SCOOP!! New Russia Built KAMAZ

Posted on September 21, 2011 by admin

This one is straight from Daimler Groups Press release’s, but I thought you’d all want to see it. This brief summary is taken directly from the press release and is not the words of truckblog;

“At the COMTRANS commercial vehicle show in Moscow, Daimler Trucks and the Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz presented another milestone of their partnership: the public unveiling of their first jointly developed truck. The new Kamaz truck is equipped with Daimler Trucks components which Kamaz has modified for the Russian market.
In order to produce the new Kamaz truck, the two partners will work together even more closely in the future. In addition to the axle joint venture concluded in December 2010, Daimler Trucks and Kamaz will closely collaborate on truck cabs in the future. The two companies therefore singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cab production today. Mercedes-Benz will begin delivering cabs to Kamaz in the second half of 2012. Later on, the cabs will be assembled at the Kamaz production plant in Chelny in the Russian republic of Tatarstan and will subsequently be industrially manufactured at the plant. The new Kamaz truck series featuring components from Daimler Trucks which will go into effect in Russia in 2014, meets the Euro V emissions limit. Andreas Renschler, Daimler Board of Management Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, said, “We’re delighted to further expand our cooperation with Kamaz. Russia remains the largest truck market in Europe, with a market volume of 79,000 units over six tons GVW last year and almost 190,000 units forecast for 2020. Together with our partner, we are on the right track to offer state-of-the-art trucks for the Russian market.”
“

SCOOP!! New Shape Volvo Spotted in Oz

Posted on September 21, 2011 by admin

Andy Wilson (of HC Wilson family fame), spotted this new Volvo FH16 700 in Wulkaraka, Queensland, Australia. Still with a little bit of covering up on the cab. To me it firmly look like a Volvo, it cant possibly be any thing else, the disguise just isn’t upto scratch!! Good Spot Andy.

BJS Easter Special

Posted on September 19, 2011 by admin

Just a quick blog. I found these pics when I was on a marathon scanning mission the other week. These pics stood out from the rest as I remember the job well. Back in the day I had a very good relationship with the transport office down at DFDS Purfleet (now DSV), as they were all the original staff from Coggeshall before they moved to Purfleet. So there I was, washing down at home on the Saturday morning of an Easter weekend, thinking ooo a lovely long weekend for a change as I didn’t have any work for the Bank Holiday Easter Monday, nice. Any way late Saturday afternoon I got the phone call; “Are you working Monday? We have a groupage trailer coming in at 00:30 hours on Monday morning, but it has some cable drums on which need to be South Wales by 06:00 Monday morning to avoid a factory shut down, Can you help??” Well as an all you Owner Drivers know you have to take the work when it comes. This unfortunatly meant I had to leave the Sunday evening Easter Party at a mates house early to grab a few hours kip. When I left Braintree, Essex for Purfleet I remember passing a few party goers on their way home. Any way I was in Purfleet for Midnight, the Turkish Groupage trailer turned up at 00:15 and I was loaded and away by 00:30, perfect! Needless to say the little MAN steamed off down the M4 andwe easily made our 06:00 deadline. Good Old Days!!

Brazilian Trucking with Wilson

Posted on September 18, 2011 by admin

….No not my employers, but my new friend Wilson Pra. A few weeks back I received email from a Brazilian email address with loads of attachments. Dodgy. Any way I scanned the email and it was virus free so I decided to open the email and see all the attachments. To my surprise they were photo after photo of trucks from Brazil. Some being Wilsons own and others are from else where. To be honest there are so many and they are all worth looking at, so to do them all justice I have created a new set on Flickr;

Click here to go to the Brazilian Trucking Photo Page.

My friend Wilson keeps sending photo’s so please keep checking the Flickr page to see what else has been added since your last visit. For now I wanted to show you Wilson’s own truck;

The truck is manufactured by Mercedes Benz in Brazil. It is a L1620, with 210hp, built in 2001. It looks to me like a service wagon of some sort, judging by the crane and fleet of other vehicles in the background. The truck hails from Vila Nova, Joinville which is about 520km South West of Sao Paulo. I think Wilson obviously looks after his truck, look how clean it is for a 10 year old truck, with a Crane I might add. Any way thats just a tempter for now hopefully there will be more to come from Brazil. Also there will shortly be a truckblog sticker winging its way to Brazil, the furthest one yet!! Don’t forget to email a photo when its on your truck please Wilson!! My email for any one to send me stuff is ben@truckblog.co.uk

Kersey Freight Friday

Posted on September 16, 2011 by admin

What I hear you say, KERSEY FREIGHT FRIDAY!! Well for this week at least. The regularity of a Friday feature all depends on how often DC updates me with photo’s!! This is the first time one of the Kersey DAF’s has ventured so far South from their base in Hadleigh, Suffolk. Usually most of the Italian trips are undertaken by Kersey’s subbies.

