Beresford Transport by Mick Darlington

Posted on August 7, 2011 by admin

Its funny how when you get talking to people you end up finding out more than you bargained for. I take regular deliveries of JCB’s that are destined for Russia, but come to me for checking and prepping before heading off to the docks. This means I have a lot of dealings with Brit European as I recieve 10 of there trucks every day. As you do you get chatting to the drives for a few minutes, one day i got chatting to a good old boy by the name of Mick Darlington, a true gent of the road. We got talking and as I said I ended up finding out more than bargained for. It turns out Mick has had a full career on the road as an employed driver and also as an Owner Driver. Mick’s career started at the well remembered Beresfords Transport from Stoke on Trent and 3 days after getting his license was at the helm of this old girl and about to set off for Italy with a load of whiskey!

It turns out that Mick has spent a good chunk of his career as a continental driver. Going from Beresfords, to Morcap, to Fret Francais, to Brit European as well as running his own trucks across the water as well.

I love the fact that back in the good old days there were so many British built trucks heading off to all foreign climbs. We all know the Guys, Scammells, Seddons, Leylands and ERF’s that used to even get as far as the Middle East, but then again that was a time when having something built in Britain was some thing to be proud of! Mr Darlington has plenty of experience of driving some of Cheshire’s finest on the wrong side of the road. This set of pics of a B series ERF on the snowy roads of Austria. You just cant beat photo’s like this and you won’t ever be able to recreate them, they are just classics. I almost got romantic there didn’t I!!

Any ideas who this driver is with Mick in Austria?

Beresfords were at the time well in at JCB and were one of the main hauliers doing the continental JCB work before Brit European took over and, from what I read, took the fun out of the job and made it not so lucrative as perhaps it once was. Beresford ran 2 x Seddon Atkinsons painted up in JCB colours to show there loyalty to the Staffordshire digger makers. Mick seen here some where across the water, but can you tell me where? It looks warm where ever it is.

There is more to come from Mick’s photo’s but I dont want to use them up all at once!! You’ll just have to keep checking the blog to see when I do the next installment. I need to do some more research about Fret Francais, so if you can tell me any thing send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk

When Will My Lotto Numbers Come Up?!?!?!??

Posted on August 7, 2011 by admin

The more I traipse through the never ending trucks for sale, the more I want my bloomin numbers to hurry up and come in!! Just enjoy these pics, a lovely V8 Scania T580.

SCOOP!! HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Scania 141 Now Available

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

It’s finally here!! After many months of planning, fine tuning and waiting this WSI 1/50 scale Scania 141 model is now availble in limited numbers. It’s available to buy direct from Search Impex or direct from HC Wilson. I think I am right in saying that there are about 300 models in total, so you’ll need to be fairly sharpe with your ordering. If you are interested they will be sold first come first served. You can email me at work, ben@hcwilsontransport.com or here at the blog, ben@truckblog.co.uk and title your email “Wilsons 141 Model”.

As you can see the tractor unit is as per the real life version, down to every detail and I mean every detail, including all stickers!! A single air horn, correctly mounted flashing beacons, wheels are painted right, GB sticker on one side of the rear chassis cross member, the livery is spot on and there is even a satelite dome on the roof. The trailer is the same as one of Wilson’s fairly standard Nooteboom 3 axle step frame trailers. It was discussed about having an original 2 axle step frame as the truck would have had when it was new back in 1979, but WSI couldn’t provide such a trailer without designing a totally new one. It certainly looks the part.
The models will be for sale at £138.00 from Search Impex and £144 from HC Wilson, plus the appropriate postage and packing costs. If you want to but from Wilson’s direct you will be encouraged to collect the model in person. This is a cracking model and I look forward to seeing the 1st one in the flesh at work tomorrow, don’t forget if your keen on buying your other half a great and different anniversary gift, then email me, ben@hcwilsontransport.com.

