August 2008 Archives

Now click through here for an Oshkosh airport fire tender..'the mighty' Striker'

It's funny how one thing leads to another on Biglorryblog. Having posted an entry on Western Star trucks (one of BLB's favourites) Vic Hungerford has e-mailed to alert me to a very smart New Zealand haulier called Pyramid trucking and here's the link to its picture gallery. Apparently Pyramid's waggons all have Egyptian sort of names, and their fleet is mainly K104s, Argosies and Alphas. "Have a look at http://pyramidtrucking.co.nz/1024/gallery.htm for some great photos of their fleet. Cheers, Vic" And smart they certainly are starting with this trio of cabover Kaywhoppas.

Nice B-train too. But click through here for a nice surprise......

Biglorryblog reader Henrik has kindly sent me the latest link to the Sisu website  http://www.sisu-trucks.com/portal/en/ and I'd forgotten what a cracker it is. The Finnish truck maker has got some great downloadable brochures (Something fo interest Richard?) including one for each of its main product ranges: Cranes (as above)

Now for all Seddon Atkinson lovers click through here....

Well I recognise the genie and Aladdin..but what's that funny looking dog floating through the sky?  Now click through here for more....

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at CM's exclusive drive of a new 950hp Nicolas Tractomas heavy haulage tractor, coutresy of BLB regular Dennis Child. You can read the full story in next week's issue on sale 4 September.

I thought it was about time that Biglorryblog featured the German special vehicle manufacturer Scheuerle and thanks to the Multilift Group I can for it has just ordered SPMT heavy-duty transporter modules from including two six-axle and four three-axle heavy load modular transporters that have a total of 48 pendulum axles. Now click through here for more...

Thanks to regular Biglorryblog poster Cam McFadyen, he of South East Queensland Tilt Tray fame (The website is www.seqtt.com.au ) here's a few serious bruisers. Obviously 'serious' because of the bullbars up the front. Cam tells me: "I`ve done 2 new 8X8 MAN`s,and I`ve got a third in the shed."

Nice five-axle Mack....yes it does have the Renault Premium cab on it. Down under they're called the Qantum. And here's a shot of it before the sign-writing with the tilt tray doing its thing.... 

Now here's one based on a bonneted Western Star six-wheeler...beautiful sunny weather...the top of my head would be sizzling by now! 

Cam sent these shots tome a while back and in saving them I got the captions a*se about face but on one of these truck he says: "Truck can be used as a tilt tray as well, the body can slide back 3.7 metres,and they only use the front lift to tilt it.It`s used for delivering Plaster Board straight onto the second floor of a house."

Anyway I'm sure Cam can confirm exactly WHICH one it was. duhhh....in the meantime click through here for a couple more slidebacks including one with a machine on the back....

Coming through! That 'Clutchslip', he certainly gets around. Here he is taking a brand new 950hp Tractomas 8x8 heavy hauler for a spin around the Nicolas factory in France. And you can read all about it in next week's Commercial Motor in his exclusive report. And how is it that he got to grips with the 'World's biggest road-going truck'? Because its owner---Dennis Child of ROTRAN and Biglorryblog fame---is over there at the moment doing handover trials with his new baby. Clutchslip has even taken some video clips which he says he'll post up so be prepared for some action shots of a real BIG lorry. Now click through here for one more shot...

Considering that after flat batteries, torn susies are the most common reason for HGV breakdown call-outs, that and the fact that there are over 121,000 artics and 500,000 trailers operating in the UK, it's surprising that somone hasn't come up with the 'Susie Rescue Kit' from incident management specialists Rescue Online....and that's it above.

The Susie Rescue Kit has everything you need to provide a permanent, high-quality roadside repair in under an hour---all in a handy briefcase holding all the parts, tools and instructions required to carry out a professional susie repair. Said repair can be carried out by the driver, using the instructions provided, or the driver can contact Rescue Online who will organise a trained technician to attend the vehicle within the hour at a discounted membership rate. A standard National call out charge and fixed parts prices provides peace of mind and ensures operators know exactly what the costs will be up-front.