This particular trip required one of Kersey Freights own trucks as the export was a removal job for a high profile customer. Loading in London and delivering to the Swiss town of Lugano. After the tight access delivery point for driver Geraint Richards, it was back on the Motorway for a run down, through the Chiasso border and into Italy. I think Mr Richards may be in trouble as he spent the night next to the delightful Lake Como but didn’t take any photo’s! Any way in the morning the big DAF finished it’s Southerly run to Milano where a full load of fashion was loaded. Next, all that was required was a run back up through Mont Blanc to the picturesque destination of Basildon, Essex. Not a bad weeks work if you can get it. I’m thinking that this will be the first of many trips further South than Paris for the Kersey Freight team. Just remember 2 things; 1) Photo’s for all the Perv’s and 2) White trucks get very dirty crossing the mountains in the winter!!

If you fancy joining the ranks of Kersey Freight, DC and JM are always looking for new subbies to pull their tidy white trailers. They are both are keen to use as many English/East Anglian subbies as possible, so, if you have a truck or 2 why not contact them and see if they require your services.

Contact: David@kerseyfreight.com or James@kerseyfreight.com and if you feel like emailing me with any thing half as exciting, my email address is, ben@truckblog.co.uk

Right after such an excellent piece of publicity i’m off to barter with DC about getting another truckblog sticker on the back of one of the KFL trailers!!

Polish Mini MAN

Posted on September 15, 2011 by admin

I followed this little MAN home the other evening. Heading for Harwich he was. It caught my eye, as most little MAN trucks do (Had you noticed??). It was vey very tidy for its age and when I first came up behind it, I thought it was Italian. It had that Italian look, the body work and back end just looked a bit that way inclined. It only had 9 stud wheels, so it was either a 12 or 15 tonner. I also think it could have been and Owner driver such was the tidyness for a Polish truck. Considering it had a full Roadhaus cab as well it kinda adds up to some thing a little bit more special than the ordinary. I liked it 10 out 10.

New Mercedes Actros – Frankfurt 2011

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

If you weren’t aware, the IAA Show is currently underway in Frankfurt, Germany. Now I knew it was on, but I honestly thought it was a mainly car based show, I didn’t know there was going to be trucks too. Anyway I needn’t have worried about missing out, as the blog is spreading through the ranks, my cousin, the well know name in automotive photography, Mr Tim Andrew, was out in Frankfurt. While on his way to photograph the new Lambo and Porsche, what did he stumble upon, yes that Marmite of new trucks, The new Mercedes Benz Actros.

I think in my previous post about the new Actros I touched on its looks. Now we have had time to digest it, I still don’t think it is any clearer cut. As soon as I mention it anywhere, the instant response’s are, love it, hate it, love it, hate it, not necessarily it that order though!! In these photo’s i’m not that convinced that the silver/grey paint does it much justice, but the truck itself, the same as my opinion on Marmite….. I LOVE IT!! In fact why don’t we continue the whole Marmite theme, I can just picture said truck in black and yellow, it might just bring out the cab shape a bit more than the German grey/silver!!

There were lots of promises and and talk of what the actual interiour was going to have, be made of and look like. If we assume that these photo’s are taken in a production model (most demo trucks eventually get sold to us lot), then I think it’s fair to say it looks pretty damn good. With my basic car knowledge, I think the rumour of using car components for the interiour of the new range, is true. The switch’s, knob’s and dial’s all look like the car one’s, in fact the whole interiour looks like the car. Before it wins the truck of the Year award, we here at Truckblog would like to award it the award for the most Amount of Switches and Buttons on a dash board. I imagine there will be a more down to earth fleet spec type interiour aswell. This cab below must have the largest Gigaspace cab, as it looks to have the single occupancy cab set-up. I’m still hoping that there will be some sort of UK launch, which I can get along too. In the mean time keep your eye’s peeled for the new truck on the road. If you see one in company colours, please send me a picture, ben@truckblog.co.uk as it will be good to see how it looks in standard company livery as opposed to shiny truck show get up.

