Snow Time for Messing About

Posted on December 10, 2011 by truckbloguk

Now the winter is with us, a quick stark reminder to all of you on the road, PLEASE BE CAREFULL! We can all think we have been there and done that when it comes to snow and ice on the roads, but it’s no reason to be complacent. Remember it can still catch you out, as this Freightline Europe driver found out, reportedly without any injury.

This came up on Facebook the other weekend. The little report underneath said the driver was unhurt, but the truck, as you can see wasn’t. As for the drawbar trailer, it was left just as a chassis. The accident happened late one night in Norway. The Dutch registered Scania was loaded with drinks and lost control on a bend. By my reckoning the truck may have only fallen on one side then onto the roof, as the cab doesn’t look too badly damaged, but I may well be wrong. Whether your in Norway, Spain or Bulgaria, just remember it can happen to the best of us, slow or fast ice and snow is still slippery! Here is a photo of the Scania in all its glory, before it’s roll in the snow. Picture is from Freightline Europe’s website, which is worth a look even if it’s just for the Gallery pages.

The Original “EDZ 450”

Posted on December 6, 2011 by truckbloguk

A few weeks back I put some photo’s of MW Taskers new Scania R560 here on the blog. Everyone said how good the truck looks etc etc, but a few of you asked why does a brand new truck, deep in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, have a set of Northern Irish numbers plates, EDZ 450?? and why does the second truck on the Tasker fleet have a similar plate? Keep reading and I will explain all. Firstly here is a photo of the original EDZ 450, a real, true legend of the international trucking world!!

Back in 1995 a certain Michael Tasker was on the look out for a 2nd hand left hand drive V8 to purchase. What should he stumble upon, but what appeared to be an ex Ralph Davies Scania 143 450hp. Scania, check. V8, check. LHD, check. Tag axle, check. Ally wheels, exhaust stacks, extra lights, check check check. Perfect. So off to Holyhead to view the truck.

Holyhead?? Yes the truck was, at the time, owned by an Owner Driver in Holyhead who went by the name of ED. Are you working it out for your self?? Yes you guessed it, the reg number came from it’s Holyhead owner. EDZ 450 translates to Ed’s 450hp Scania. Thats it. Simple when you know isn’t it?! No real reason for Tasker to have the plate except that it was the reg on the truck when he bought back in ’95 and has kept it on a truck ever since. The simple reason for Tasker’s second truck to have the plate HDZ 450, is purely and simply that is was the closest match to EDZ. So now you know why a Suffolk owner driver has always had a Northern Irish plate. Do you know who owner driver Ed from Holyhead is or was? Then email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment.

The next part of the story was a little rumour that Tasker can’t quite remember the details of. The faded memory is that this truck never actually made it on to the Ralph Davies fleet. Is it possible it was fully specced up but the order was cancelled and the truck was sold on. To me, i’m not sure I can quite believe it, but every story has to start from some where. If the truck was finished to Ralph Davies spec, including stacks, lights, wheels, why at that late late stage of new vehicle delivery would it have been cancelled?? No ideas? no me either. Can you help shed any light on the rumour? is there any way of telling if it ever was a Ralph Davies truck? Please feel free to leave your comments or email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk and in return i’ll leave you with a photo of the latest EDZ 450.

Old Cloggie Scania Still Working

Posted on December 4, 2011 by truckbloguk

This old girl is still working for a living over in the Netherlands. Spotted last week by HC Wilson driver Jon Pryke at Ritchie Brothers Auction site in Moerdijk. It looks to me like a bonnetted 110 (Scania that is!), but you may want to correct me. The truck has been restored and has a lovely new looking interiour and a good paint job. Pulling a 3 axle Nooteboom semi low loader, it was in Moerdijk loading some used plant. The old boy driving it, didn’t get why Jon wanted to click a couple of photos, as it’s just a working truck! Lovely to see these old trucks still out and about working, what ever country your in. Have you seen an oldie still doing a days graft? email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave your comments below.

