Category Archives: Video

The Italian Job

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I may have still been in short trousers in the late 80’s and early 90’s but I was already dreaming of Amy from the A-Team, Kylie Minogue, Anneka Rice, sorry, long distance trucking to Europe. Italia has always been a favored destination for the long distance Clara’s among us (sadly not me…yet) and it’s fair to say that one of the big parts of any trip to Italy is getting over the Alps. Which ever route you chose, whether it be Frejus or the Blanc, it was a regular route for hauliers from all European countries, although looking at these videos it would seem that every 3rd truck is from the Northampton area!

Luckily for us, whether you were sleep deprived and heading back to the UK or if you were too busy looking at Mrs Edwards in art class, sorry learning your times tables, thanks to the genius that is Pasquale Caccavale, lots of the goings on over the mountains has been recorded on what could have only been a fairly large video camera. You can loose hours looking through Pasquale’s YouTube channel, so I thought I’d share a few crackers to entice you in to watch more in your own time. One thing that genuinely does surprise me is the amount of British trucks cresting the mountains. I know its always been a popular destination but it seems that Pasquale must have know when the brits were coming. I guess it was regular days depending on which way you were heading and what end of the week it was, but still. There are many more videos to watch on the YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to go and see what other gems you can find. You might even find yourself, you never know! I love the Carisio video, its the who’s who of UK international Transport, must have been a convention on, nothing to do with the beer and local “services”…. Grazie Pasquale….

Merry Christmas Bloggers!!

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Retro Truck Show 2019 Vlog

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Oh happy sunny days, when we could stay outside without drowning, when we could stand about all evening, enjoying a cool beer and a good yarn with other like minded folk, bring back the summer! The Retro Truck Show at Gaydon is still one of, if not the best Truck Show in the UK. This year was especially good, as I was able to take a beast of truck, in a convoy, with a V8 burbling away and smoke pouring out the stacks!

Myself in the 143 450 Streamline, James from HC Wilson in the 141 and Matt Ireland in the F16. Now there’s a convoy for the truck pervert! Although its not particularly good quality but the photo below is a sight for retro eyes, coming up the M40, probably how the M40 used to be with the Irish running between boats. I know we were spotted by a few, as there were various comments on social media over the show weekend about how people had seen such a great sight back on the UK motorways!

Anyway, my photo talents are sketchy at the best of times, but you can see the rest of my photos by clicking HERE – If this doesn’t float your boat, then have a watch of Matt’s little video of the weekend. Starting off with some convoy action from the drive up. A great afternoon and what a lucky bunch we are to have friends who will let us borrow these fine motors of yester-year. Just for the record I did realise that i am not one of those that gets fed up with the V8 growling through the open sun roof, even in the rain showers. Thanks again to all involved in a top weekend, you know who you are, thanks to Darren and his team for putting on another great show and thanks to all those who came with trucks. In my opinion the widest variety this year of different makes and models. If you have not been to the Retro show before, get yourselves along next year, or get yourself booked in with your retro motor. If you think yours isn’t up to standard or isn’t shiny enough, it really isn’t that kind of show. Those in, shall we say, “working” condition or those needing a little Tcut here and there get just as much attention as the show is full of enthusiasts.

Transam Trucking Summer 2018 – P1

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It might not turn out to be the summer of love but I’m sure it will be trucking good one. My good buddy Mat Ireland is once again going to have a busy summer keeping all of our favourite music artists, moving about Europe, keeping us all entertained and giving us those summer songs and experiences we all crave during the long dark months of winter. Mat has promised me that he will keep the video diaries coming this year, so I thought it was only fair to post his first video for you all to see. I don’t need to say anything about it other than it seems a long way down down to the bottom deck of the Stena boat! I’ve been aboard many times but I have never been down to the bottom. Anyway it’s a cracking start to the season Mat, so please keep them coming……sorry about the plonker you met in Colchester on your way to Harwich.