The final discussion point from these wonderfull photo’s came from GW, my boss. He has a problem with anything with more tahn 3 steps to heaven. I have to say that 5 steps up into the cab does, seem a little excessive. But my defence was, if your on long haul, you wont be getting in and out the cab all the time, GW responded with “Yes, but you still have to get in and out the cab 10 times, when you reach your delivery point”. I’d be interested to hear your views, leave your comments below or send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk If you have a cab like this new Actros do you really care if you have to climb 5 steps?

As you can see below, my old 2004 Actros, also had 5 steps to heaven, as the new one does. That just shows that I didn’t really notice the amount of steps. It wasn’t til I saw the photo again, that I realised the old had the 5 steps too. Case closed?? We’ll see what you have to say.

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 5

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

I didn’t think part 5 would be quite so quick in turning up!! After typing out the quick Part 4 the other evening, I opened my emails the following morning, who had emailed me?? Yep your right, the one and only Dave Manton. I think he was just taking a quick break from being in his loft for the last few weeks looking for photo’s!! This on the road photo was a regular stop on the route to Moscow. This is dieseling your truck up Belarus style.

For a point can you tell me what type of Eastern European truck the fuel bowser is? I have no idea what so ever! Leave a comment or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk and hopefully by the time you’ve worked out what it is, my friend and yours DM will have the next photo.

Harwich Port is Very Activ!!

Posted on September 12, 2011 by admin

During my rubbish truck spotting trip to Harwich, there were 2 highlights. The Scania that was good enough to make www.euro-wheels.com and the 2 Activ Car’s trucks that were parked up on the far side of the truck park…….just my luck. There was one Mercedes Atego mini artic with an 11 metre trailer and an older bonnetted 814, I think they are, please correct me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

It turns out that Activ Cars may use Stenaline in and out of Harwich a lot more than I realised before. Just a couple of weeks later, one of our drivers (HC Wilson Drivers) was sitting in the rain in Harwich, when what should appear out of depths off the Hoek boat…… yes of course it was, another Activ Cars mini Atego Artic.

I do wish that Activ Cars were a bit more up to date. Now I don’t mean this in a bad way but, they must be one of the only transport companies who don’t yet have a website and also they very rarely reply to their emails!! Come on Activ Cars get emailing and get a website!! If you see Activ Cars in the UK or in Europe please get a photo and send it over to me, ben@truckblog.co.uk and if you can get talking to one of their drivers and get them to contact me, there will be an 18 inch Posted in Drivers Photos, Mercedes Benz, Mini Artics, Scania | 2 Replies

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 4

Posted on September 12, 2011 by admin

Very quickly, the king of truck photo’s Neil Jarrold has sent me another little gem that he has found in his seemingly endless collection of truck photo’s. This time one of Manton’s Scania 142′s, E143 SWU. It seems like another well kept Scania from the Manton Fleet. Only personalised by a small Michelin Man on the drivers mirror arm. Very Tidy!! Where was he off to? Were you the driver? Any idea’s where the truck ended up?? Tell me more by emailing ben@truckblog.co.uk or leaving a comment. See if you can make Manton’s Part 5!! Come on Dave Manton!

Visit the photo emporeum that is www.euro-wheels.com and see all that Neil has to offer.

Scotts-MAN

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

Its been a while since my friend and yours, Steve Marsh appeared on the blog. Like the rest of us, Marshy too has been a little quiet. Only doing quite alot of what he classes as locals, France, Benelux and Germany. Apparantly these destinations dont make the best photographs! Any way some where else Marshy doesn’t get to too often is the Tartan Territory. Since I’ve know Steve, I think I only rmember him going to Scotland once before. Unfortunately Steve picked that week where Scotland suffered a lot of flooding, back in August. Oh well you can’t have every thing!! Any way Steve has a lovely little 12 ton MAN, so a little wet weather even’s the Karma a bit!

