Dodwells original truck.

In the background is the real thing. The 1/1 scale, original M509 WCK although now on Irish plates. Now used for fun, shows and the occasional Aid run to far flung places. Us less fortunate types can only dream of being such lucky beggars!!

New Truckblog Stickers Now on the Road!

Posted on March 9, 2012 by admin

The new Truckblog stickers are now in circulation, getting themselves around the UK and Europe. If you drive a truck any where in the world you can of course buy one as long as you send in a photo of where you have stuck it with some thing in the background, like Steve Marsh’s effort above. This is the first one “On the Move” that I have received, although Marshy has said it its not the greatest photo. The best thing is that he is showing the sticker off on it’s first trip, which is a good one, this photo was taken in Norrkoping Docks, Sweden. If you’ve got a sticker or you are getting one, click on the Truckblog Stickers heading on the home page of the blog. Then once stuck on your truck, email me your photos; ben@truckblog.co.uk

While on the way up through Germany to Sweden, Steve Marsh woke up one morning to see that his truck had had a baby! This little tilt turned up and looks like a mini-me version of Steve’s MAN TGL. I’m not to up on my vans but I think this could be a Renault Master perhaps?? Any way hopefully there will be more Truckblog stickers on the move to come!

Miss Lowra’s Law 4 Lorries

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin

And now for some thing a slightly different…I thought it was time that we had some thing a little more serious on the blog, to try and help you UK drivers and operators keep on top of our ever changing and increasingly complicated laws and regulations. The help comes in the form of transport law solicitor Laura Hadzik (twitter: @LittleMissLowra), from Manchester solicitors JMW. Laura specialises solely in road transport law and regulation, good news for you lot! The idea is that Laura will try to tell you some thing that may help or advise you, the only downfall being there won’t be any pretty pictures for you to look at, just pure fact! I’ll leave you in her capable hands……

Automatic Termination of Operator’s Licences

Decisions of the Traffic Commissioners and First-Tier Tribunal (Transport) (“the Tribunal”) continue to confirm that non-payment or late payment of Operator’s Licence renewal fees will result in the automatic termination of your Operator’s Licence unless truly exceptional circumstances exist.

The relevant legislation (namely Section 45(4) of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 (“the Act”)) is clear – if payment of the renewal fee is not received by the prescribed date, the Operator’s Licence will automatically terminate at that time. Operators will normally receive a letter from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner at Leeds (“OTC”), reminding them that their Operator’s Licence renewal fees are due to be paid by a prescribed date; however, decisions of the Traffic Commissioners and the Tribunal consistently make it clear that there is no provision in the legislation for such reminders to be sent – they are simply sent as a matter of courtesy.

The obligation to ensure that the relevant fees are paid by the prescribed date is placed fairly and squarely on the operator and, if they are not paid, the Operator’s Licence will automatically terminate. Operators seeking to argue that their late (or non) payment of the renewal fee is because they did not receive a reminder letter from the OTC should therefore expect no sympathy from either the Traffic Commissioners or the Tribunal; your Operator’s Licence will automatically terminate and you will have no authority to operate vehicles until such time as you have applied for, and obtained, at least an interim grant of a new Operator’s Licence. As your Operator’s Licence will have terminated automatically, as opposed to having been revoked by the Traffic Commissioner, there is no reason to suppose that the new Operator’s Licence will not be granted; however, any period of in – operation could be long enough to put some operators out of business!

It is open to the Traffic Commissioners and the Tribunal to exercise their discretion to disregard the automatic termination of an Operator’s Licence if exceptional circumstances exist, which justify doing so. In deciding what is exceptional in this context, the Traffic Commissioners’ and Tribunal’s approach has been to apply the main dictionary definition of the word exceptional, i.e. unusual – the question to be asked is therefore whether the circumstances put forward by the operator by way of explanation for the late (or non) payment merit the description exceptional in the sense of unusual.