South West England to South West Australia

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You’re young, You’re truck mad, your dad’s truck mad, you drive a truck, your dad drives a truck, but you live in Taunton. Not exactly the home of UK trucking or indeed road train trucking, so what do you do??……. Yep that’s right, head off to warmer climbs where big trucks roam free across the endless expanse of dirt tracks, tarmac, desert, rainforest and what ever else is in between, you guessed it, Bristol sorry, sorry I meant Australia of course! If you want to see some big trucks and get to work with big trucks why not do as our man in Kangaroo country has done and sign up for a farming team in Oz. Young Jack Rigby is truck mad, having an owner driver for a dad, did Jack ever stand a chance of having a career doing anything else? No of course not, every Owner Drivers child wants to grow up like their dad don’t they???

Not scared of a gear stick like many new/young drivers are, or indeed hardwork, Jack has been hard at it with his team harvesting Australia’s crops and getting to ride and also drive some absolute beauties. As is the case these days in Oz, there seems to be a real mishmash of American type and European type trucks. Luckily for Jack he’s tried all of them and none better than the triple trailered Kenworth above. The beauty of this all is that Jack can utilise both his agricultural skills and truck driver skills all in one. Just listen to that engine grumble away, you can virtually feel the ground shaking as she picks up speed. Time to give Jack a pat on the back with those gear changes, as you may have noticed he’s not using a clutch pedal. As Jack is at an age of post gear lever trucks here in the UK it’s nice to see a young whipper snapper with such great skill. I think just one little missed gear is perfectly acceptable considering.

Lots of European trucks over in Oz these days. Traditionally big American trucks have always been most popular but these days it seems to be much more of an even split between American and European trucks. The team Jack is working with are clearly fans of European trucks as they have a good number of Volvo’s and some ageing Scania’s still in use. If I know Jack a little then he’ll be keen to try as many as he can and hopefully he’ll collect enough photos and tales of the Australian roads and farming that he’ll write some blogs himself when he is back in Blighty. Due to licensing the tidy Volvo below with a single trailer is one of Jacks regular seats.

The Kings of Heavy Telly

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Hi Ben,
Would you like to spread the news that KINGS HEAVY HAULAGE have had a TV series made about them and the first program goes out this Friday at 9pm on Quest?

Here are more details…………………. We need as many people as possible to click the youtube link: HERE
KINGS HEAVY HAULAGE – WE’RE GONNA BE ON THE TELLY !!

On Friday 20th February you see the team here at Kings starring in our very own reality television series – SUPERTRUCKERS.
Find us on the Quest Channel (Freeview 37, Sky 167, Virgin 172)
Click the link below to see our pre-titles on YOUTUBE

CLICK HERE – CLICK HERE – CLICK HERE – CLICK HERE

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Kings Heavy Haulage are here to show you just how they earned the name ‘Supertruckers’ in this brand new Quest series. In each of the episodes the team are confronted with challenges of logistics and logic as they negotiate weird and wonderful objects around the familiar settings of the motorways of Britain.
SUPERTRUCKERS premieres every Friday at 9pm from 20th February.

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For the team at Kings Heavy Haulage, no job is ever too big as the 25 strong team haul awkward, colossal and abnormal loads up and down the country.The six-part observational documentary follows Bristol-based, family run business, Kings Heavy Haulage as the truckers test themselves both physically and mentally in their quest to deliver difficult loads. The series is brought to life with the lively characters who are some of the most experienced truckers in the business.

Kings Heavy Haulage, Loads Safer!
Tel: 01179 824824
email: sales@kingshaulage.co.uk
www.kingshaulage.co.uk

My Best Truck of 2014

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For me this is the best truck I have seen in 2014. It might not be the newest, it might not be most practical for most of Europe and it certainly won’t be everyones taste but for me, spot on.