Acitoinox Italian Made Truck Accessories

Posted on July 31, 2011 by admin

As you know I dont advertise or endorse anything inparticular, what ever takes my fancy really. Due to the beauty of Facebook (not really!) I came across this lot. I have no idea how but they appeared on my Facebook, so I had a look through and soon realised they are responsible for a lot of those crazy Italian trucks and their stainless steel accessories. I made friends with them, as you do. This led me to the Acitoinox website and me wasting a good hour or two (much to the wifes horror) looking through the amazing lists of accessories for all the major manufacturers. You can buy a piece of stainless steel for just about every part and position on your truck. Take a look at this R730 V8 Scania, that has clearly been given the Italian treatment, I suppose you could say its had an Italian job (ha ha i made a joke!).

All the accessories on one truck together I have to say is too much for my taste but you have to admit the trucks are just amazing, have a look through the Gallery page. I would be keen on buying a few bits and bobs, but if you feel inclined then go to the Catalogue page, select your truck and get browsing. There are 10 pages of just Scania bits, so you will have your will power put to the limi and your wallet for that matter!

One thing I do love about this truck and what sets off all the stainless is the gorgeous matt black paint work, genius! Not only is there a range of ready made accessories, but you can also have bespoke one of stuff made up, although i’m not sure where else you could put some stainless that the team at Acitoinox haven’t already thought of. Look closley at this rear view of the “Absolute” truck…………

……..yes you are seeing correctly the V8 logo has got pipes coming out of it. Now that is Italian styling and ingenuity at its best!! Not sure how practical it is but thats just me being English! You are also right, the side fairings on the air kit have also been cut out a little to make way for the pipes. I do wonder if all pipes are exhaust or for show, but seeing as it is Italian they must be using all 8 pipes to fire out the V8 tunes, it must sound pretty amazing and loud, especially if your standing on the kerb in the bus queue when it comes burbling past. I think i’ll have to get the bus next time!! As I said i’m not a fan of all the bits on my own truck but you do have to admire the Italian’s, they certainly stand out from the crowd. You always notice an Italian truck on the road. Paint jobs, stainless steel what more can you want?? Oh yea a V8 730hp Scania (in Matt Black). A trip to an Italian truck is in order I think…….

Just for info these pictures are all copyright to Acitoinox.

Activ Update…..

Posted on July 31, 2011 by admin

Still nothing in particular to update you with, no photo’s any way, but….. a couple of our drivers we’re heading for Bremen and that sort of area last week. In my wisdom I mentioned it to the drivers and after the usual barrage for abuse for being such a sad-o, one driver said have you looked on Google Street View around the Airbus factory’s in Bremen………….. of course I hadn’t!! I popped onto the interweb and plonked the Street View man on a road right out side the one of the factories and low and behold an Activ spot!! A nice ageing Mercedes 814.

Mini Artics

Posted on July 28, 2011 by admin

Dear Readers,

So far the info regarding mini artics has been a little sketchy to say the least. I have been trying to find out, what the weight combinations on these vehicles are. I NEED YOUR HELP!?
So far, i think it is fare to say that you can obviously have a minimum gross weight of 7.5 or 12 tons depending on what you require. This mini MAN artic is based on having a Gross Vehicle Weight of 12 tons, actually MAN’s are usually plated at 11,990kg. This particular one come’s from a German body builder and mini artic manufacturer called Pagenkopf. They claim that there trailer with an MAN TGL sleeper cab can still achieve a 5.500kg payload, which obviously means that the truck is designed to run at 11,990kg. This is also given away by the fact they call it “Maut-killer”, all vehicles under 12,000kg GVW dont have to pay the German Maut charges. The other thing I found yesterday on a quote for a 12 tonner from MAN was, they state the maximum Train Weight of a 12 tonner to be 24,000kg.

You may be wondering why i dont just ask MAN or Mercedes what the weight set up is. Well I have. MAN haven’t got back to me and Mercedes Benz UK have said they are on the case, so hopefully I will here some thing back, from one or both.

Activ Cars run these Mercedes Atego’s as you will be bored of reading by now. But they badge on the door say’s this is an “823″ meaning 8 tons, 230 bhp. So how do they get away with pulling 11 and 13 metre long trailers behind. They can’t be using the GVW of 8 tons, so they must be going on the Train weight……………………..oh no i’ve gone boss eyed!!