The following explanations recently put forward by operators have not been found to constitute exceptional circumstances:

In T W Walton & C Walton t/a TW & C Walton Builders, the operator was on holiday when the OTC forwarded the reminder letter to them. They responded immediately upon their return (albeit after the prescribed date) stating that they wished to continue operating, that non-payment of the renewal fee was due to a genuine oversight on their part and that they had operated vehicles for 30 years without any previous issues. The Traffic Commissioner and the Tribunal found that there were no exceptional circumstances in this case, pointing out that, even in the absence of a reminder letter from the OTC (which, in any event, were simply a matter of courtesy), the Operator’s Licence discs displayed the expiry date and it was the responsibility of the operator to ensure that payment of the renewal fee was made by the prescribed time; it would therefore be sensible for operators to make a note of this date. The Operator’s Licence therefore terminated automatically and the operator was required to apply for a new Operator’s Licence.
In Christopher James Bishop Green t/a Jamie Green Trucking, the operator was working abroad when the OTC forwarded the reminder letter to him. He responded immediately upon his return (albeit after the prescribed date) stating that his failure to receive the reminder letter (as he was abroad) had caused the non-payment of the renewal fee. The Traffic Commissioner and the Tribunal found that there were no exceptional circumstances in this case, concluding that, as the primary obligation to make payment of the renewal fee by the prescribed date rests on the operator, he either knew or ought to have known (as the Operator’s Licence expiry date appears on the Operator’s Licence discs and should have therefore been seen during the daily walk round checks) that he would be abroad when the renewal fee fell due; it was therefore up to the operator to make arrangements for the renewal fee to be paid while he was abroad. The Operator’s Licence therefore terminated automatically and the operator was required to apply for a new Operator’s Licence.
In Michael Welsh Limited, the operator failed to notify the OTC of its change of correspondence address as a result of mismanagement and an oversight on its part. The operator did not therefore receive the reminder letter from the OTC and did not make payment of the renewal fee. The Traffic Commissioner and the Tribunal found that there were no exceptional circumstances in this case, pointing out that the onus is on the operator to ensure that the Traffic Commissioner is informed of the up to date position in relation to the correspondence address. The Operator’s Licence therefore terminated automatically and the operator was required to apply for a new Operator’s Licence.

Once the Traffic Commissioner or Tribunal is satisfied that exceptional circumstances do exist, they must consider whether those exceptional circumstances have caused or contributed to the late (or non) payment of the renewal fee. The final decision for the Traffic Commissioner or Tribunal is whether or not to exercise their discretion to disregard the automatic termination of the Operator’s Licence. Factors which will be taken into account include the operator’s past payment history; and the extent to which the operator has failed to comply with the primary responsibility to pay the renewal fee on time. Factors which will not be taken into account include the fact that the operation of vehicles on a daily basis is essential to the operator’s business.

In light of the above, it is essential that you make a note of your Operator’s Licence expiry date and ensure that the OTC is informed of any changes to your correspondence address; the reality is that, whilst there is no requirement for the OTC to send reminder letters, in many cases payment is, in practice, triggered by receipt of the reminder letter!

For passionate and pragmatic advice in relation to any aspect of operator licensing, contact Laura Hadzik, a solicitor at JMW Solicitors LLP specialising solely in road transport law, on 0161 828 1849 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

Exit Douvres….

Posted on March 4, 2012 by admin

….It seems all the Brits finally have! Having friends in high places can be handy some times. A last minute call and I was off to Dover and Calais on Saturday morning (yesterday). The purpose of the trip?? not sure really just a bit of a boys day out and also a free P&O Ferries ticket helped. Saturday mornings aren’t great for truck spotting on either side of the channel, unless you are a lover Eastern European trucks, not a lot else really. A few Greeks (one above), a Portuguese version of Steve Marsh, a Mallorcan Volvo and some very disheveled Seafrance boats! Also not to mention that All 4 Trucks must have had half the fleet of an ex Hungarian State owned company, who now run yellow and blue trucks instead of green and yellow! There must have been 100 of them if not more.