New Ozzie Mini Artic is Nearly Ready

Posted on November 24, 2011 by truckbloguk

Remember a little while back I introduced you too a new mate of mine from Australia, Julian Baker. He runs a mini artic around Australia delivering cars under the wing of Ceva Logistics. He currently has a new UD tractor unit in the making. Once again I will leave you in his capable hands, so sit back open a stubbie, chuck another shrimp on the barbie and enjoy reading what Julian has to say;

The new one is a UD too but is quite interesting. In conjunction with the manufacture we have transplanted a 15 inch diff and housing to replace the 13 inch original. The hubs and drums are interchangeable. The project has been delayed and delayed due to sourcing appropriate ratios ex Japan, as the 15 inch was normally on 22.5 inch wheels in Australia, not 17.5. This truck has 4.111 ratio with 0.78 overdrive 6 speed. Also the local senior UD management and Japanese engineering staff had been stalling approval for a few years. I have a friend who heads up UD engineering for Australia/New Zealand. We share a passion for the small, high horsepower tow vehicle but he has struggled to get traction on this project until recently. This type of vehicle sits conveniently in a GVM range that doesn’t require a speed limiter and doesn’t require a log book/work diary (driving hours) when without a trailer. Combined with the low clearance, high manouverability, low loading height and relatively high payload with high GCM we reckon the variant can be a real money making proposition. This little fella is the first UD to be painted Ceva Burgundy on the line too.

The stronger diff will complement the already upgraded gearbox, tail shaft, universals, clutch and engine in the new model. The end result is the higher GCM with a higher torque engine. The new truck will also have far greater redundancy in the driveline. The old MK265 has done a wonderful job, but as it is approaching 1 million kms, all major components have been replaced at least once. I generally sit around 20 tonne but have gone to Melbourne-Perth, Brisbane-Melbourne and numerous Melbourne-Adelaide/Sydneys a tonne or two over. Like the rest of the world we have a love of the SUV and unnecessarily large cars in Australia. Although still far more modest than the Yanks.

It is a little bit of a shame the modified truck isn’t the new, new model with a completely new cab and engine. As Volvo have owned UD for a few years the development of a new medium range took place. The new engine is 280 hp (vs 260) and 883nm (vs 794), still on 235/75 17.5 rubber. GVM is up to 11 tonne and GCM with the big diff will be 23 tonne. I know these numbers aren’t enormous compared to a TGL, LF45 or the 12 tonne Atego sold in Germany with the big rear axle, but Jap trucks are the norm down here. They have sufficient cooling capacity and Jap trucks always deliver what they promise. It’s sort of like ‘under promise, over deliver’.

Anyway, I’m still thrilled my big axle idea has been implemented. The little buggar is going to cost me a fortune as I’ve got a bit carried away with the accessories, but it’s coming along nicely. Things left to do are the bull bar and driving lights (very similar to the old truck), Ceva livery (I’m thinking of putting a big UD logo on the back window too, and maybe my football teams logo:-)), rectangular alloy fuel tanks with matching separate third hydraulic tank, the Alcoas off the old truck with a polish, chrome axle end trims on the drive, nut covers, water tank, tool box, proper drive tyres and leather upholstery. The tanks are 560mm wide x 510mm high, they should really finish the little banger off. They will send me broke alone!! I am a huge fan of the mini prime-mover, this will be my third. Chassis height and tare weight with my trailer are unique. My total tare weight is comparable to the Ceva 6 car trailers my mates tow alone. Therefore my fuel consumption is 0.4-0.7 kms per litre better. It doesn’t sound much, but can be over $100/day if running highway kms. The other blokes are pulling their 6-9 tonne prime-movers for no extra income. Purchase price, and maintenance are slightly less, but these little trucks are a five year proposition towing trailers, not 8 like they old one is.

Of course comfort and cabin room are not comparable in any way to European trucks. I have flirted with buying a MAN for 10 years but LEs then TGLs are like rocking horse droppings here. DAF LF45s don’t cool and Ivecos are terribly unreliable in Aussie conditions. Benz don’t bring Ategos to Australia running on 17.5 inch rims, and the chassis height of the 19.5 inch trucks is pretty high. Avia have been introduced recently but a 4.5 litre engine is reason enough not to consider them. Probably the main reason I haven’t taken the MAN plunge though is the odd stud pattern on the wheels. My current setup runs the same Alcoa 17.5 x 6.75 rims throughout. Even the 8 stud used by DAF and AVIA could be replicated here, but the MAN pattern would be custom custom.