For a minute there I almost sounded like a right anorak! Can you shed any light on the mini artic debate?? If so email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave your USEFULL comments below.

Activ Cars Spezialtransporte, Achim, Bremen

Posted on July 25, 2011 by admin

Right here we go again. Those who know me will know that i am not one to give up on some thing I want. Now for a good while I have been trying to get more photo’s and info about this lot as they don’t have a website. I did email them once and i did get a good reply with a couple of yard photo’s, but as you have guessed I want to get more of both! Activ Cars operate out of Achim, Bremen, Germany. They have a good looking fleet of Mercedes, mainly Atego’s. Perhaps my new friends at Mercedes Benz UK can even get in on the detective trail, surely there are some German colleagues you can contact?? Activ travel all over the continent and even regularly come to the UK. The main stay of there work seems to be for Airbus, delivering parts to manufacturing plants, such as Frankfurt, Toulouse and Broughton near Chester.

Now, I have done an appeal before for your spots as you go about your daily drives, and we did get a couple of spots, one at Killingholme Dock and another up the M6, possibly heading for Broughton. I am going to try my luck by emailing the email address I have and hope the staff at Activ Cars don’t ignore my email. Now this is where you lot come in, while i’ll do the emailing, I need you lot to keep your eyes peeled and send me any photos you manage to get of Activ Cars mini artics on the road. Ideally one of you will find an Activ truck parked up and you can ask the driver to email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or via the Truckblog Facebook Page. In fact who ever send’s in the best NEW photo of one of these trucks, will win a www.truckblog.co.uk sticker. In my previous searches I even put a thread on trucknetuk.com and did get some response, but i have renewed this Mini German Artic thread in the hope it too might get some new feedback.

Just look at the backdoors, they have a lovely gap at the bottom for a nice new Navy Blue truckblog sticker! The detective work starts now, so best bi-nock-u-lars on and get detecting my loyal spotters. Hopefully now we have a load of new European friends reading the blog we may be able to spread the hunt further and wider than before and we may even get some results. Just imagine if an employee of Activ Cars got to hear about the search, they might email me direct!! Remember my email address is ben@truckblog.co.uk

Transit-MAN

Posted on July 23, 2011 by admin

Good title for the piece i think. My effort was going to be White Van MAN, but i have been overruled by both the wife and Marshy. A recent trip to Hamburg for the famous Steve Marsh Express 12 Ton MAN, was an automotive based round trip vehicle fest. The export load was parts, stock and bits and pieces for the new Mclaren road car. Delivered to a posh car dealer in Hamburg and at the same time an Ontime Automotive Mercedes Atego delivered a the actual car. I have got pics of the car rolling out of the Ontime truck, but i’m sorry to say this is a TRUCK blog not a car blog, so those pics are banished to the photographic vault.
Unfortunatley this Hamburg delivery was part of a round Europe run that Marshy missed out on. Originally Steve quoted on a run starting in Paris and then on to deliver to Brussels, Hamberg, Zurich, Milan, Monaco and finally Marbella. In the end SMEX did the Paris one week and then Hamburg the following. Not quite the same as the big run but good fun all the same.
As always after a delivery there needs to be a reload. Some how with all of his contacts Steve doesn’t seem to fail on the reloading front very often. This time round a very photogenic reload was the order of the day. A complete Transit Van shell from Geeste, Germany back to the Ford Factory in Basildon, in truckblogs very own home county of Essex. Now i dont know about you but i’d say that it was rather a good fit.

Just look at those shiny wheels disc’s! Just as a note for all of our older readers, isn’t it nice to see a well equiped proper tilt?! Expertly stripped and prepped for loading, even a propper step ladder to aid our driver in his efforts, it’s almost a forgotten art, like roping and sheeting!