But what happens when you use the kit I hear you ask--surely the kit becomes useless? Well relax bacsuse any Susie Rescue Kit parts used on the repair are replaced the next day by Rescue Online, again at a discounted membership rate, ensuring that you're fully prepared for the next catastrophe when you try and pull away having forgotten to disconnect your susies...DOH!

Now click through here for details on how you can get one....

Thanks to Dennis Child, who sent me these pictures, I can offer up a new (and hitherto unconsidered) contender for the much-contested title of the 'World's Biggest truck'. these coil carriers should do nicely reckons Biglorryblog. And the bloke standing in the front should give you some idea of the size of it...

And here's where the ginat coil goes in the back. Wonder what the coil is for? Undersea communications cable? Oil Industry? Giant sewing machine? Anyway here are a few more of these magnficent beasts. Anyone out there knows who makes them? Krupp perhaps?

Or is this that other outfit which makes massive pipe carriers...whose name I've completely forgotten? (Nurse what day is it?)

Now click through here for more.....

Check out this interior photograph. What do you reckon it is? Looks a bit crap really doesn't it? Maybe a 1980s Toyota HiLux pickup truck or something equally as unappealing? Well think again, because what you are looking at here is the interior of one of the most unique vehicles on the UK's roads.And what's more, it's for sale.

Click below to see what it is.

Look what crashed into a Southwest London garden the other day - the B-Team van!

What is it about Bedford CF's that made them so popular with customisers in the 1970s and 80s? And I'm not only talking about homemade jobs like this either. Check out this advert for the Cavalier Coachman Stratus 250R.

So can anyone guess what year this yellow Bedford would have been produced? It appears to have a prefix number plate - which would make it an 'A', 'B' or 'C' reg wouldn't it? But it looks considerably older than that.  

I'll see your rare Foden Will Shiers....and raise it. back in the mid-90s Freightliner/Railfreight Distribution had Foden make them a brace of Detroit Diesel 60-Series engined 4000 Series tractors. As far as I recall it was just two but with different ratings and they even looked at different Eaton gearboxes--a nine and a 13-speeder. Along the way Commercial Motor  roadtested this one around our old Scottish test route including the severe gradient section. This shows it just climbing Kiln Pit Hill on the A68 (AKA The Valley of Death).

But the real question is what happened to those 60-Series-powered artics? Who out there amongst Biglorryblog's anorak army knows where they went...?

Cam McFadyen has been busy sending me pictures of a shed-load of splendid trucks his bespoke bodywork and paint ship haver been busy turning out.\ Including this odd ball. he tells Biglorrblog: "Hi Brian, these things are called Moorooka Maggots, we`ve done a couple for Titeline Energy who operate Drill Rigs." And Cam's boys have fitted it with this neat slider tray body.

 Now click through here for one more...

Now you'd think with a name like Pontrilas Timber I'd be talking about a haulier based in deepest wales...there's lovely. Not a bit of it! Family-owned Pontrilas Timber (which has been in business since 1947) is in fact based in the village of Pontrilas in Herefordshire. And it's just taken delivery of their first-ever Volvo trucks. And thanks to Agent Reg, Biglorryblog can tell you all about them too...like the fact that the four new Volvo fleet replacements are all FH-500 EGR, 6x2 tag-axle forestry trucks. What's more PT has a further seven are on order.

"These are our first-ever Volvo trucks," Pontrilas Timber's transport manager Phil Davies tells Biglorryblog, adding "I went for Volvo's because of their good lead times, good customer service and excellent after sales support from the local Volvo Dealer at Eardisley. We went for the 6x2 tag axle configuration as most of the work is off-road in the forest, they're better for traction in these conditions and manoeuvrability is improved. We also specified I-Shift for improved fuel economy, increased driver friendliness and as the days are long, this reduces stress and makes the working day a bit easier on the drivers."

