Piggy Backer Volvo – Now & Then

Posted on August 30, 2012 by truckbloguk

Trawling through the endless photos that appear on Facebook these days, there are always one or two that catch my eye. The other day my eye was caught by a photo posted by Gökhan Diler of a Volvo F88 Rigid cattle truck. Mr Diler posts plenty of photos clearly taken all over the place (I’d love to know where this one was taken??), so why did this Volvo stand out?….Well it just had that familiar feel to it. I mean how many rigid Volvo cattle trucks do you know of?? I have since been told that “UPB” on the head board stands for “United Pig Breeders”. A few years back I was busy buzzing about the Essex countryside in a tipper and I used to get everywhere. Not far outside Chelmsford on a main road, not visible from a car, I could just see over a hedge next to a shed on a farm, an aging Volvo in an orangey colour. I stopped in and enquired like you do. I was told that it used to do a lot of continental work with a cattle wagon body on which made sense as it was left hand drive. I thought at the time I took a couple of photos but as yet I haven’t managed to find them. Any way the photo above appeared on the Facebook and I was sure it was the same truck, challenge on, ask you my beloved bloggers for help……….

……BINGO!! A big thanks to blog reader Dan Edmonds, a driver from Chelmsford. He knew exactly where said Volvo was resting and managed to send these more recent photos of JWH 499P. As you can see she isn’t in quite as good condition as Gökhan’s photo and also not quite the same colour scheme. I love these then and now pics and I hope to bring you a few more over the next few months, as and when I can scan a few hundred photos I have here at Truckblog HQ. If you have any Now & Thens, please feel free to email them to me for us all to enjoy;

New Volvo Comes with Optional Tight Rope & Walker!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by truckbloguk

It seems that Volvo have thought of every thing with there new truck range….you can even spec a rope connecting to another truck and also a stunt woman! Not to sure what its all in aid of other than the release publicity for the launch, but still its quite impressive. Truck and woman that is!

The press release from Volvo says the following;

“The driving force behind the film is Volvo Trucks. The aim is to highlight the driveability and superior handling of the company’s latest truck model – the new Volvo FH. The stunt was possible to carry out due to the excellent stability and handling of the new Volvo FH. It was thanks to this stability that both trucks could maintain a steady gap throughout the stunt.

“It’s not enough simply to say that we are good. We wanted to demonstrate just how much progress we’ve made in the area of both driveability and handling,” says Ulf Nordqvist, project manager for the new Volvo FH series.”

The world premiere and official launch of the Volvo FH Series will be held on September 5th at 8pm GMT and the launch event will be webcast live at www.volvotrucks.com/fh

Quick Pick of Channel Spotting

Posted on July 9, 2012 by truckbloguk

Although I run this little website for like minded truck types, I honesty still feel self concious (if that’s the right wording) about taking photos of trucks…yes really. I’m not like the Neil Jarrolds or Ferdy De Martins of the world, who happily take photos willy and indeed nilly. For what ever reason i’m still not a confident wagon snapper. Anyway I thought it’d be a let down to my loyal readers if I didn’t take a few photos while sitting in Calais waiting for my boat. The dock wasn’t busy and I was only snapping out the truck window through a handy sized gap in the car transorter next to me, so the photos are not that great, they are a bit dark. The wagon above arrived in Calais, followed closely by a slightly smaller version. Both Scanias are Austrian registered and are used on the F1 Grand Prix circuit. They are used to build the hospitality units that we all see on the TV. I did have a tip off they are just for the Red Bull team, but i’m not sure how true it is, as it seems a little odd for a racing team based in Milton Keynes, UK to exclusively use a truck mounted crane company from Austria. Leave your comments please.

Speaking of F1, parked next to me was the above Mercedes Benz Actros car transporter (you can just the KFL logo behind). This one was parked behind two others and there was also one at the front of my lane. As you can see they are all loaded up with the F1 support vehicles. Each silver Mercedes Benz car or Vito was marked up with its purpose, such as; Media, Medical, Race Support (the 6.3 litre AMG estate!), Extraction (??) etc etc. Very smart.