Bonnie Scania for Bonnie Scotland

Posted on July 21, 2011 by admin

…….and you wont find a better one! Remember I was the owner of a rather nice, plain classic Scania 141. Lovely. When I was the owner I did get a lot of comments about how nice a truck it was and how smart she looked. I tried to keep her in tip top condition but I can not and have no intention of telling you any thing but she is in even better condition now with her new owner, both in appearence and mechanically. I think it is fair to say I am very jealous and at the same time very pleased with what John Scott has done with said truck. I think really he has achieved what i couldn’t due to, er, er well due to funding shall we say! John is the owner of JST Services from Ayr, Scotland. He is a top man and clearly loves his trucks. When i saw the Volvo F16 he owns i knew the 141 was going to an excellent new home. Look at her now.

Looks good. I’m not the only one who is impressed. The judges at the recent Ayr Road Run were also so impressed they awarded John and the 141 1st Prize. The next show visit will be to Truckfest Scotland and hopefully one or 2 shows further South. When I sold her to Mr Scott she had been sat in the shed for a year and we were both unsure of what toll this had had. As we all know old trucks aren’t good at sitting in sheds and not being used. It seems that the sitting about probably caused some sort of overheating problem, but also i was shocked when John told me the truck had no thermostat, yes i did fall off my chair!! Along with the bits and pieces that did need doing John did other bits and pieces that weren’t essential but made the truck into a “like new to drive” machine that it is now. I had always wanted to give the gearbox the once over, but here is the extensive list of renovations that have been done;

Engine was overheating, after investigation found no thermostat in it, but the real problem was the 141’s have to be filled with water from the bottom which was then done and a new t’stat fitted.
Injectors all removed and serviced
Oil pressure checked
New gearknob
Various new ball joints and pins in gearlinkeage.
Renew off-side rear spring hanger and pin.
Renew two air valves that were leaking.
Remove rearwings and fit plastic with Scania emblem mudflaps.
MOT
Fit UK style tachograph.
All oils changed and filters.
Fit two new trackrod ends
Adjust clutch, not clearing gears.
Fit new door rubbers.
Fit fog and reverse lights.
Make new catwalk and steps.
Fit paddy style headboard.
Fit 8 Cibie Oscar spotlights.
Fit Scania netal sunvisor.
Fit extra marker lights.
Split upright exhausts and remove baffles for extra Brum-Brummmmmmm.
Strip all rubber and glass and completely repaint.

You may have noticed the new gearknob. I have the scar on my right palm from where it broke…….I will treasure it!! As you can see she hasn’t been left wanting for any thing. Pleased to see the snow chains are still there though. Also i’m so so pleased that those ghastly chequer plate mudwings i had made have been binned.

I think i need to see her in the flesh and perhaps i may even be granted a drive???!! Just imagine the ggggrrrroooowwwlll now she is baffle free. Hopefully she may get a trailer one day. I think John could be in for a few more trophies. Looking at the 2 Gunnings Motors trucks you wouldn’t bet against it.

Also just for my own curiousity as i haven’t done this yet, here are both the before and after photos. I still prefer the new colour scheme!urio

If you see John and the truck out and about on the road or if you already have, then please email me the photo’s, ben@truckblog.co.uk

New Mercedes Actros Should be Oscar Nominated!

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

Ged it, ged it??? Actros, actress……my comedic talents are wasted on you lot!
I have been in contact with Mercedes Benz Trucks UK and thought it only fair a do a bit more on this gorgeous new truck. Just look at it………….. that’s all i’ve got to say!!

As you have probably already read else where this is a completey new range of trucks. Chassis, driveline, engines and cabs are all new. Mercedes are bringing in the new range under the premise “Trucks you can trust”. The basis of this is the amount of testing that has been done, supposedly more than any other all new truck. The new Actros has undergone 2600 hours of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel, 50 million kilometres of engine testing on test rigs and in real-life operation, and 20 million kilometres on the road. The foundations for development were laid as far back as ten years ago, and Mercedes-Benz has spent five years testing the components and the complete vehicle. During this time, the new Actros clocked up around 20 million kilometres on the road, including intensive customer driving tests. On top of this, there were extremely rigorous tests on test rigs, torture-track tests and a series of other extreme examinations. The real-life road tests covered all climatic conditions as well as extreme road conditions and gradients, ranging from an Arctic winter to an extremely hot desert climate. Real-life testing also included customer driving tests in the new Mercedes-Benz Actros.