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If you live in the UK and haven’t been to one I strongly advise that you make 2015 your first trip to a European truck show, the standard of trucks is amazing. I can’t deny that the trucks here in the UK are getting better and better but the Europeans just seem to have it right, they all look good. To me the best trucks have always been out of reach of what I could afford or achieve and the T560 is no different. We all joke about winning the lottery but a Tcab would be very close to the top of my list. It’s blue, it’s got two sets of pipes, it’s got a subtle custom interior and enough lights to make it look good but not over the top. As with anything I would make a few subtle changes as I’d want to put my mark on it.

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2014 has seen a big rise in the blogs popularity through all mediums, the Facebook page, twitter and the good old fashioned http://www.truckblog.co.uk website. I’m not going to link to any of those this time round as I’m sure you all could do with a break from the ruthless links and plugs for the blog. I have no idea where the blog will be in another 12 months, hopefully you’ll all still send me stuff, photos, info and the odd piece of trucking memorabilia to decorate TBHQ and I’ll keep bugging the TV companies in the vague hope they’ll see that we need Truckblog TV!

Hopefully I’ll be visiting, Truckfest Peterborough, Crowfield Truck Rally, Gathering of the Griffin, Retro Truck Show at Gaydon, more than likely (and hopefully) Truckstar Festival at Assen as my foreign trip, although I have heard on the grapevine that there is quite a convoy of English motors heading to the International Trucker & Country Show held at Interlaken, CH. I have always wanted to go James?? Finally if the offer is still there then I might just make it to Belfast too.

Anyway thank you for following and thank you for making the blog what it is, without your contributions I’m sure you’d all be bored silly of 143’s, MAN TGL LX’s and Mercedes-Benz photos! As we all do secretly say now and again Keep on Trucking!

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Volvo FH V Koenigsegg

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Volvo Trucks marketing have done it again!! A super bit of Swedish marketing along with the one of the best drivers in the UK, Mr Tiff Needell. This time Tiff is taking an FH 540 around a Swedish race track and having rather a lot of fun in the process. The only thing about the video is that lucky Tiff gets to drive the big Volvo in a derestricted state, something that all (most!?) drivers can only dream about these days. Have a little read of the press release below. The idea behind the crazy Needell-ness is to promote Volvo truck’s new dual clutch gearbox, it does look very smooth!!

An eight-tonne Volvo FH against one of the world’s fastest cars – a Koenigsegg One:1. This is the scenario in Volvo’s new YouTube film, ‘Volvo Trucks v Koenigsegg’. The aim is to put the new I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox – based on a technique used in sports cars – to the ultimate test.

In the film a Volvo FH comes up against a Koenigsegg One:1, with as much horsepower as weight kilos (1360), making it the world’s first mega-car. In order to stand a fair chance, the Koenigsegg received a handicap which means that it drove two laps of the Knutstorp race track in southern Sweden, whereas the Volvo FH tractor unit only drove one lap. Despite this, the conclusion is still unpredictable. The purpose of the race is to put the new Volvo I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox to the ultimate test.

“I-Shift Dual Clutch has a dual-clutch, which is quite unique in the heavy vehicles market. However, similar technology is already in sports cars. Therefore, this was the perfect challenge,” said Jeff Bird, Press Test Director at Volvo Trucks. The similarities between the Volvo FH truck with I-Shift Dual Clutch and sports cars include includes a driveability that comes with seamless gear shifting and this is no more evident than at this circuit, which is known for its hilly terrain and demanding turns.

“It may sound like a different environment for a heavy truck, but the fact is that – thanks to its dual-clutch – I-Shift Dual Clutch is most useful in conditions that require a lot of shifting. The gearbox’s seamless shifts improve driveability tremendously,” said Jeff Bird.

Behind the steering wheel of the Volvo FH is the experienced motor racing personality Tiff Needell. Without revealing the results, Tiff – who had never raced in a truck before – admits that he was impressed by the performance of the vehicle.

“I-Shift Dual Clutch is absolutely incredible. It is particularly noticeable on slopes, the truck does not hold back – it just flows smoothly, without the gear changes being felt. When you brake, it switches down very softly and comfortably. The truck definitely has the heart of a sports car,” says Tiff Needell.