Being in Calais you’d expect to see a Norbert, but these days you don’t see French registered ones. Just like everyone else ND now uses Eastern European registered trucks. Plenty of other Eastern Europeans about including this odd liveried Bulgarian Scania. Apparently it is supporting the Aston Villa captain who has Cancer or Leukaemia, but is a Bulgarian national hero (I don’t know much about soccer anymore), but Mr Lloydswell Dodsworth filled me in.

Much to my delight there were also a host of little Tonka trucks of all nationalities coming and going. First a very old and over worked Red Atego. I think the number plate looked Hungarian, but what ever it was, it did look like it should be on it’s last return journey to its home land.

This little MAN drawbar was obviously not sure which boat, lane or line he was supposed to be shipping to the UK on as he was already in a lane when I arrived, but over the next 45 minutes, manged to change lines and line a further 3 times. I wonder if he ever got to the UK, or even if he wanted to get to the UK in the first place?! Remember 4 axles, means a GVW of 26,000 kg, according to my some what sketchy, previous research!

An English truck, heading off into France on a Friday morning. It would have to be some thing special and it was. A 7.5 ton Iveco Eurocargo Pigeon Carrier! The truck was a 54 plate and had a sleeper pod on the roof, so it must go a fair distance. Although it would be quite cosy with the 2 drivers in the cab.

Driving on the boat, there were a few more Angleterre trucks heading home. Armoric Freight Volvo and another big cabbed Mercedes Atego, that I want to say was Dods & Brown, but i’m sure that’s wrong. Please correct me.

I saved the best til last. This could be my current perfect truck, apart from, as another well know MAN TGL driver agreed with me, they should have put those fake side panels either side of the fridge unit!

If I was offered this truck with Euro work or a big artic with Euro work, I would honestly choose this. An MAN TGL LX, 12.250 with a Lamberet fridge body. Spare wheel, long range tanks and still with tyre shine on, this must be its maiden voyage to the UK and hopefully not its last. I think it needs a sun visor though. If I was Neil Jarrold, I would have walked off to find it and take some more pics and I wish I had. I think it was parked behind the Armoric Freight Volvo, unfortunately not on my boat. For any one rich out there who wants an investment, buy me one of these in blue and I will make your money back two fold!

There it goes…..Proof I was taking my pics through the body of that F1 transporter above. I do wish I had the time to spend a Friday or Monday sitting in Calais proper spotting……One day.

PRIDE OF THE FENS!

Posted on July 3, 2012 by truckbloguk

Customised promotional model vehicle specialists, Search Impex, are pleased to announce the release of a 1:50 scale Volvo FH3 Globetrotter XL (6×2) with 3 axle, curtain trailer, customised in the well known livery of East Anglia based operator Knowles Transport Ltd. The model has been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectables as a certificated, Limited Edition (105 pieces).

Founded in 1932 by Gerald Knowles, the haulage operation began life with the transporting of agricultural produce to the wholesale London markets (Covent Garden, in particular) and the carrying of sugar beet from the fields of East Anglia to the local refineries. Some 80 years on, whilst general haulage remains the backbone of the operation, the Company has grown unrecognisably. With a fleet approaching 90 trucks and 200 trailers, the business remains privately owned and serves an impressive customer base which includes many household brands from both UK blue chip companies, as well as multi-national FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) customers. The Company operates throughout the UK and delivers to retail locations, dedicated distribution warehouses and manufacturing plants alike. Hand in hand with its distribution service, Knowles Transport also operates 1.5 million square feet of warehousing within East Anglia, in easy reach of Felixstowe and Tilbury ports, with a huge variety of storage options.

Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £137 each (including UK delivery & VAT). To check availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call them on 01332 873 555.