I do love those test trucks. They are like a Hollywood superstar who doesn’t want to be noticed, so they wear a big hat, massive sunglasses and stand out like a sore thumb. They may as well just sign write the thing with new truck on test, ssssshhhhhhhhhh! Who is going to be the first to have this black and white eye night mare as a company livery?? Brilliant.

I sorry to say i’m not going to go into detail on the mechanical stuff, as I have never claimed to be mechanical in any way. Best to ask your friendly salesman as they will talk to you as if they know what they are talking about where as i won’t.
So onto the interior. Although you could claim that the interior does resemble the current Actros range, it is all new. I did hear that the trucks are using components and parts from the MB car range. There will be 7 new cabs in the range of which 5, yes 5, will have a completely flat floor, pretty impressive. Now as an ex Actros Megaspace owner, I can vouch for the comfort and space in the big cabs. The storage space was never more apparant than when the day came to empty the cab, it took me 2 car loads to clear all my gubbins out.

The seven cabs for the new Actros in detail are:
- The long ClassicSpace cab with a standard roof. 2.3 m wide, engine tunnel 170 mm. Headroom on the engine tunnel 1.46 m, in front of the co-driver’s seat 1.59 m.
- The long ClassicSpace cab with a standard roof. 2.3 m wide with a flat floor. Headroom on the engine tunnel 1.64 m.
- The long StreamSpace cab. 2.3 m wide, engine tunnel 170 mm. Headroom on the engine tunnel 1.79 m, in front of the co-driver’s seat 1.84 m.
- The long StreamSpace cab. 2.3 m wide with a flat floor. Headroom 1.97 m.
- The long StreamSpace cab. 2.5 m wide with a flat floor. Headroom throughout 1.97 m.
- The long BigSpace cab. 2.5 m wide with a flat floor. Headroom throughout 1.99 m.
- The long GigaSpace cab. 2.5 m wide with a flat floor. Headroom 2.13 m.

As i predicted on the blog a while ago there is going to be a GigaSpace cab, with a mind boggling volume of 11.6 cubic metres, a flat floor, 2.13 metres of headroom and more than 900 litres of stowage space. All that means to me and you is you will have more than enough room to swing the proverbial German cat! Mercedes say;

“At the heart of the interior is a concept which visually separates the easy-to-use cockpit from the comfortable living area using colour and geometric form. The functional area of the cockpit is finished in practical anthracite whilst the rear, ceiling and area around the co driver’s seat are appointed in a light almond beige colour.”

Along with all the other things you would imagine a new truck to have, including a top of the range, Mercedes Benz developed seat that is wider than the standard and incorporates a massage function……ooo-eerr!! In terms of height, the only thing that limits the new Actros is legislation: the previous MegaSpace cab is replaced by the spectacular GigaSpace cab, which opens up a new dimension in space. It is all but four metres high and, when it comes to spaciousness, trumps its predecessor by some 920 litres – almost a whole cubic metre. This extra space is reflected in a headroom of 2.13 metres throughout and a noticeably larger stowage capacity. The total volume of 11.6 cubic metres is a record for a European truck cab.

Just keep your grubby mits off those beige areas. Lovely as they are, i’m still not convinced they are a good idea in a working truck. As an owner driver i would and Mrs Truckblog would make sure it was kept clean. Saying that, all the area’s you are likely to be touching and standing in,all look to be black / grey coloured. Just not sure how the fleet trucks will fair after a few years on the road. But i have to say it does make for a lovely living area. You would struggle to haul yourself out of such a cab to go into oour crappy motorway services. Now here’s an idea, perhaps if your lucky enough to get one of these new cabs, you should park up and charge other drivers to come and enjoy your lovely new cab!! or better still perhaps Mercedes should take the new trucks to the plonkers who run our Motorway Services Area’s to show them what our drivers need to relax.
One new option you can spec is the “SoloStar Concept”. This gives a sort of corner sofa in the passenger side set back against the rear wall. Also as you can see below, there is what looks like a fold up/out table for you to sit and try to read up on the ever complicating drivers hours rules or some such!

