How often does one website highly recommend another website that could be consider direct competition??….. Not very often is the answer your looking for. There seems to be a huge hump for many interwebbers to get over, that being sharing stuff! Even down to photo’s on the World Wide WWW Web, we all know people who get the hump when their photo’s are used by some one else. I understand this gripe and it can be annoying, but if we are happy to put our photo’s on the net for millions to see what more do we expect?! Surely its a kind of honour if others want to copy and use own our pics/vids?? Any way I digress. I came across Mr Vernon’s website this week after a recommendation from some one, but I can’t for the life of me remember who! Lorry-driver.com is basically all about Luke Vernon’s daily trials and tribulations of being an international lorry driver for Irish firm Virginia Transport, piloting his Scania across Europe from Norway to Spain and further.

What really kept my interest was Luke’s Youtube Channel. When I was a driving all of modern technologies were just coming to fruition and I did make a couple of videos while driving but nothing like Luke’s. If you like simple long distance diaries or just driving, his videos are for you. I watched his most recent one which was a trip to Denmark (Bertie Goes Home).There are 3 years worth to trawl through, which is surely enough to keep you entertained on your nights out. The video below is the first one Luke put on Youtube and I have watched it myself. I love it because in my too short driving career I never got to drive across the Alps, so watching this gives me a Darn good idea on what i’ve missed out on. I’ll be posting various vids from Luke’s archives on here and hopefully from now-ish onwards i’ll post up ALL new one’s. Sit back, relax and enjoy Luke’s diaries.

Over the Alps in 8 minutes. From Torino to near Lyon via Frejus tunnel in time lapse.

Not my title, but it is a good one! In these times of water shortages across the Southern part of the country, the North West have their own crack team, to help them through tough teams when water is in emergency supply. More from cracked pipes and problems rather than a shortage from Mother Nature. I was contacted to see if I wanted to put a piece on the blog to tell all about The Water on Wheels team and I felt it made a good little story so here it is;

Homeowners across the North West might not realise it, but over the past year they could have been among the 250,000 people who’ve been ‘rescued’ by an unlikely team of heroes – six ‘water truckers’. This crack team of H20 heroes operates United Utilities’ ‘Water on Wheels’ service – a fleet of bespoke Volvo 30,000ltr super tankers that travel to affected areas and pump water directly into the mains to ensure that properties continue to receive an ‘on tap’ service while repairs are carried out. Last year alone the water truckers, who service the entire region – from Crewe to Carlisle, helped keep over a quarter of a million people in full flow by pumping 24,770,000 litres of water into the system. The service has been so successful that United Utilities is to invest over £1million in six new 30,000ltr tankers for the fleet, a move that will enable the water truckers to mobilise almost half a million litres of water when needed.

For Emergency Plant Resource Co-ordinator John Doyle and his team of six super operatives, the investment is welcome news. He said: “The new kit means we are better equipped than ever before to provide help where it’s needed. Just recently our team kept five tankers pumping into the network for over 48 hours following a burst aqueduct in Rivington. Around 5,000 local people were kept on tap throughout and were unaware of any issue.

“These six guys travel the length and breadth of the North West with the Water on Wheels trucks, making sure that communities, hospitals, schools and businesses remain in full flow, even if their mains supply is undergoing repair work. We’re a bit like the emergency service nobody knows about.”

If thats not enough, then you can always have a little look at the video. I have to say at the time of writing this I haven’t watched it, but I will get round to it sooner or later!!

Where to start?? Well it started as a shambles really. I, in my wisdom decided to go round Peterborough so I could enter from the North side, as I have spent the last 15 years arriving from the South. My advice? stick to what you know. The main car park fields were waterlogged so we were all being stuffed into every available gap. Then we were all directed to the gate directly across the swamp like car park. Having waded across with a number families and countless others loosing wellies and shoes to the mud, we got within 100 yards of the gate only to be told we had to walk back round to the other gate passed where we had just come from. Approx 100 others did this exercise round to Gate 5 but then no one else joined the queue….I think we were had. We then queued on the main road into the Showground for 40 minutes then we were finally allowed to enter. Of course for this privilege of no one knowing what was going on I was charged £17 entry, what do you get for your £17 entry? a free cuppa? a free programme?? A voucher for a burger??? Nothing. I think it’s high time that Live Promotions re thought their pricing. £17 is more expensive than my local world class Zoo!