Once back in Dover there were only a handful (and no more) of British trucks arriving back on the lunchtime boats. So few in fact I will put them all on here. The best part of the spotting was the new exit lane from the Port for those heading for the M20. It comes out from the Port towards the round about, but just before it bears left round the back of the BP garage and under Jubilee Way, then out to join the road towards the M20 through Dover. The main idea being that it means all traffic exiting the port can keep moving and not have to get caught waiting at the roundabout. But it means that you can stand next to the new concrete wall next to the slip road and get a great view as the trucks are accelerating out of the Port. If you know the area you can probably picture what i’m talking about. Pity they haven’t built a windbreak from the channel wind though!!

First up is this red DAF, pulling a plain blue curtainsider. Looks quite like an owner driver to me, do you know who’s it is?? Email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment below. It’s relatively new as it’s got a Mont Blanc Euro 5 sticker in the windscreen.

Next is Sims Worldwide Logistics from Manchester. A fair trek home on a Saturday afternoon, but i’m sure the Merc will make it a comfortable ride for the driver.

A Brinor subbie, with a trailer that should be next of the refurb list! More curtain patches than a curtain shop, very loose back doors and wheels with more rust than bag of rusty nails! Anyone know about the MAN and the subbie??

This DAF looks like another well travelled owner driver. But could be a tricky one to work out; RHD, Dutch plates and UK – Swiss written on the trailer. Wheel trims, trailer toolbox, spare wheel carrier and bumper mudflap, well loved by the looks of it. Actually it has that classic long distance owner driver feel……in my opinion any way!

A very corporate but smart Interdean silver Mercedes drawbar. A light blue Scania horsebox? Yep your right, Parkers it is. Not one of the customised ones, but none the less, i’m sure it works just as hard. Note the additional lashing rings under the front bumper. Are these because its a horsebox or because the front grill has spotlights fitted?? Leave your thoughts below.

Saw a couple of PTM International trucks throughout the day, but I only snapped this one. Does any one else get the feeling that DAF’s are the UK international hauliers truck of choice???

Finally under the rear outdoor deck on the Pride of Britain, was this well know Scottish haulier, Scotlee. The big ScotsMAN sitting quietly in front of the ever humming fridge unit.

So that was my spotting day out. Thoroughly enjoyable and I have found some good spots to get some snaps, but I can’t help but feel that i’m at least 20 years to late!!

Take The Long Way Home

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin

In response to the last blog on Marshy doing along trip in a short space of time, the very next day I got an email from Trucker Bob of Louisiana, USA. The land of long straight endless roads, ideal for long distances in short spaces of time. Trucker Bob hails from Winsboro, Louisiana and emailed to tell me of a regular job he had for his trucks a few years ago. For those of you who dont know your American states, I will be using the wonderful Google Maps link to show you the rough route across the US.

Trucker Bob used to run a few Freightliner trucks under the name of BandS Transport. He used to have a regular long distance 7 day run that he used to complete. Bob is proud to say after 9 years of doing the run, he had no log book problems with the law. Bob said this about the run;

“We were very lucky to have a super account which was a dedicated run from Winnsboro, Louisiana to Boise, Idaho then back to New Orleans and home to Winnsboro, Louisiana. Around 4300 miles round trip. We had to make the turn around in 7 days, averaging 625 miles a day or 1000 Km, as a solo driver. Legalish is a
great term you used …. In the event of bad weather or special conditions we could get extra time. In the US most states allow trucks to run 70 mph and out west we can run 75 mph (120 km per hour) and I am sure my driver pushed that. We hauled rolled paper up and onions back. Sometime in the winter up north we would put a propane bottle
and a burner for heat then down south open up the vents to cool the
onions (and dry them if the trailer sweated).”

Now in my book that sure is good enough for the short long trip pile! I think even Marshy would struggle to keep up with that. Have a look at the map below to see where Trucker Bob and his Freightliners used to haul ass!!