Finally i’ll leave you with a cracking photo of this new truck. I hope that this wont be the last you here about it on the blog, as i’m hoping to have some more feedbck from Mercedes Benz them selves and you never know i may even get a test drive, well thats what i hope!! Good truck, sorry GREAT Truck, my predication and a fairly obvious one, this will be a clear winner in the Truck of the Year competition next time around.

Where is This Truck Now??

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

What a cutie! This little DAF with its B I G Hatcher cab conversion is a real head turner, especially with its bright livery. These will now be rare photo’s due to Edwin Shirley being taken over by the equally beautiful black trucks of Transam Trucking. Now i wonder if this little gem is still on the joint fleet some where?? I know a couple of chaps by the name of Ireland who should be able to shed some light on the detective hunt. I would quite like a “where is it now?” type updtae if poss please. Also Nick, i think this is one of yours, thanks, can you email me a few more, perhaps along what ever trip you did with her??. Can you add any thing to the hunt? Leave your comments below or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Mini Artic Mercedes-Benz Removal truck

Posted on July 16, 2011 by admin

I know its officially a van, but this Mercedes Sprinter is such a cool looking thing and it does look like a proper mini artic, so under these circumstance’s i think it is allowed a VIP pass onto the blog. I came across it after our resident truck perv in the office (RF) came across it on perryolf’s page on flickr. I have to say there are a some excellent pics on his pages so if you have the time have a nose through, click HERE.

Originally uploaded by perryolf

What is it About Dock Scenes??

Posted on July 13, 2011 by admin

I’ll keep it short as it’s getting late and her lady ship will be moaning at me for being on “that bloody computer” all evening. What is it about dock scene photo’s that i find so fascinating?? Just look at this……..

How much is there going on?? you just can’t take it all in. Each picture has a different story to tell and something different happening. Even ones taken from the cab, just look at this picture of Mick Darlington’s

A Martintrux truck with the cab up (Volvo perhaps?!), Morgan Freight Transcontinental and i’m fairly sure a Cadwallader trailer too! Then again you can’t see an old pic of Dover and not see a Cadwallader truck. Another of Mick D’s pics taken as he was driving down Jubilee Way (thats the reason for the blur, not my computer incompetance!), you can still see a Cadwallader motor.

Come on we all know i am a true trucking pervert, but i can’t be the only one who finds these freeze frames in time fascinating?? I know our good friend Neil Jarrold of www.euro-wheels.com fame has a few in his collection and they are all are just an eye full of transport history. The beauty of the older ones is the amount of British trucks heading for the continent and the distinct lack of eastern europeans clogging up the lens! Take this next photo, i’m not sure who’s it is or actually where i got it from, but never mind just look at who is in it………

With my basic spotting skills i can see a lovely old Norbert Dressingtable tilt, with what looks like a DAF subbie on the front. Curries of Dumfries Scania waiting to clear the customs shed. Not forgetting the 2 classic B series ERF’s, one belonging to S Jones of Aldridge and the other being a Brit European glass carrier with Carmens livery……..
I’m going to have to go to bed it’s all just to much!! Please feel free to comment below with your findings or email me at ben@truckblog.co.uk with more dock scenes and i will put them on here for all to relish.

Loaded Truck Racing with Intransit

Posted on July 12, 2011 by admin

Most men day dream about racing around Silverstone race circuit, but few of us actually get the chance. As it goes i have both as a passenger and driver but thats another story! Any way i have also delivered to the Jordan race team on the Friday evening before the British Grand Prix, even said hello to David Coulthard as he gave my Leyland Road Runner the once over, but i didn’t get to drive said Tonka Toy around the world famous race track. As for Intransit Light Haulage from Coventry, well…….. they did.

On Wednesday last week Intransit were given 4 loads of JCB telehandlers to deliver to the circuit ready to pluck the F1 cars out of the gravel. I’m told on the first trip round they circuit they had to be escorted but on the 2nd delivery in the afternoon they were without escort, so had a little more time for a few pictures on their way round. With such a great backdrop the photo’s look pretty good!