Of course with new trucks you need to learn new tricks. No problem says Phil: "The Volvo Dealer is providing a full days training for each driver which will cover everything from best use of the truck, getting best fuel economy and understanding all the key features on the trucks like use of the engine brake."  Now click through here for more and another nice picture....

"They came in three sizes: LARC-V (5 ton, 1 engine) LARX-XV (15 ton, 2 engines) and LARC-LX (60 ton, 4 engines). The French fishermen's trucks [are] either the 5 or 15 ton models. There were also at least two of these (probably 5-tonners) operating 'Duck Tours' type services on Jersey, these were the only passenger vehicles requiring certification under the island's P30 Oversize Vehicle regulations."

The LARC-LX was also known as the BARC (Barge Amphibious Resupply Cargo) - read more about it at this excellent site all about amphibious vehicles. Here it is again, in full seagoing mode:



Neither of these pictures really conveys the scale of the LARC-LX, so here's a video which does...

With 400hp and a custom paint job, this Foden S106 tractor had huge head-turning potential in 1984. So much so that 'Truck & Driver' put it on the cover of the very first issue, and followed it up with a 4-page feature.

Anyway, the magazine will be celebrating its 25th birthday next spring, and we were hoping to feature this very same truck in the anniversary issue. I've checked on the DVLA website, and incredibly 'A904 ANT' is still on the road today.

The question is, does anybody know where it is?

This is either a clever bit of photoshop...or the back-road equivalent of the Turin Shroud. Rod sent it to me and it shows a puddle in the middle of this dusty track somewhere beyond the black stump that bears a remarkable resemblance to a certain country down-under. Sort of a Mud-Map of Australia you might say, complete with Tasmania on the bottom right. And it was all going so swimmingly until these two holligans came along....

And spoiled it all....it now looks like the Isle of Wight...

Look closely at the picture children...and tell Biglorryblog what's wrong with it? Continuing BLB's recent nautical/amphibious truck theme thanks to several of my blogging contributors in New Zealand who have all alerted me to this rather unfortunate incident in which a drawbar milk tanker run by BLB's favourite Kiwi operator---Fonterra---recently took part in secret trials as a submersible...Apparently this incident recently happened on the scheduled barge service which goes from the mainland to Matakana Island in the Bay of Plenty. I'm told that milk tankers have been going across on this barge for many years without incident, but on this occasion the driver got out of the truck, seemingly without applying the park brake. And it rolled forward and off the end of the barge where it came to an undignified rest.

 
Glub... glub... bubble... splish... splosh...Of course what really matters is that the driver is safe and sound (though probably a bit shaken... understandably) and I wish him and the truck (which I'm told is back on dry land) a speedy recovery.

And here a couple of shots of the milk being pumped out of the tanker--or at least I assume that's what they're doing anyway...

Anyway all's well that ends well...the driver's alright, the truck is back on dry land, and there's no point crying over spilt milk (sorry I should have known better)----and just to remind us all what a truly cracking tanker fleet Fonterra runs click through here...

                     
Biglorryblog is delighted to welcome the old (and venerable) 'Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard back into the fray. Martin has sent me this collection of magnificent Michigan roadtrains and he says: "Hello Brian, I don't know about you but I am always cheered by the sight of rows of axles on the move. [true, how true Martin....]Trouble is, apart from the CombiTrailers used by container haulers and the occasional heavy, indivisible load, such sights are not enjoyed that often in Britain.

Martin says: "The 'covered wagon' trailers utilised by the steel haulers are configured with different axle spacings and groupings in order to accommodate coils of different sizes and weights. And although the owner-operator preference is for Kenworth and Peterbilt I managed to find a Ford, Western Star and Autocar AT64F too! Hope the pics are suitable. Martin."

And what a splendid old-timer this one is too? Anyone like to hazard a guess as to its age (for a pie naturally).