Enough moaning, its the same every year. Next up and one of my main targets was the New Mercedes Actros. I was not alone, by 0915hrs all doors on the available Mercs were open and rapidly filling with people and potential buyers, young and old! I lined up and got myself in the Gigaspace. Gorgeous. For those of you who are sceptical of the new Big German having seen it in the press then let me assure you that in the flesh you’ll be impressed. Now that Mercedes are trying to use more car components in the trucks, the interior is looking very plush and is very similar to the car range. I learnt this thanks to the very helpful Nigel in the cab; The Bigspace cab is the same space as the current Megaspace but the Gigaspace is bigger still than both the Current Mega and the new Big. Crikey i’m all spaced out!! On the outside the big grill is very imposing but very smart. I really look forward to seeing the smarter fleets getting these trucks in their liveries. Firms like Pulleyn, Stobart (we’ve seen these already) and the likes of the Formula 1 Teams I think these smart Mercs will excel in promoting the image of who ever they are pulling for.

As for the rest of the trucks on show it was very difficult to decide what was best. As well as a few new trucks and some old favourites, some of the best trucks on show were the increasing numbers of retro trucks. I know we now have Retro Truck Shows, but the quality of these old girls is pretty amazing and nice to see. A number of F12 and F16 Volvo’s, some glorious Scania’s, 142′s, 143′s and of course a couple of 141′s. As well as a very British and very very tidy Seddon Atkinson that was getting lots of attention. Well done who ever owns it.

The usual displays occupied the arena. Arrivals of soap stars, motorbike displays and of course the ever impressive monster trucks. Good fun although no roll overs this year (a little disappointed!).

Along with all the big boys, there were also a handful of my favourites, some little Tonka Toys. I found Lewis Blakeys stunning DAF LF from Frank Hudsons fleet. Also I came across 2 other Hatcher cabbed DAF LF’s. One from H. Askeys fleet from Sheffield and one from AAA Couriers of Bradford. This driver was looking forward to a trip to the Champions league final in his smart little DAF.

There were obvioulsy many others around the Showground. A few more stunning big Scania’s, including the James Bond 007 themed R730 that belongs to scrap metal firm J Davidson. Loving the bullet holes and surely the best number plate at the show! Davidson’s R730 traing vehicle was also very clean and attracted plenty of photographers!!

Possibly the smartest tanker you’ll ever see. The driver must have forearms like Popeye, with all the polishing they must have done to get a ladder to look that shiny!! A real credit to the driver and the company and all on an 08 plate.

Other than that it was an ok show. I did miss the lovely Lisa Kelly from Ice Road Truckers. The weather stayed nice on Sunday which made a change. The only thing missing or so I though was the customised fleet of Coles & Sons of Banbury. Unusual not to have any trucks at the show. Well I was wrong. The one truck I missed was this stunning new addition to the Coles fleet. Matching the coolness of the figure painted on the side, Marlon Brando, this Scania oozed class. I’ve long been a fan of painting trucks and parts rather than shiny shiny. So it was a pleasure not to see a piece of stainless steel in sight. I absolutely love it. Coles Custom is as cool as it gets in my book and I was told it’s not even a V8! Brilliant, well done Coles I hoped you got your reward.

This photo belongs to the worlds photo library of trucks that you’ll find on www.euro-wheels.com , the one and only Neil Jarrold doesn’t miss a thing so I have to thank him very much for letting me use his photo of the Super Swede from Oxfordshire. There will be more of my finds at Truckfest on the blog in the near future. For now if you want to see a few more of my photos then click HERE.