Having delivered a local to Dunkerque, a reload was needed. It turned out the reload involved meeting a Spanish 18 tonner in Calais and transhipping the cargo. Mr Marsh has apologised for not getting a photo! Having loaded it was straight up from Calais to Invergordon in Scotland, to make the delivery. The above pictures were taken on the banks of the Cromaty Firth, just south of Invergordon. For those of you who dont know that part of the world, most times you can see the coast you tend to see some sort of oil related marine vessels. As in this photo you can see Marshy artistically placed the oil rig in the background. Very artistic Steven, great wheel trims by the way!!

There is more to come from Marshy, including a fleet photograph in Lodz, Poland (not so local).

If Peter bilt This Why Would He Want To Sell it???!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by admin

I’ve often wondered how the name Peterbilt came about. I know it sounds like a simple question, but at some point there was a first time it was said. The first couple of trucks can’t have been called that until someone said; “What kinda of a ve-hic-al do ya’ll call that?” to which the reply must have been; “Weall that thar is one that Peter bilt but i don’t rightly what he’s called it” and then from then on……..
Any-hoo once again I was dreaming, sorry I meant researching through, I decided to do a search for Peterbilts with more than 500hp….Just imagine! Any way on the list was this absolute pearler. I bet Peter was well chuffed when he finished this one!!

What more could you want? You either leave it as it is or you give it a few more finishing touches just to make it that little bit better. 8 inch straight pipes perhaps, remember the 550hp Cummins through those, some moulded rear wings and just for extra visuals, a few more chicken lights! A perfect blank canvas really. It’s a good job I didn’t include the price as some of you would be booking your flights as you read. Keep em coming Pete, 10-4 roger over……

SuperCalibreFrigoLogisticExportImportDavies!!

Posted on September 5, 2011 by admin

If you don’t know this phrase then you clearly haven’t been brushing up on your well know international fridge hauliers. If you say Davies in the world of international fridge operators most people tend to think of the black trucks from Cheltenham, Ralph Davies. For those of you who a little more, you will be aware that there is another Davies, Davies International, with smart white and blue trucks. The only real link seems to be Volvo dominated fleets.
the smart white and blue fleet started out in Southampton, but now have a very tidy warehouse in Fareham, Hampshire. I haven’t had any contact from or with them, but I can’t go any further on the blog without giving them a few minutes of the blog’s time!

While the blog was down and the wife was away, I took myself off to Harwich to watch the arrivals off the Stena boat from the Hoek of Holland. Anyway before i had the chance to get myself ready for the unloading of said ship, who should appear from the A120 coming into the dock??……. Yep you guessed it, R88 GEL (driven by Chuckles???). Smart as ever, in she rolled, with the air of a true English gentleman of the road, the tidy nearly knew Volvo with a quick wave from the driver, who obligingly slowed down when he saw the camera in my hand. Obviously no stranger to having his picture taken. The following words are taken from Davies website;

“Every driver has the responsibility of upholding our reputation to our clients and in turn to their clients. Continual good reports regarding presentation, attitude and knowledgeable experience make them all a key figure within a company renowned for high standards.”

Looking at this vehicle as it rolled in and then at the clean shaven, uniformed driver, you can’t fault the company or its belief in its drivers to keep the company image at a peak. So many companies now dont seem to bother, with there image to much, or perhaps its the drivers themselves who let themselves down. When you see the likes of Davies drivers, if you were a client, you can’t help but feel your goods are being well looked after. I think corporate image is so so important. If you want to up get better rates for who ever you work for, i’m sure you cant go far wrong than start by smartening up your image, so your customers may just be inclined to pay you that little bit more. When I had all my trucks I always made sure they were clean and that I always had some uniform on, work trousers and a logo-ed polo shirt. People know you are serious and that, as i’ve already said, and I think I was quoted in Commercial Motor once, people would much rather have their stuff delivered in a clean and tidy well after truck, than a bent old rust bucket driver by the mound of the hound of the baskervilles!! Follow Davies example, just make that extra effort and take some pride in your company……………where’s the ladder?? i’m getting off the soapbox.

I think they may be one of the few companies I actually like to see on the road. I often see one in the evening on the A14 Port-Bound. Now you and me both know that I like any thing truck, but seeing this lot on the road, is always a pleasure. They are one of those who just keep their heads down and get on with it. There does’t seem to be much fuss and in-your-face-ness that some UK firms seem to thrive on. If there was a round table of UK Knights of the road, then Davies International would be on it. No i’m being paid to do this blog, we all like what we like don’t we? and judging by the 31 page thread on www.trucknetuk.com, I think there is some kind of a following from you lot. Its a great thread with a lot of ex and current drivers contributing. The only thing I think Davies website could do with is a Gallery page. Afterall no matter how keep-your-head-down-and-quietly-get-on-with-it you are, it’s always good to show everyone what your actually about, and looking at the drivers photos on trucknetuk they won’t be short of material.