Here's the 'Star' performer..now click through here for more multi-axloe maulers... 

Cam McFadyen has sent me this selection of scrapheap brainteasers from what looks like a fabulous elephants' grave yard down under. So for a whole shed-load of pies. What are they?

Now click through here for the Mother of all Brainteasers...!

This is the Blue Shark, the latest creation of Swedish truck customiser Svempa.

But unlike his other trucks, this one isn't a one-off. In fact, so far 340 of them have found buyers.

But before you reach for your chequebook, I'm afraid they're not available here. It's a limited edition truck made specifically for Scania Italia.

So what do you get for Euros? Well, a custom paintjob, 620 horses, a host of safety features, flatscreen TV and a lot more stuff that I'm struggling to translate from the Scania Italia website.

Now here's a truck you're not going to miss in a hurry. In fact you could almost say it's 'in the pink'....Indeed the decision to buy the Yorkshire-based operator The Pink Link to buy Daf LF45s with factory-fitted bodies and factory-painted in the company's distinctive pink and black colour scheme has taken much of the hassle out of buying trucks. 

"Apart from applying our livery they came ready for the road," managing director Richard Allen tells Biglorryblog. "In the past we'd have taken a chassis/cab, had to arrange for that to be painted in our colour scheme, sent it to a bodybuilder, and perhaps also had to organise for the tail-lift to be fitted." Not any more, for Richard goes on to say: "With these Dafs everything has been taken care of under one roof from a single source and we only had to have the vinyls applied."

The Huddersfield based company has put three LF45s into its 20-vehicle fleet, which also includes 18 tonners and 44 tonne artics. The 7.5 tonne DAFs are being used on local deliveries and collections across a wide area of West Yorkshire for which the company operates three postcode areas for The Palletways Network.  Now click through here for more...

Never mind the pies lads! Let's have a lovely bit of cake and a nice cup of tea. Biglorryblog has been sent this picture of a splendid bit of cake decoration (complete with cake inside) based on an Iveco Stralis 'All Blacks' artic. Mmmm...bags I have the slice off the back of the trailer. (There's more icing that way) Anyway this super bit of work comes to me via Lisa Fuller, Iveco's communications co-ordinator who asks: "Would the attached pic be of any use to BLB ?" No chance Lisa. What on earth made you think I'd use this? except...that I learn it was made for fellow trucking hack Matthew Eisenegger who is (wait for it)...dah dah...

40 years old! Oi Grandad! Where's yer Werther's originals?

Now click through here for a piece of cake quiz on Biglorryblog!

Following BLB's recent posting on the furthest flung VOSA station, via www.tnn.co.uk I've received this comment back from Robert Dickie who says: "I suppose this depends on your definition of 'remote', but the test station farthest from anywhere has got to be this one on Shetland. I believe it is operated by staff from Inverness who don't exactly queue up to be next to visit. At one time when Vosa visited the islands to carry out spot checks, the bush telegraph went into action very quickly and all the old bangers (vehicles that is ) went into hiding." I'm sure that's not the case...errr....anyway here's the address (should fancy a visit): Anderson Base, Gremista, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PX. And should you wan to book a test the number is 01592 694900. But beware, the opening times are bit iffy--i.e. (Every 3rd Week)--Mon 13:30-16:30; Tues-Thurs 08:00-16:30; Fri 08:00-12:00.

Anyway it's funny that Robert should mention Shetland for what should Biglorryblog receive today than this  picture of the harbour at Lerwick.

.

And why has BLB been sent this? Well click through here to find out.

Following the recent posting on Kalmar tractors by my Blogging sidekick Will Shiers I thought you might like to know how one got into a Kalmar..and I have Martin Phippard to thank for the picture.! Open sesame!

Not sure I agree with you about ugly...meanwhile the last time I visisted Oz I went to K&S Freighters and they were running Iveco EuroTechs and 'Stars and the odd Powerstar too. Now click through here for a more modern Daf down-under..