Now the driving is one thing, but filming on the way round is another. I don’t think the boys at the Beeb have anything to worry about, looking at these videos. None the less i am probably just jealous that i haven’t driven a truck round a race track! Before you all start moaning that they were filming while driving, yes they were but remember it’s not on a public highway!! The 2nd video is the longer so put your crash helmets on and enjoy the excellent on board footage.

East Coast Truckers Charity Convoy Under Threat

Posted on July 11, 2011 by admin

Now, if you live any where in East Anglia then you are probably more than aware of the East Coast Truckers Convoy. If you don’t know what the convoy is all about, here it is; This convoy is all in aid of charity and has been going since 1986. In its 25 year life the convoy has traveled 1700 miles, contained 2200 trucks, carried 2300 children, been seen by 1,875,000 people and now the Convoy is likely to be axed due to red tape. Around 80 trucks take children with special needs to Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park and Great Yarmouth for the day. Thousands of people line the route from County Hall Norwich to the seafront at Gt. Yarmouth via Pleasurewood Hills. It makes the children’s day to see everyone waving them on from any vantage point en route. The ECTC needs your support;

Click HERE to go to the online petition page and add your name.

Now to get the details right i am going to copy and paste the words from the East Coast Truckers Chairman, Rob Billman;

“On the 16th of May I attended a meeting with NCC, Norfolk police and the highways agency. Nothing unusual. A meeting that I would attend every year before the Convoy. It was at this time that I was told that Norfolk police could not supply an escort group for the convoy anymore. But they were willing to work out an alternative solution. They’re solution was for an 85 truck convoy to depart onto the roads of Norfolk with no escort meaning that the convoy would have to obey the highway code. This would cause chaos. This would also create risk of other road users getting caught up within the convoy creating a risk to the safety of the trucks and the precious cargo they would be carrying. To add to this, this would have the potential of extending the journey times excessively, thus causing undue stress on the children. I said that I would not allow this to happen.

So the bottom line was that I said, no police, no convoy. I have a duty of care to all those involved in this event, I saw no other option. Various other issues were brought up within this meeting regarding health and safety, the fact that the convoy stands with a 25 year accident free record apparently doesn’t count for much. Many phone calls were made between myself and Norfolk police over the next week. On the Saturday evening, I called a meeting of the Charities Trustees and guests. This meeting was to discuss my decisions and the way forward. A final plan was formed for one last attempt at trying to get this years convoy a police escort group. We had to finalise a plan, the media were already on the case and I was due in at Radio Norfolk on the Monday morning.

At 3pm on Sunday the 22nd a final agreement was made between myself and Assistant Chief Constable Wilkins. We finally had a convoy for this year. The limitations are as follows;
Each truck will only carry :1 driver, 1 child, 1 carer. No exceptions.
A maximum speed limit of 30mph
A fair result I think.

Rob.”

So there you go, now you may be thinking this all sounds like fun, but what is it like actually out there on the road with the convoy, well here is a video, not only does it look very well organised, but you have to admit it is an impressive sight too;

Right, what the ECTC needs you to do is, add your name to the online petition to keep the convoy going. To read more click HERE to go to the petition’s website. Why should such a successful event that raises thousands and thousands of Pounds for charity also become a victim of our great Country’s endless side show of red tape, ruining good things for good people?? This convoy just cant end, this year it is safe, but without your signatures of support there is a real danger that the 2012 convoy won’t take place, so please register your support.
Click HERE to go to the online petition page and add your name.

Coming Soon to an Autobahn Near You………

Posted on July 7, 2011 by admin

In the deepest darkest sheds of Suffolk it’s amazing what you can find! Lurking in a shed near Stowmarket, European Viking and European Centurion are being prepared for open roads of europe.

These 2 high powered Scania’s will have a few extra special touches to make them slightly different from the rest of the pack, although they will also have the L.E.D. “W” on the front grill, like the 2 new R480′s already on the road.