I have recently come back to Melbourne from almost two years fly-in/fly-out in Tasmania. The little truck didn’t come home once. It was my home during the week. In Australia we have an ADR (Australian Design Rule) which grants the bunk in a truck to be a ‘registered sleeping compartment’. The little bunk in the MK has had this accreditation since this cabin was introduced in the mid 90s and until recently was the only narrow Jap cab to be approved. The Isuzu narrow extended cab now complies. You do not have this cab in the UK I believe. Isuzu UK either sell the narrow cab with no bunk, or the wide cab with a bunk. Anyway, I have wrap around curtains and my passenger seat folds flat so I sleep well. An extra foot of bunk and a foot more head room would be very well received though. And more storage space!!! New truck will be two seater with proper consol vs three seater with shallow consol in the back of the middle seat.

Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks – NVW 484P

Posted on November 20, 2011 by truckbloguk

Right through this little trio of my Top 3 Astran liveried trucks of all time, I have stated that the 3 were in no particular order, but as it’s my rules I can change them when I like. In my opinion this is the greatest Astran liveried truck of all time….NVW 484P, Scania 140 V8 6×4. You can’t get a better looking truck than this…….can you??

WARNING I WILL BE GETTING ALL ROMANTIC SHORTLY!! This photo comes to me care of the one and only author of “The Long Haul Pioneers“, Sir Ashley Coghill, but the photo it’s self is taken by Destination Doha assistant director Simon Normanton, what a truly great photo. Would a clear modern day digital photo give quite as much atmosphere as this?? I think not.

Where to start with my reasonings behind this being my 3rd choice in my top 3 Astran trucks of all time. As in Part One and Part Two of my choices, I can’t do much more than to ask you to take a good hard look at the photo, it’s all there. I guess really my choice of NVW 484P is pretty well based on it pulling this trailer in Destination Doha (where did this trailer end up?). Its got every thing that it should have (ready??); it’s dirty, roughed up wheels and mud flaps, roof rack and air con box, leaking fuel cap, TIR and GB on the bumper, dust pouring from the wheels, legendary driver and I know I can’t put it on here but I can just hear Dave Poulton talking away in the cab in DD and being able to hear the V8 just purring away as they head ever East. Being an ex owner of a Scania 141, for all you Scania fans who haven’t driven a 140 or a 141, you just have too. The shear joy of pressing the starter button and getting that first growl of the day, is just amazing! I think what ever the previous day had thrown at me in the depths of the desert, pressing that button the morning after a crap day must be so so reassuring. By the way right now I am wishing I had done the ME in this truck, just purrrrfect! Look out for the first time in blog history I’m going to use the same photo twice!

This photo was taken during the filming of Destination Doha. Ashley Coghill says;

“Dave Poulton at the wheel thundering across Jordan’s infamous H4 desert route to Saudi Arabia. Simon Normanton was assistant director for the BBC film Destination Doha and took many stills during the making of the film. This image has to be THE best and most iconic shot of a Scania 140 in full flight!”

It’s a brave man who will disagree with Ashley. I think of top of it being the best photo of a Scania 140 in full flight I think it also sums up the whole Middle East run. Hard trucks, hard men doing a hard job. We can all get a bit blase these days looking at the great romance of it all, but please please dont forget it wasn’t all glory. As the very proud owner of the late great Dick Snow’s diary (luckily for me he was a relation of mine), as used in Ashley’s book, you get a feel that some of the daily entries were written with great feeling.The endless days sat in a scorching hot desert at a customs post, having run out of food. Driving up a solid ice road, in the pitch dark up a mountain in darkest Turkey. These trucks were made for the job and hopefully to make it that much easier for all those legendary men who did one of the toughest jobs in the world at the time. In all honesty if we were to still use the same roads today, can you honestly say for what ever reason that a modern Scania V8 R730, would be able to cope with the Ice clad mountains and roadless deserts?? Again I think not. The computers wouldn’t keep up and there would be no chance of doing day to day running repairs and as for all the dust getting in every sensor imaginable, need I go on? The old 140’s or 141’s can also push on at 60mph if required and have no didgtach that are going to beep at you left right and centre.