Back to the Commer theme...neat tipper. Now click through here for one more..

This splendid looking truck is an Indian-built Eicher Galaxy High-Roof. And why is Biglorryblog showing you a picture of it? Because the Volvo Group has now finalised the long-awaited deal with Eicher Motors which establishes a new Indian joint-venture company, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited. The transaction has been approved by the necessary authorities and 50% of the joint-venture company has been consolidated in the Volvo Group from August 1^st 2008. The joint venture will contain all of Eicher Motor's truck and bus operations as well as the Volvo Group's Indian truck sales operations and truck and bus service operations. As previously announced, Volvo Group has paid INR 13,200M (£ 166.5m) as part of the deal.

And that's all you need to know for the moment. Of course if you want further analysis what better way to get it than to visit BLB's old blogging co-evil Ollie Dixon's World Truck Blog where you'll find OD being  insightful (and rude) regarding all and sundry...just as you'd expect really.

http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/world-trucks-blog/

It's funny how one blog leads to another isn't it? On the only day I was telling you all about WJ Roadmarking's Volvo Hydroblaster (oh yes I was, you just weren't paying attention!). Now word reaches me that Croydon-based waste management company, Hydro-Cleansing, has taken delivery of four (count them) 6x4, Euro-5, Renault Lander 450.26 trucks and two new 5.5 tonne Renault Master vans, through Renault Trucks Essex. And that's one of them pictureed above...now click through here for more..

Biglorryblog's mate Dennis Child, who also happens to be general manager at South African heavy haulage specialists ROTRAN, is currently out in France at the Nicolas plant at Champs-sur-Yonne, checking out hsi new babies--well more like GIANTS as its his next batch of 8x8 Tractomas ballasted artics. Dennis has been over there doing on-road cooling trials but has sent me this selection. And he says, by way of casual explanation: "SA GCM rating of tractor is 237 tons. kW rating at flywheel is 709 - 8% auxiliaries = 652.28kW. For every 1000kg you need 2.75kW implying at rating of 237ton.

And here's what powers the mighty 8x8 a CAT C27 ACERT 709kW (that's 950hp!!!) . And once again those tests are being done at around 250 tons gross combination mass. I asked Dennis how he got to that figure as the trailer doesn't look too loaded from the pictures and he told me: "The trailer ballast load is around 140 tons, the trailer weighs around 60 tons and the tractor weighs another 60 tons..." as they say, do the math!

 Now click through here for more...

Ashley 'The Malteezer' Lovering has sent me in afew more Grand Old British trucks he spotted on his recent travels in Malta. Starting with this old Dodge Commando tipper and crane.

Love the heavy duty body on the back of this old Daf...those sides aren't going to bow out!

Now for all you S&D (as opposed to S&M) fans here's where those old Shelvoke and Drewery dustcarts went! Or is it au unbadged Dennis? You tell me.

Ashley says: "Here's one I'd really love to have!" Ahhh...but what is it?

Now click through here for more...

John Henderson, Biglorryblog's man 'North 'o' the Border' has been following the blogs on ice cream vans and has sent me this picture and says: "Hello Brian, I had to send in these shots from the recent Musselburgh festival parade. S.Luca of Musselburgh are currently celebrating 100 years in business and their fine products are acknowledged as arguably the best ice creams in Scotland. There's always a queue at their high street shop, even in the middle of winter. This Rolls Royce diary product naturally needs a motor of the same name to sell it from and the 20hp model shown has been in the family's ownership for decades.
Now click through here for more on this fascinating waggon--and Rolls Royce's reaction to it....