Danish Scania’s Looking for New Homes

Posted on July 3, 2011 by admin

How annoying is Facebook?? You just cant nip onto it and do what you got to do or look at what you want to look at. You end up looking then, seeing some thing else, then that leads you to some where else and before you know it you aged 6 months!! So there I was this morning, nipping on to FB to check the amount of “Likes” I’ve got on the FB blog page, then 6 months later i realised i was looking at some Danish classic Scania’s that are up for sale. I think you’ll find that my saying of Old Scania’s never die they just get better, has just been proven (with exception for the rusty one!),

This lovely 141 is first up, looks like it in fairly good condition. There is also a tidy looking Vabis and also a rust bucket of a Vabis. Although i’m sure one of you would be able to bring it back to its former Scandinavian glory. Might need more than a lick of paint me thinks!!

Now there is a bargain to be had here. The 141 and the better Vabis are up for €11,500 each and the rusty project is up for €3,500. But and this is the big BUT, my Danish friend Mr Allan Bach says that if you are feeling particularly flush you can buy all 3 trucks for just €22,000! I think that would be a bargain. So if you are interested and not just another bloomin annoying tyre kicker you can email Allan, his email address is; allan-bach@mail.tele.dkin the mean time i’m off to check my lottery ticket!!
p.s. not sure why the 141 has a 2007 date on it.

Clearly Mercedes Benz

Posted on June 29, 2011 by admin

…..So there i was , wandering around Truckfest Peterborough when i came across this clear sided Atego on the Mercedes stand. Unfortunately it was uncomfortably surrounded by a set of railings that meant my photo’s were not good, much to my disappointment.

I was a little gutted that i couldn’t get a good shot, as with the beautiful SLS car in the back it should have a great photo. So as you can imagine i was a bit p’d off. Any way i forget now how he found out, but my cousin, Tim Andrew, a professional photographer with a world wide reputation i might add, sent me an email saying here have a look at these. Low and behold he had attached some of the photo’s he had taken while doing the official photo shoot for the press launch of “The Clear Idea.com“. So here you go enjoy these excellent professional photo’s. One day my photo’s will get better!! May i also just point out a few years back i too parked my Atego out side that beautiful building, the building being Mercedes head office in Milton Springsteen, sorry Milton Keynes (personal joke!).

www.theclearidea.com is a marketing idea that is based on having a clear sided box on the back of a truck. Mercedes Benz obviously liked the idea. Using the truck you can put an eye catching display of your product and drive it where ever you like, meaning in marketing terms thousands of potential consumers are seeing your goods and products driving past their eyes, and hopefully it’ll be so impacting you’ll reward them with a purchase! Not a bad idea as i really want one of those gorgeous cars!! As you can see by Tim’s picture below the clear side’s of the box are as clear as a clear thing, an aptly named idea i think. If you want to know more about the clear idea concept, click HERE.

Flag Counter

Posted on June 29, 2011 by admin

An excellent fun counter, that lets me and you see where our fellow blog readers are coming from. If you want a free Flag Counter for your website just click HERE.

Transam Trucking & Truckblog Rock

Posted on June 27, 2011 by admin

Another contributer hopefully signed up to Truckblog on the Move. The one and only Transam Trucking is now sporting the rare truckblog mark! Driver Mat Ireland is the named driver who doesn’t realise what he’s got himself into….sorry i mean is the lucky driver who is now part of the truckblog family. I’m hoping over the next few months we will get some interesting pics of this particular sticker enjoying its new rock n roll lifestyle!

I did actually hand Mat 2 stickers so you never know we might get another driver from Transam signed up aswell. Can you imagine, we might even get a passing pop/rock starlet passing the sticker while on tour……..In fact i’m not sure who the sticker is currently on tour with, Mat can you fill us in??
I was also quietly pleased that the sticker joins other famous stickers on the back doors of Mats trailer, Superfast Ferries and Minoan Lines, aswell as what i think is a PB Tank Cleaning sticker, yes another sad fact that i seem to know my truck stickers!!

If you drive the highways and byways of our Great Land or even Europe and beyond, email the blog and pledge your case and I may just send you a truckblog sticker too, if you have a worthy place for it that is. Below is an example of “Truckblog on The Move” on the back of an Astran trailer departing Kent for the Middle East. Also the same truck in the desert on it’s way. Unfortunately the rear view with the sticker in seemd to get lost in translation during the trip! Still you get the idea of “truckblog on the move”.