This is a must for all you serious collectors, look at it, a real beast of a model! For those of you who don’t know Randolph, they are a real proper Scottish haulier, you know what I mean!!

Search Impex, are pleased to announce the release of a 1:50 scale Scania Topline R620 (8×4) tractor unit with Nooteboom World Adaptor trailer (with Vestas nacelle load), customised in the livery of Scottish operator Randolph Heavy Haulage. The model has been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles and is a certificated, Limited Edition (102 pieces). This is the second Randolph Heavy Haulage model to be produced and follows on from the sell out release of the MAN TGX XXL (8×4) with wind turbine tower section.

Based in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Randolph operates a variety of heavy haulage units, including another five 8×4 tractors, but their Scania Topline was the first “two pedal” 8×4 unit (i.e., truly automatic – with no clutch) to operate in the UK. Amongst other tasks, the Scania unit is used for haulage of heavy wind turbine sections, such as the nacelle (the heavy top section, or head of the wind turbine) included with this model, using wind-farm adaptor trailers supplied by the wind turbine companies for which Randolph undertakes the haulage work. They also carry the tower sections and the wind turbine blades.

The model is about 72cm long which, in real life, would be the equivalent of 36 metres in length! Longer loads are not unknown to Randolph – with some wind turbine bases being around 60m long and 5m wide and the wind turbine blades can be up to a whopping 62 metres long. When moving loads in the region of 145 to 150 tonnes gross (the Scania and nacelle being in this weight category), on-road fuel consumption is a little over three miles per gallon – but this can dip well below one mile per gallon when climbing hills and the going gets tough!

Models, available from Search Impex are priced at £315 each (including UK delivery & VAT). To check details of availability of this, or other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call them on 01332 873555.

Another new limited edition that you’ll all be keen to get your grubby mits on. A nice tidy Volvo from Dyce Carriers fleet, with some rather flashy images on the cab. Have a read of the press release as there’s no point in me trying to re-type it in my own words!!

Customised promotional model vehicle specialists, Search Impex, are pleased to announce the release of a 1:50 scale Volvo FH13 Globetrotter XL (6×2) with 3 axle, extendable trailer, customised in the unique livery of Aberdeen based operator Dyce Carriers Ltd. The model has been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles and is a certificated Limited Edition (205 pieces).

With two depots in Scotland (Aberdeen & Cowdenbeath) and one in England (Poole), Dyce Carriers has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 1973 when, joint founders, David & Jean Moir started the Company with a great deal of ambition and a Morris Minor van. Today’s operation runs a fleet in excess of 50 commercial vehicles (a mix of Volvo, DAF, Mercedes & Iveco units ) and a variety of trailers, including extendables, flats, curtains and stepframes. The business specialises in serving the transport needs of oil and gas service providers as well as local engineering companies and loads can vary from small, urgent consignments, through to groupage, full loads and even helicopters. Operating throughout the UK and with some work in mainland Europe, Dyce Carriers’ trucks will already be a familiar sight to many truck collectors and enthusiasts.

Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £143 each (including UK delivery & VAT). For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call them on 01332 873 555.

The morning after and my phone rings morning can you bring the box down we will see you when you get down so I sets off into Monaco which is as bad and as slow as getting into London city at  8 in the morning. Just over an hour later I’m on the harbour behind the start finish line by the motor homes, this is one busy area all the GP teams trying to set up all at the same time and a lot of them with little sleep as they came straight from Barcelona the night before.

Box off I was trapped in with other trucks so a little wander about, I saw a couple of Procar lads I knew who work for Ferrari and they were shattered but getting on with the job of building the motor homes.

I’m out and away calls made but no backload the may be one near Milan “Ok I’ll head that way then”. Back on the motorway by Ventigmillia the overhead signs are saying 38 degrees and it was luckily the air con was making it more bearable. My phone rings out with a text message “ Go to Curno details to follow “ I had a good idea where I was loading….I was right I was loading in Brembo Brakes, 2 pallets of brakes for Bentley at Crewe. Pallets loaded CMR sorted I’m away up the Brennero not a lot of time left on the day so into the big truck stop at Sadobre by the Italian tolls. Away in the morning over the fernpass , into Germany and there was a huge queue of traffic around the airport at Stuttgart. 2 and a half hours later we move, there had been an accident, a Romanian truck hit a car and flipped it over .