We seem to be having a run on scrap metal merchants on Biglorryblog lately. And why not? Anyway word reaches me that just one year after buying its first Mercedes Actros metal recycling specialist John Lawrie (you can see their website at www.johnlawrie.com) has taken delivery of its fifth----this smart 480hp, 6x2 Actros 2548LS and, like its predecessors, it naturally boasts a range-topping, flat-floored MegaSpace cab. Its arrival means that half of the company's 10 tractors now wear the three-pointed star.The truck pulls a bulk tipping trailer designed and built to Lawrie's own specification by HF Moir, of Aberdeen, and transports scrap metal - anything from farm equipment to sections of decommissioned offshore hardware. Much of this goes to Lawrie's Aberdeen site, home to a new Italian-built Vezzani scrap shear, which compresses and prepares loads of recycled metals. Oooooooooh impressive!

Now click through here for more..

Keen-eyed Richard Stanier spotted part of a Kalmar terminal tractor in my Saurer photo.

And here it is:

I have to confess that I really don't know much about these - other than they were produced in Sweden, were accessed through a door in the front of the cab and used a Cummins engine.

Skoda is making a return to the commercial vehicle market, with the new Praktik (a van version of its Roomster). Apparently it's going to be sold throughout Europe, with only one notable exception. According to Skoda's UK director Robery Hazelwood: 'We are committed to having and developing commercial vehicles as stand alone Volkswagen models in the UK, not panel van conversions of passenger car models. '

And here's another couple of vans that weren't inflicted on UK buyers.

Yesterday we asked you to identify this:

And the pie goes to Richard Stanier, who correctly identified it as a Swiss-built Saurer D330. But no bonus points because he guessed it was built in 1980, when everyone knows it was actually built in 1978! Call yourself a truck enthusiast?

 
John Henderson---Biglorryblog's man 'North 'o' The Border' has responded to the quiz set by that yound whipper snapper Will Shiers on BLB earlier today. and he seends me this picture and message too: "Hi Brian,here's an old photo as promised earlier, re my comments from the Elmia truck show blog.You can always trust 'The Brochure King' to identify a Saurer D330 and it's no surprise to learn that he is in possession of the original Shelvoke & Drewery 'Pakamatic' pamphlet (how about a posting Richard?)"
 
John goes on to say: "Sadly I've no original pictures of Midlothian Council's S&Ds I saw as a lad, Films and developing were too expensive then to bother with bin motors when there was many a good haulage lorry to capture on the old A1 trunk road!" And he asks: "Was the high roof, fibre glass cab on these the inspiration for Volvo's first F12 Globetrotter? - Eh, probably not, but the four door cab was ahead of the game for crew space. This TZB shot is gleaned from the pages of the 1971 edition of The Observer's Book of Commercial Vehicles and the fore and aft tipping mechanism was essential for packing the rubbish in, with the help of gravity, to maximise the 25 cubic yard capacity."

Now click through here for some of John's S&D recollections as a young lad...
 

Having trouble removing those stubborn, ground-in stains? Especially on your runway? Well relax as Bigloryblog has just the thing for you. Namely, W J Roadmarkings's Volvo FM-420 eight-wheeler equipped with the UK's first Hydroblaster high-pressure, water jetting body. The Stoke-on-Trent company will use it to remove white lines from roads and aircraft tyre deposits from airport runways. That's skid marks to you and me....(no Biglorryblog walk away from that one..)

Said Hydroblaster's 40,000 psi jet stream (that's it working above) high pressure pump can remove thermoplastic road markings and surface deposits on runways in a jiffy--so just think what it could do for your living room carpet too! And using water is so much more environmentally-friendly than previous 'line burning' methods. (It probably doesn't smell as bad either--those burners don't half 'honk'!) Meanwhile this new method can remove a 750mm strip of rubber in one pass from a runway (this equates to 1,200 sq. metres per hour) or re-texture a road to improve or bring back the original skid resistance properties of the tarmac.

Now click through here for more pictures and the thoughts of the man that's just bought it! Oh yes, and an aviation pie quiz too!