This is photo is credited to the man himself Dave Poulton, but not from Destination Doha! Even in this pic you can see “the look”, the 6×4 always looks more trucky than a 4×2. Seen here pulling a tilt through Turkey. Note the lack of bumper spots and the sand shovel in the cab ladder. Case closed, Best Astran Liveried truck ever!! (In my opinion anyway!)

Speaking of which while I was at it, I asked Ashley Coghill for his top 3. You will need to refer to your copy of his book “The Long Haul Pioneers“. His choices are;

3) JLL 686K – Scania 140 Roadtrain
2) 10 RMY – GUY Warrior
1) NVW 484P – Scania 140 6×4

Again an excellent top 3, glad we agree on one truck at least! It would be great if you all wanted to leave your top 3 as comments on this one, come on if you haven’t before then leave a comment now, you have got this far after all!! If not you can email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk

Ozzie Mini Artic Specialist – Julian Baker

Posted on November 6, 2011 by truckbloguk

My new Ozzie pal Julian left all this info in a comment on the blog, but I feel that it’s just to good and to much not to give it’s own post on the blog. I think Julian may be a regular from all the way over there in BBQ land. These are Julians own words and photo’s of his mini UD Artic. By the way don’t be fooled into thinking that big old Roadtrains are the only ones to transit the great dusty expanses of Australia;

Mini Artics, or semi-trailers as we say in Australia, as a general rule are limited by the GCM (GTW, GCW) of the prime-mover (tractor). Of course there are exceptions to every rule and there may be factors that prevent the GCM being achieved. Examples of limiting factors could be an inadequate hitch/tow bar/turntable capacity, insufficient trailer axle load capacity, insufficient trailer braking capacity or just that the trailer has an insufficient ATM (aggregate trailer mass).

I guess the first thing to consider when setting up a mini semi-trailer is whether the GVM of the prime-mover will be exceeded when the combination is loaded. That is, will the combined axle loads at the ground exceed the GVM of the prime mover. The second consideration is do the trailer axles have enough load carrying/braking capacity to cater for the remainder of the combinations weight. These principals are of course the same for any type of combination, from a motor bike towing a trailer to a road train, but the mini prime-mover generally runs much closer to max. GCM than some other combinations. For example most single steer tandem drive prime-movers have GCM ratings of 70 + tonnes in Australia, but if only operating with a single trailer can only have a combined allowable weight of around 45 tonnes. The limiting factor is the local road rules. Where as with a single trailer it is very easy to load a mini semitrailer to its GCM with a fairly light trailer.

I will set out a scenario based on my vehicle:

GVM: 10400 KGS
GCM: 20000 KGS

steer axle capacity: 3700 kgs
drive axle capacity: 7500 kgs
(but steer + drive can’t exceed 10400kgs)

ATM: 20000kgs

Prime-mover tare weight: 4000kgs
Trailer tare weight: 6200kgs

So, vertical load trailer exerted on the turntable can’t be greater than 6400kgs (10400 – 4000) so the prime-mover is not overloaded. My turntable, trailer axles and trailer ATM cannot be exceeded by loading the combination to its GCM, therefore my payload is 9800kgs (20000 – 4000 – 6200). The replacement of my prime-mover is imminent and the new vehicle will have a GCM of 22000kgs. The same trailer will be used, the new truck carries more fuel and has some additional equipment so tare weight will increase to approx. 4500kgs though its GVM remains at 10400kgs. Once again the turntable, trailer axles and ATM don’t hinder the load capacity in any way. So, this time the vertical load on the turntable can’t exceed 5900kgs (10400 – 4500) and overall payload is 11300kgs (22000 – 4500 – 6200).

As you can see from the two scenarios above, care must be taken when positioning the load on the trailer as to not throw too much weight forward onto the prime-mover.

So now you know!! Hopefully Julian will keep us updated with stories, info and any thing else the Australian trucking industry can chuck at us. We all love Roadtrains, but once again anything the biggun’s can do, the little Tonka toys will be following right behind. So not only are mini artics regularly crossing Europe in all directions, but also Australia. Brilliant. I have photos of Julians new truck, they will be coming soon. Also a another good write up on the troubles of speccing a mini tractor unit in Oz.

Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks – JAN 774K

Posted on November 3, 2011 by truckbloguk

I ran this feature on Twitter a month or so ago and had some interesting come back, so I thought i’d try it on here and see what you have to say. Firstly you need to understand this is a Top 3 Astran Liveried Trucks, in my opinion and in no particular order.