Crowfield Classics

Posted on June 9, 2012 by truckbloguk

A rare sight in any ones book. These 2 classic Swedes were pride of place at yet another damp Crowfield Truck Rally, held last Sunday the 3rd June at the Orwell Truckstop, Ipswich. This event is organised by the East Coast Truckers and always attracts lots of visitors and entrants as it goes, but numbers are limited so the places fill up quickly.
The 2 trucks above are both well know in and around Suffolk. The H.C. Wilson Scania 141 was bought new and has been working with Wilson ever since and still does the odd days graft now and again. The Russell Davies Scania 110 is a bit rarer as it spends most of its days at the Ipswich transport museum, but does come out for the odd run during the summer. The truck was the first ever purchase for the Russell Davies fleet in 1974 and was sold on in 1977. The truck was bought again in 1985 and restored back to her original colours. She looks well, perhaps even better with a spread axle skelly trailer behind??? Just an idea.

This nice late DAF 3200 is in the colours of Suffolk haulier EJ Farrow. Nice, clean and simple, bearing the company details what more do you need? Although it does look a little small compared to it’s bigger younger brother parked alongside. While we’re on DAF, below is an earlier 2800, owned by another local haulier Neil Bomford.

Next up is Rowell’s Transport’s delightful Volvo F7 sleeper. I love this little Volvo, I used to see loads of them around the industrial estate’s of Braintree as a boy. A local haulier had quite a few and it was also the first truck I drove on my own across my cousins farm during harvest. Although my cousins version was an 8×4 tipper, but it still had the sleeper cab. This Rowell’s truck has been given plenty of love and care and now looks like new, a real credit to the owners. Traditional sign writing, original interior and even retro windscreen flags, I hope this little beastie got a trophy, it deserves it.

Finnaly we have Geoff Warrens customised Scania 142 with highroof and also another high roof classic in the shape of Terry Seaman’s big cabbed Foden. The Scania still works in the summer months but doesn’t tend to venture out to much in the winter. As for the Foden, that is still earning a crust and I actually saw it out on the road this week with a tipper trailer. It’s nice to see that a classic English truck can still earn a living and not be badly affected by the ever increasing emissions regulations. As far as I know farm yards are not yet under any sort of Low Emission Zone red tape!

I can’t say much about H.C. Wilson’s 2 classics as we all know they both enjoy a trip to a show, but are both very much thought of as working trucks. The 141 doesn’t do to too many days out, but N500 HCW still is called into action when ever required, usually for swapping with a break down or an MOT vehicle.

There were plenty of other trucks at Crowfield, but the increasingly popular classic’s that we see at our shows, need to be appreciated. If you click HERE you will go to my other photos from the show.

Dutch Knights of The Road

Posted on June 7, 2012 by truckbloguk

A few weeks back I asked about a German MAN TGL breakdown truck, I got a good email from a Dutch reader, Bauke Van Der Wal. Not only did Bauke tell me all about the Koopmann MAN he also told me about a big V8 Actros that Koopmann run, its worth searching on YouTube for the sound! I have since looked up the Koopmann website and it is so disappointing I wish I hadn’t looked, so we’ll get back to Bauke and Broekhuizen.

After getting through the Koopmann stuff, it turns out that Bauke is himself a Wrecker driver for Dutch firm Broekhuizen from Donkerbroek. Broekhuizen do all types of recovery, both national work in the Netherlands as well as International recovery. A mixed fleet by the looks of it. Bauke drives a few of the smaller trucks, but is currently doing training to enable him to work on the bigger trucks, like the 8×4 DAF’s and Volvo’s. Bauke said in his email;

“I work in the towing and recovery for the company Broekhuizen. I drive the most with the DAF 45 for the short distance and for the long distances with the Mercedes Atego. For the accident recovery when we have to use a crane I drive the DAF 95 6×2. Also I drive as second driver on the big DAF 95 Spacecab 8×4 or the FH16 8×4 when we have a big heavy recovery. I’m in training and learning for the heavy recovery.”

Looks like Bauke keeps himself busy and is quite a keen photographer too, so fingers crossed for more photos to come. It would be good to have a regular Dutch contributor. Any way that’s about for today, but i’ll leave you with a photo of Baukes big DAF 6×2, but see how long it takes you to work out what he’s about to recover, leave your answers in the comment box below.

Thanks to Bauke for the pics and info.