Road Rat has very kindly sent Biglorryblog this picture of what this year's 'smart' Ice Cream van man is driving..along with a rude remark about having spotted me engaged in my new holiday job...well all I can say to that Road Rat is, (in the words of the great Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee: "Call that a Ice Cream Van mate? Naw...THIS is an ice cream van" And to find out what I'm blathering on about click through here....

Today Biglorryblog dropped in on his old mate Dino Mercurio, boss of truck equipment manufacturer Groeneveld today. And sitting on the desk in Dino's conference room was a rather nice flip-up desk calendar featuring these fabulous artist's impressions of futuristic trucks and 21st century diggers. So I thought I'd share them with you, starting with this rather strange, slim-line drawbar with individual wheel motors...groovy!

Now how about this muscular desert warrior. Nothing is going to stop this.

Love the hi-tech quarry dump truck with the cabin tucked down below the scow-ended body... 

How's this for a water-wading bucket loader? Now click through here for more crazee contemporary construction kit!

This moose caused complete chaos at Sweden's Elmia truck show this week - having sneaked into the event with a fake press pass. It went on the rampage for several minutes, and was only stopped when a brave security guard managed to mow it down with his Saab.

On a serious note, accidents involving cars and moose are a very real issue in Sweden. There are an estimated 4,500 incidents per year - resulting in between 10 and 15 human fatalities.

Check out the artwork on the side of this Scania I spotted at a Swedish truckstop yesterday - not great is it?

I'm not quite sure what period of her life the artist was trying to capture. Maybe he was imagining what she might have looked like if she had developed a crack habit!

The Maestro van might have long-since rusted away in the UK, but incredibly this automotive relic is still rolling off the production line in China.

According to China Car Times (which is well worth checking out), the van is back in production after a six-year gap. It had previously been built by tobacco producer Etsong, but now the tooling is in the hands of FAW.

Apparently the old A and O-Series lumps have been replaced by a locally-built Jiangsu Rui An 1.5-litre engine.

For a complete history of the Maestro we recommend that you take a look at this.

I've just returned from the Elmia truck show in Sweden, where I spotted this rather unusual truck. Of course I took plenty of photos from the front, but thought I'd see if anyone could correctly identify it from this angle first. And for a bonus pie, what year do you reckon it was made? Good luck!

Well you can't say I don't give you unusual vehicles on Biglorryblog. This one is either the samples van for a travelling Viagra salesman, a van that's been dropped on a bollard OR it's the world's first panoramic 60 megapixel street-level imaging vehicle from Yotta. Now click through here to find out which it is...

I thought it was about time we had another one of Biglorryblog's 'How to take a great truck picture' seminar. And naturally I have chosen Truck & Driver's ace-snapper Tom Cunningham as the exemplar. Why Tom? Because his work is so recognisable--and flippin' good too.

Take these two pictures of the pale blue Volvo FH belonging to Europe's largest metal recycler, European Metal Recycling, which has just extended its contract with ATS. Tom shot the pictures for the pres release at the docks at Ayr and both pictures show you what can be achieved with both natural light and with fill-in floodlighting with a flash. As Tom says: "Anybody can shoot with natural light, and with a bit of instruction you can get decent results in a studio too. But when you mix the two on location this is where it becomes complicated--it's not as easy as it looks." Check out Tom's website www.tomcunningham.co.uk and especially his photographer's blog..

The first shot at the top is fairly straightforward and uses all of Tom's usual trademark tricks--i.e. a superb (and relevant) location, with lots happening in the foreground, like the grab and pile of scrap---it is a metal recycler after all! The body of the tipping trailer is raised to get a nice angle in the picture. Then he's tilted the camera to give it that 'dynamic' feel and last but not least he's shot it from low down. I said to him---'Was  that you lying on the floor again in muck and bullets...?" Came the reply "that's about the size of it..."

Now click through here to see what happens when you add a portable lighting rig and for the shot details...