My first choice is an early Scania 140 V8, reg no JAN 774K. Now for those of you you who know me, this may seem like a slightly biased choice as these photo’s of JAN 774K were taken by my relation/uncle Dick Snow, when he was the driver of said truck. I have no idea how long this was Dick’s truck, but it was long enough to take a few good pictures, i’m sure a certain Ashley Coghill could tell us more.

My reasons for this being in my top 3 are mainly coz it is a classic Astran looking truck. In all the pic’s it is always covered in dirt, luggage on the roof rack, the odd unavoidable dent of long distance intercontinental trucking……….hang on i’m getting all romantic again! It’s that thing I always talk about, it’s got that look. It just looks great, like a truck should. I’m all for shiny shiny show condition with all the bling, but a truck in its true work state, always looks cracking to me. Another reson this is a great Astran truck, is that it’s a wagon and drag. Astran were keen on wagin and drags as they did have a few of them (again, Mr Coghill could tell us how many!).

This is another of Snowie’s pics, showing the truck in all it’s glory. It could even be the same trip as the first pic but who knows. I also love Snowies’s outfit, Checked shirt and cordroy trousers and big sun glasses. Another great pic of JAN 774K is the one below. In Ashley’s book, The Long Haul Pioneers, the pic below is said to be part of the Astran collection, but as I have the original in my bedside draw, i’m guessing it’s Dick’s. I could have picked any of the early wagon and drags for the top 3, but I think as I have a slight connection with JAN 774K, it’s the ideal truck. Below you can see the truck in a fairly new condition. I’m guessing Dick must have been driving otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the pic, also as it’s infront of 2 others, it must be Dick as he was always ahead from what I hear!

Who was the tall chap walking beside the trucks? any ideas. In fact looking at the pic again I reckon it could be the trucks 1st trip. Just look how tidy it is. No additional grill mounted spots, fresh-ish paint on the wheels and bumper, the headlight surrounds are still chrome!! I think as it’s an early member of the Astran Fleet. If this pic was on her maiden voyage, it would have been in 1971. All in all I think a good candidate for a top 3 position. If you want to share you own top 3 Astran liveried trucks of all time, then please either leave a comment or send me an email at; ben@truckblog.co.uk keep an eye out for the other 2 trucks in the top 3, they’ll be coming soon, or if you follow the blog on twitter (search for @truckbloguk) you will already know the top 3!!

Activ Spotting by You Lot

Posted on October 24, 2011 by truckbloguk

Everyone thinks it’s me thats keen on the little German fleet of Activ Cars Spezial Transporte from Bremen. Well that is quite true, I am. Mrs Truckblog quite simply say’s the reason I like them is because they are little big trucks. Which, when you think about it, is pretty spot on. As I have harped on about Activ month after month, my plan has finally started to work, you are beginning to email me with your own spots of the Silver Mercedes Benz fleet.

First up is one of my work colleagues at HC Wilson, Matt Lamb spotted this one in Germany last week, some where between Osnabruck and Bremen. Bremen being Activ’s base.

Zoomed in you can see the tractor is a Mercedes Benz Atego with what i’m guessing is an 11 or 13 metre long Berger trailer. Yes I was a little disappointed that there was no cab shot, but Matt did’t get the chance, so i’ll be happy in the knowledge that he is on the case and busy spotting! If you see and Activ Cars why not email me with your pics; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Next up is driver Robert Davey, he emailed me some pics of a Mercedes Benz Vario. Robert was un-impressed with his own photographic skills, but I got him to email them over. Robert says; “They were all taken from my cab, in the queue at Killingholme (quayside) on the 30th of September this year.”

I often wonder what the inside of the Vario sleeper cab is like. I have seen the inside of of the newer Sprinter sleeper cabs, so I guess they are like that, probably with a slightly wider bunk. Speaking of the bunk, I do hope the drivers remember to keep the rear doors of their cabs locked, to avoid any nasty bunk falling out the door incidents! Top spotting my Activ friends, keep at it and keep emailing……

Brazilian Trucking with Wilson

Posted on September 18, 2011 by truckbloguk

….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 truckbloguk

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!!

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