Have you got some thing to add about Davies? please leave a comment below or if you have some photo’s either add them to the trucknetuk thread, Davies Int. Southampton. With photos, which reminds me I need to add my Harwich photo’s to it, or email them to me; ben@truckblog.co.uk along with any stories or additional anicdotes you may have.

Mid America Truck Show 2001 (for Lisa Kelly!)

Posted on September 4, 2011 by admin

Those of you who follow truckbloguk on twitter you might well have realised that we are now being followed by, Ice Road Trucking royalty, Lisa Kelly. After I tweeted her (ooh-er!) to see if she’d follow the blog, she duly obliged. So as an odd dedication, I thought i’d do an American truck based post and as yet I don’t think I have ever said to much about my Mid America Truck Show Experience.

Back in the year 2001, when I was a mere whipper snapper, I went to my one and ony American truck show to date. The Mid American Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Part of the main reason for going, other than my slight enthusiasm for a truck, I went out to meet with Panelite. Now for those of you who are saying, Whooooooo?? Panelite were the leading US aftermarket light supplier. You know all the extra orange lights US trucks have, most of them were down to Panelite. At the time the company was run by the founder and his wife, but in the last few years, due to family differences the company is no more, very sad. I am told by a very reliable source that the rights to production and all other copyrights have been bought by a Canadian company, so hopefully the products will be back on your American shelves before long. The reason I went was, at the time I had been talking with Panelite about starting a European dealership as this was something they were supposedly keen to do, but due to many reasons, not that i really understood them all, it never happened. Shame. Look how successful Kelsa and Spot-On have become.

Here are a couple of the then, Panelite show trucks.

I did think on the way to the show, how would they light the trucks up to show the lights. At that point i hadn’t seen trucks plugged into the mains before, once again I guess the American started the trend. One of each of the main American truck’s were represented, such as the Kenworth, Freightliner and Peterbilt above, all kitted out with every possible stainless steel accessorie that you can imagine. The rest of the show was just a impressive as the Panelite stand. It was just amazing really, for those of you who just think its another truck show, your wrong. All I can suggest is that at some point you make the effort to get yourself to the US of A for a show and I highly highly reccomend the MATS.
Out side the is the Truck Beauty Contest. This is really the same sort of standard of trucks as you get at the Nordic Trophy. The trucks were just amazing. Everything was polished stainless steel and great paint jobs. The owner drivers must put so much effort in, they deserve a trophy each! This was the first place I saw wooden floors inside truck cabs! This Kenworth was a prime example of the standard.

As over here, an awful lot of owner drivers have their own trailers and these too are treated to the custom treatment. The highlight of these trailer’s, for me, are the quilted effect rear doors, just wicked, although I imagine following along behind them with the Nevada sun shining at its peak, must test the best of sunglasses!!

A chunky spud of a tipper.

Last of all for those of you haven’t been to the States, one of the best things about travelling about the Interstates is seeing thr trucks in their natural environment. In a lot of states cars still have lower speed limits than cars. Most American trucks will purr along at 70 or 80mph. So you can be driving along and all you can see in your rear view mirror rapidly gaining on you are sights like this;

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 3

Posted on September 2, 2011 by admin

Just a quick follow up this evening. Having posted 2 posts about Manton’s on here already, I wasn’t expecting to hear much more. But how wrong I was. While the blog was under attack, I was still receiving emails, although most of them were total bunkum. Trawling through the 100′s of dud ones, I saw a name that caught my eye. Dave Manton. Could it be?… I thought, so I opened it up and there to my delight was this cracking photo of a Manton’s Scania 143 Topline Streamline. The email was from Mr Dave Manton, of Manton’s family fame. I haven’t yet established where in the family tree he is, but that doesn’t really matter at this stage. I was just happy to get the photo. Dave explained that some where deep in his loft (as per most people), he has some more photo’s of Manton trucks, which he has said he will look out and email over as and when he finds them, looking forward to it. Back to this photo, it came with the following description attached;

“He was loaded from Harrogate with frozen egg product, direct to a bakery in Moscow. Carrying 24 tonnes .. Driver was Simon Johnston and second man was Tim Spate.”