I made it to Luxembourg the queue for fuel was massive so went and parked up for the night and will do it in the morning, shower stock up with coffee and a dvd  then bed early start. Fuelled up and away 6 hrs and I was back in the UK, I knew I wasn’t going to make it to Crewe so started the drive up and got as far as Derby cattle market.  Into Bentley Motors in Crewe security say to me “Oh you should have rang us to say you were coming” on asking why these were some new development ceramic brakes and had to go to the R&D building and they wanted to know when they would be here. 15 minutes later tipped CMR signed delivery notes signed and I was heading back for Manchester and home.

Another good trip with the little Renault Midlum.

Since 20 June 2011, it has been an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle (as well as to drive an uninsured vehicle). The new rules mean that any vehicle in your fleet i.e. those in use and those not in use (even if they are parked off-road at the operating centre) must either be insured or declared to be the subject of a Statutory Off Road Notification (“SORN”).

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (“MIB”) and the DVLA work in partnership to identify uninsured vehicles by comparing DVLA records against those held on the Motor Insurance Database. If it appears that a vehicle has no insurance and is not declared to be the subject of a SORN, the MIB will issue an Insurance Advisory Letter (“IAL”) to the registered keeper, advising them that their vehicle appears to have no insurance and advising them of the steps they must take to avoid a penalty.

If the IAL is ignored and the registered keeper of the vehicle takes no action, they face:

• A fixed penalty of £100 (which will be reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days);
• Prosecution (if the offence continues), where the penalty upon conviction is a potential maximum fine of £1000;
• The vehicle being immobilised, seized or destroyed.

Registered keepers should, however, note that payment of any penalty imposed does not replace the need for the vehicle to be insured or declared to be the subject of a SORN.

What should operators do?

• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed and insured, you do not need to do anything until the tax and insurance expire. You should, however, check that your motor insurance details are recorded correctly on the Motor Insurance Database (www.askmid.com). If your details are incorrect, or not recorded, contact your insurance provider to update these details immediately.
• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed but not insured and is in use, you are already committing an offence – get insurance immediately.
• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed but not insured and is not in use (whether this be for a short period of time for, for example, maintenance or repair, or for a longer period of time whilst, for example, the vehicle is held in reserve), you must either; get insurance immediately OR submit a SORN declaration (together with a refund application in respect of the tax) to the DVLA.

For passionate and pragmatic advice in relation to any aspect of road transport law, contact Laura Hadzik on 0161 828 1849 or 07831 291538 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

…..What made me laugh (on the inside that is!) is that I took the following photo’s at this years Truckfest Peterborough 2012. C&J Hauton are obviously a company that like their Classic Swedes. Both Volvo and Scania have obviously been popular with Hauton’s for a while. Which is your favourite pairing?!! Leave a comment….

This is a Mack B-61 (6 cylinder) – seen here dressed up in the fleet colours of Jeffsan Plant Hire of Agnes Banks, NSW, Australia…..”Misty Blue”, as she is known, is a very popular truck for truck photographers like myself.

Next is of a Mack B-615RS (V8) – this one belongs to a one eyed and very fastidious Mack-man, Fred Goldspring of Rutherford, NSW, Australia. Fred has done a marvellous job in restoring this truck and I am proud to say that I have met him – he has every receipt for the truck from the time the truck was first delivered through to restoration receipts and many more!

Finally an iconic truck in Australia….this is the legendary Mack SuperLiner MkII (depicted by the square headlights) – there’s only one truck even more legendary here than a standard SuperLiner and that is the BiCentennial SuperLiner! There were 16 BiCentennial SuperLiners built in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of Australia – the man who owned Room 500 has a few of them!