BigLorryBlog

The trucks have to be at their destination hospital by 6 am. It then takes 2 hours to set-up the trailer by removing protective covers and extending the sides. The mobile scanners need to be operational by 8 am and usually work a 12 hour day. After an 8 pm finish, the trailer is set up for the move to the next hospital, which is made overnight.

Funnily enough BLB recently had a brain scan in an MRI...and try and avoid the obvious crack i.e. Yes they DID find something. However, if you suffer from claustrophobia you won't like them very much---and boy are they noisy too, like a out-take from a Kraftwerk track.

Although, as the company name suggests, Ralph Davies International is well known for its TIR operations, travelling further than most Con tinental hauliers, it's now building a name in the UK for specialist services such as the scanner transport contract.

MD and company founder Ralph Davies tells Biglorryblog that the company has operated Volvos since 1991 when the Cheltenham-based company bought two Volvo F10 Globetrotter-cabbed tractor units. Since then, they've bought more than 200 of them. And for the past two years, all RD's new trucks have been specified with Volvo’s automated I-Shift gearbox.

As Ralph says, “In haulage you have to move with the times and be versatile. We looked for new work in the U.K. and only 15% of our work is now overseas. This is what got me into my first contract of this type. We also worked very closely with the supplying dealer, Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Wales and West, who advised on all aspects of specifying the trucks for such a special operation. We ran with existing Volvo’s at the start of the contract in 2007 and as we only keep trucks for a maximum of 4 years, they’ve now been replaced with the new one’s you see. Image is such an important factor and the Volvo’s really look the part. They’re top class.”