My reaction; If this is the first photo found, then just imagine what else might appear from the rafters of Manton Towers!!
Dear Mr Manton, if you are reading, please dust off the ladder and get up in that loft! It’s your punishment for being part of such a great great fleet! Also I want to know more about the company that I know very very little about. Anyone one who was any thing to do with Manton’s please leave a comment or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Click here for Manton’s Part 1.
Click here for Manton’s Part 2.

Help Needed (Not me!)

Posted on September 2, 2011 by admin

Can any of you identify this old bus?? Mike Tasker (of Black Scania fame) spotted this old girl and her big drawbar trailer, parked up in Dusseldorff, Germany. The tractor looks like its more engine than any thing else, judging by the size of the bonnet compared to the length of the rest of it. I’m imagining its got some sort of Magirus Deutz V10 in it, but that’s probably me just getting romantic! Any who if you look carefully it has got what looks like a parking ticket in the window. Looking at the evidence it looks like it has been there for a fair while though, as the weeds have grown up between the wheels and also the flattening rear tyre. Have you got any ideas what it is?? then please feel free to leave a comment or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Holiday Truck Spotting Around the Med

Posted on August 31, 2011 by admin

The office I work in is quite a truck orientated one. Plenty of trucking calendars and photo’s of the fleet on the walls, truck models on the shelves, along with the all truck show trophies. So you’d imagine the boss’s of said company to be fair truck perverts as well. Well the bigger one of the two clearly is, but the quieter one, well you can never be too sure. On the phone his wife claims he is truck mad!!
So while he was away on his annual summer cruise, this year around the mediterranean, I was pleased to see received this wicked little batch of photo’s from the quiet one. I can’t decide whether to go in order of the cruise of whether to start with the best??

The latter option it is. On arrival in most ports on a cruise you get to walk off in to the local town, obviously this means walking through the not always too touristy port area itself. This can be some people’s idea of a good holiday though! This gorgeous truck heading to the twighlight of her years was basking in the mid-summer sun in Corfu. What a find, sitting there waiting out the Bank Holiday. The Volvo F12 Globetrotter is a real dream truck for many of you and from this photo I can see why.

So what else does Corfu have to offer I hear you cry…………….

There wasn’t just one classic truck enjoying the bank holiday sunshine, this SUPER Swede was also in Corfu port. This very well kept Scania 143 Streamline was busy unloading on the quay right next to the ship. Any ideas what he is unloading? No? nor have I?? Answers on a post card (or leave a comment below!). Once he had done his days work the old faithfull Scania headed round to enjoy the rest of the day off and join the other trucks waiting for the fery to head back to mainland Greece.

Now before the Captain and his ship arrived in the truck holiday destination that is Corfu, they had been in the world renowned Italian city that is Venice. Picture the scene…..The director of a well know company is getting off a beautiful modern cruise ship, with his wife and 2 sons, all looking forward to their trip into one of the most beautiful ancient cities that is Venice, all that history and culture. Oooo I can’t wait, lets have a look at some of the holiday snaps from this gorgeous city…….

The smart German registerred Volvo was weekend in the port. Not sure which was he was heading but looking at the name in the headboard, does suggest a Greek link perhaps. The other 2 trucks were fresh off the Minoan Lines boat from Greece. Both in the colours of Dutch haulier Bolk Transport. The first truck must belong to a regular Bolk subbie, clever aren’t I!?! Great spotting in my book, can’t wait for the next cruise, America perhaps???

Do you want to share any of your truck related holiday snaps, come on you know you want to, afterall your wife will be totally bored of all the “classics” you snapped instead of the sunsets and sandcastles the rest of your family were hoping you’d photograph. My email address is; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Lady Louise is a Real Western Star