Scania’s Man Test

Posted on May 31, 2012 by truckbloguk

For those of you who missed it, last weeks Commercial Motor magazine inadvertently contained the ultimate man test (and a few half decent photos!). A while back CM magazine did a Volvo comparison of a brand new FH750 and an F16 470. I read with interest but it didn’t stir me as much as last weeks. A brand new Scania R730 V8 compared to a 141 V8 and how far truck technology has come. It’s fair to say that all makes of truck have changed beyond belief and I myself can relate to this test as I have driven brand new R620’s and I also owned a 141. Which of the 2 would I choose?? Honestly?? In my opinion I think it depends on what type of man you are;

– Are you the type who likes all the luxuries of life?
– Do you prefer the straight easy rather than working her up through some bends?
– Would you rather put a few pounds on rather than work up a sweat?
– Would rather just open the back doors or get a full workout stripping your trailer?
– Do you prefer a key to a push button?

If the answer to these questions is yes, your a 730 driver, If you answered all these with no then you are a 141 driver.

Having read through the Commercial Motor article, author Brian Weatherley says he’d prefer the 730, but I wonder how many of you agree. You can’t disagree the ride of a modern truck like the 730 is as good as if not better than any expensive luxury car, but I love driving for the “Driving” element. Changing gear, getting the revs just right, holding her back using the gears, feeling like i’m actually controlling the mechanical beast under my feet. As I said I have driven both but although the newer is far superior in the comfort department, for the love of driving you just can’t beat, the 10 speed gearbox connected to the V8. The noise of the earlier V8 burbling away, makes you head for every tunnel possible and I never never tire of it burbling away. The problem with newer more comfortable truck is that, in my opinion it makes life to easy. Now I probably wouldn’t be saying this after 40’c heat and clothes full of sand having just rebuilt my tilt trailer in Doha, but even so, give me the 141 any day. After All as my all time hero Dave Poulton once said; “Have a wash, clean the truck out and you feel as happy as a sand boy again!”

The other reason for me doing this blog, is to re-share the absolutely amazing photographs in this Commercial Motor article. We all strive to take good photos of our trucks on the move, but these seem to be in another league. Would Mr Mark Bourdillon stand up and take a bow! Just look at these pics, taken on a track, yes I know, but even so with the spray coming off both trucks, they just look brilliant! So amazed I was, that I emailed Mr Bourdillon to ask his permission to use his photos on the blog. Luckily for all of us and especially those who didn’t see last weeks CM, Mark said he would happily let me put them on here. Thanks Mark.

A few things left to say;
(1) Please Please don’t use the photographic genius Mark Bourdillons photos.
(2) I really would be happy driving a 141 every day (I’d be equally as happy in the 730!)
(3) I think all these principles apply to you Volvo lovers too. F88? F89? F16? FH750??
(4) Dear Scania in the next Special Edition, Please Please bring back the “Starter Button”.
(5) Yes I had to watch all of Part 2 of Destination Doha to get my quote right……What a shame!
(6) Did they do a little speed test of the 141 round the Millbrook test track?? Mine did 73 down the A14 (unit only).
(7) Sorry this blog should have come with a “Romance” warning.

Finally, thanks again to Mark Bourdillon for letting me use his photos. Also thanks to Commercial Motor.

Classic Volvo Heading for The UK

Posted on May 24, 2012 by truckbloguk

This lovely looking Volvo F89 was spotted this week, by HC Wilson driver Jon Pryke. Eagle-eyed Jon as they call him in Elmswell, spotted this classic Swede parked in Unaccompanied bays at DFDS, Vlaardingen ready to ship to Immingham….to its new owner?? By the way although it’s Wilson coloured I don’t think it’s anything to do with them!!

From these pics it looks to be in fairly good condition and well look after. The bodywork looks straight and the paint looks relatively shiny and the little pair of stacks, well…
Anyway does anyone know any thing about who’s it is? It is clearly heading to a new owner some where in the UK or Ireland. It’d be nice to know who the owner is so we can all keep an eye out for it with a new coat of paint! The lucky owner must know a bargain when they see one, judging by the price tag….

Water Good Idea!!

Posted on May 16, 2012 by truckbloguk

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

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

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

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

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

Truckfest Peterborough – 2012

Posted on May 14, 2012 by truckbloguk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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