Volvo Trucks’ new dual-clutch gearbox was launched in Europe last June and is available on Volvo FH with Euro-6 D13 engines at 460hp, 500hp and 540hp ratings.

FH leading Koenigsegg

Jean-Claude Volvo Damme

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Once again Volvo Trucks have pulled out all the stops, to show the world just how good the new technology in the new truck range is. Before we had the tight rope between the trucks and the bull run to name a few, but this time it’s a well know actor doing the splits on the wing mirrors of two reversing Volvo FM’s. How they got JCVD to be involved is anyone’s guess but you have to admit that these stunts by Volvo are becoming pretty impressive. The video above is pre-stunt build up, while the video below is the stunt in full……..I’m not sure if JCVD is an optional extra on your new Volvo but I’m guessing he’ll be pretty split between you and the next customer anyway!

Volvo Trucks Youtube channel is HERE.

NEW VOLVO FL CHASED BY BULLS

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Yet another crazy but awesome stunt created and carried out by Volvo Trucks to promote the new Volvo FL distribution truck. This comes straight from Volvos Press office:

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In Volvo Trucks’ new film ‘The Chase’, the Volvo FL distribution truck faces the ultimate test. In the film the truck is chased by bulls in a race through the medieval Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo, a small cathedral city in western Spain, “It’s incredible that you can get a truck this size through a town this small,” says precision driver Rob Hunt
In Volvo Trucks’ series of spectacular tests, the turn has now come to the Volvo FL distribution truck. During the development of the new Volvo FL, top priority was given to making the vehicle as comfortable as possible to drive.

In ‘The Chase’ Volvo Trucks aimed to show how easy it is to manoeuvre the new 12-tonne truck in a demanding urban environment by giving precision driver Rob Hunt the task of driving a two kilometre course through the congested streets of Ciudad Rodrigo, near Salamanca – while being chased by a herd of bulls.

“The town is old, the streets are narrow and we drive on slippery cobblestones. To be chased by bulls on top of that is a real challenge,” says Rob Hunt.

During the test in Ciudad Rodrigo, the truck had to maintain a speed of at least 30 kilometres an hour just to keep ahead of the bulls. In certain sections of the course the streets were so narrow that Rob Hunt had to tuck in his rear-view mirrors.

“The bulls maintained a consistently high speed and were really close sometimes, but the truck handled the corners very well so it was just a matter of driving. There was a whole lot happening, but the truck helped me the whole way,” says Rob Hunt. The safety of both people and animals was the top priority during the spectacular event and all necessary safety precautions were taken.

“The biggest risk was that we were in a town. It was live and we had to make sure that it was safe for both people and animals. With the big rear mirrors I had a good view of the bulls and the bull runners behind me so I could keep a good safe distance. And the automated gearbox made it easy to focus on the driving,” says Rob Hunt.

“The new 12-tonner is a sharp contender in the largest medium-duty distribution segment. The truck is well-thought-out in every detail. Take for instance the smaller wheels, which lower the cab by five centimetres. This gives the driver better visibility all round and makes it easier to get in and out of the cab,” says Tobias Bergman, Product Manager Distribution and Refuse Segment at Volvo Trucks. The fact that the Volvo FL is specially tailored for fast and agile urban transport was something that precision driver Rob Hunt learned first-hand when he took the starring role in ‘The Chase’.

“For a driver using this truck every day for work its comfortable, for both short-distance and longer trips. It has an automated gearbox and cruise control and it’s easy to steer. The visibility is great; you can see cars, bicycles and pedestrians. This truck definitely makes the driver’s life easier,” says Rob Hunt.

Above is the behind the scenes, making of the video. It doesn’t matter what angle you look at it from, it is another top marketing ploy by Volvo Trucks, after all people like me are busy writing about it for you to read! Volvo Trucks Youtube channel is HERE.

For the animal lovers among you Volvo have stated that none of the bulls were hurt during filming and after filming the bulls were retired to a farm in Guadalajara.

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