One of Biglorryblog's regular and multi-talented cloggies, transport journo and photographer Niels Jansen has been following the recent string on BLB concerning mega-intermodal trucks. And he's sent me these pictures along with the following e-mai message: "Hi Brian, just saw your blog on the 'Yashmak' Scania at the Kortrijk Trailer Show. I can tell you it is operated in Holland (where else in Europe could you find such intricate wagons?) by the Bontrans company in Benschop."
And here's a shot of it from the rear....Meanwhile Niels goes on to say: "It's a so-called LZV (or LHV as you say in English) and consists of a Scania R500 Topline tractor with a D-Tec Combitrailer B-double.
Now click through here to see how it goes around a corner---and what weight it runs at in Holland. Those Dutch guys don't do things by halves!
"And here's one to show you that it can also negotiate the tricky narrow Dutch polder roads!" says Niels who adds: "It can be split up into four sections(!) The combination has three lift axles and four steering, not counting the tractor. Length is 23.60 metres and the GCW is set currently on 50-tonnes. It used to be 60-tonnes for LZV's, but after a few bridges showed damages the rules were changed. Until more research is done by the road people to find out what kind of stresses longer heavier trucks cause it means 10-tonnes less payload. Bull*&^%$£2 of course, because a LZV runs on more axles that are also spread over a much longer distance than say a 50-tonne tipper on 5 axles."
Well as frustrating as that might be take comfort from the fact that 50-tonnes and 23.60-metres is a darn sight more than we've got over here Niels. Indeed, the UK's Department of Transport can't even issue the results of its survey into the case for LHVs---promised at the beginning of 2007!
Now THAT would would cause a stir at Southampton Container Terminal! Not to mention at some of the drops we do in London....
Perfect picture Niels. And the shot of it turning left off the narrow bridge shows exactly how manoeuverable it is too. What do you think of the term "Combination B-Train"?