Posted on August 30, 2011 by admin

Here we go with a good old reminisce!! Now if you are a regular facebooker and are part of the mighty www.euro-wheels.com gang or a friend of the man behind it Neil Jarrold, you’ll be aware that a certain Lady has been back on the scene. Now when I was a boy growing up around trucks, vans, forklifts and every thing else that goes with a father who ran an ANC franchise (now FedEx UK) from 1982, one of the original 11 depots who started nationwide, you soon grow an interest on where you spend your evenings and weekends. Much like the Wilson brothers I now work for. During these early years my Dad did every thing he could to make sure I enjoyed every minute of it, probably as he could tell I was interested and yes I do blame my upbringing on my now unhealthy obsession for trucks!!
Back When ANC started alot of the franchisee’s already had existing business, such as Wyvern Cargo and Geoff Byfords own, Byfords Cargo Express (not sure if I have the name right?). My dad always told me bits an piece’s about Mr Byford. Imagine my excitement when I was told Geoff was behind CDC, where I used to spend my pocket money on cab flags and mini scarves! Then the old chap told me that Geoff had bought an American truck. I couldn’t wait to see it.
This is it, probably one of the first photo’s of Lady Louise in the UK before she became Lady Louise. I think it was only a week or 2 after she had arrived, My parents went upto Geoff’s place in Barrow (where CDC still are), for what I seem to remember was some sort of ANC meeting perhaps, other wise I can’t really see why else my mother went!!

Not long after the truck was sent off to the paint shop to be prepared for a good few years fund raising, even appearing on the well loved childrens programme Blue Peter. Now if Geoff is reading this, you’ll have to correct me if i’m wrong. I think I travelled up to Lady Louise’s 1st Truckfest on the Friday before, actually in the truck with Geoff at the helm. Now if this is the correct year or not i’m not sure, but my Dad and I had an early start and I was having the Friday off school, that wouldn’t be allowed now!! We went off to Barrow in Suffolk to meet up with Geoff. From there Geoff said I was riding with him and my dad followed us up to Peterborough in the car. From then on it was a great day. TV shoots, photo shoots, everyone waving. Ending up with parking Lady Louise in one of the cow sheds at the show ground and I insisted to my Dad that we couldn’t leave until I had given her a wipe down with a polishing cloth. After that it was a summer of rolling posters for Geoff to take to all the shows he and the truck went too. Any way enough of my reminiscing trip, here are a few of my Polaroid photo’s of the day. Even now she looks great!

I’m not sure who this dodgy haircutted character is!!

Actually seeing that photo, must mean I took some of my own photo’s, seeing as I was carrying some form of a camera, no idea where they are though!!

We’re Back!!!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by admin

Hello Hello This is Essex Calling!!

After how ever long it has been, we seem (fingers crossed), to be back and firmly away from what ever took over!! Not quite running at full speed but we are back and i’m not keen on the look so bear with and hopefully we’ll get back to the old theme and lay out that we are all familiar with.

I have to say the biggest thak you to the blogs, very own god, Mr Ewan Mcleod. The wifes best male friend he is but he is a big name in the world of mobile media, mobile phones and all things technical. It was he who got me blogging in the 1st place. Try checking out his site as an odd way of saying thank you………. Thank you Ewan.

http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/

Here’s Your New Truck

Posted on August 12, 2011 by admin

Recently I have been trying to work out how to use Facebook and more to the point get it working alongside the blog. So far I haven’t got a clue. It’s possible to put questions on the TB FB page, so I thought i’d give it a go to see what results I got, you know that modern word “interactive” thats me that is!

Here’s the question: Your new boss is offering you the following trucks brand new as your first truck, which do you choose?

- DAF 3300 ATI Spacecab

- Volvo F12 Globetrotter

- Scania 143

- Iveco Turbostar V8

- Mercedes Benz SK V8

A bit of a retro question as we all seem to prefer the old generation of trucks. All in all i ended up with 48 Votes (at the time of going to press!), not a bad turn out. Please feel free to add your vote below in the comments box below or head over to the Facebook page if your that way inclined.
Can you Guess the results?? I bet you can guess the bottom 2 anyway. Here are the results;

1st – Scania 143 with 48% of Votes
2nd – Volvo Globetrotter with 27% of Votes
3rd – DAF 3300 Spacecab with 21% of Votes
4th – Iveco Turbostar with 2% of Votes
4th – Mercedes SK with 2% of Votes

I think in all honesty I could have kept the vote down to just the top 3 options. The choice between Volvo and DAF was pretty close. I was slightly surprised by the smaller cabbed beating the 2 bigger cabbed trucks to 1st place. This must show that all you old romantics of the road must just prefer the better drive over the better cab for time off. If you took part then thank you and if you didn’t you better had next time!! If youare literate in facebook please click on the link above and click the like button. Also keep your eyes for further questions / votes.