 This truck is rubbish---or rather it runs on it. Biglorryblog is proud to can reveal that Sainsbury's is the first supermarket to make its daily food deliveries to its new environmental store using a truck which is powered by fuel produced from waste. The Mercedes artic runs on methane, produced from rotting landfill rubbish in landfill, which is then captured and purified, and turned into bio-methane.  According to the supermarket giant using bio-methane from landfill can save up to 60% in CO₂ emissions compared with conventional diesel fuel (it's probably a darn sght cheaper too). The 6x2 Axor tractor is equipped with a Clean Air Power Dual-Fuel™ engine conversion which enables it to operate on a combination of bio-methane and diesel, with a shot of diesel acting as a 'liquid spark plug'. Now click through here for more....

Following my posting (and picture above) from Chris Mullett about Murray Langford's immaculate 1969 Kenworth LW924 complete with a Detroit Diesel 12V711969 Cam has sent me the following pictures and message: "Hi Brian, I took these at 'Trucks in Action', this is the 12V71 in Murray's truck, I think it`s got a 13-speed in it with a 4-speed Spicer behind that, all the best, Cam."

Behold, the Port of Felixstowe's new state-of-the-art empty container handling formation dance team consisting of no less than 12 empty container handlers, four toplift machines and one reachstacker, and naturally all of them manufactured by Kalmar Industries of Sweden. They're just waiting for the off before engaging in a 20ft box doh-see-doh...so take your partners! Now cick through here for more.....

Notwithstanding the grumbles from AtkiPete Lynch about him having sent me pictures of steamers already (yes I do remember them Pete I just wanted some new stuff) the old 'Brochure King' Richard Stanier has come up trumps, as usual, and says: "Hi Brian, It's great to see some really old gems on BLB in addition to the  tried and true. You hit the nail on the head with a request for old photos of working steamers. Most photos seem to be of showground examples, and even the old photos are usually ex-works photos rather than of working trucks. I guess photographing working lorries wasn't top of most folks' priorities in days of yore.

 

 

It looks a bit dull in black and white - but in actual fact this 1938 Morris was finished in bright yellow. "It is bound to attract considerable attention wherever it goes" says the caption on the back of the picture.

It's a 3-ton 'Equi-load' model, and was operated by FW Hampshire of Derby - in case you were wondering.

Do you remember Smith's Potato Crisps?

The company was formed in London just after the war, and was a household name for decades. But the name was confined to the history books in the 1990s when new owner Pepsico replaced it with the Walkers brand.

This 1946 Albion truck was helping to feed the nation from Smith's Swansea depot.

Biglorryblog's French correspondent Mike Blenkinsop (of Mike and Julie Blenkinsop fame) has been in touch to say: "Hi everyone, When I saw those pictures of Vic's beautiful International 'B' train in 'Rings' country on BLB August 12th, I thought I'd do a short post to show him an ancestor!" That's Vic's truck obviously...not Vic himself.....but I digress. Mike continues: "We may have to do a paternity oil test to establish a genetic line, but this International from the 'Great War' days was on its way to restoration at the' Les Vieilles Mecanique' weekend event on June 9/10 at Souvigné in the Charente department of France. It is a G series number 6126 and is good for 4000 lbs, but no more (so says the brass plate in the cab!) Things have changed 'just a bit' in 90 years, Vic. "

And for all you BLB 'Moggie' fans Mike's sent me a real treat--but you'll have to click through here to find out what it is. 

Roland tells me: "Great photos... I saw something similar in France recently and then discovered that there is a Dutch company making the same kind of motorhome on new base vehicles."

Now click through here for the weblink!

Biglorryblog's Krafty Kiwi mate Rod Simmonds has been promising what he says is a real show-stopper of a Kenworth cabover and here it is. Rod explains: "Kenworth K104G 400,000kms on clock, powered by C16-600 Caterpillar. Refurbished and now running on wool and timber work for Burlings Transport, Masterton." Super looking rig too--classis 4+4 Kiwi waggon and drag combo.

And here it is getting a quick wash and brush up back at base too...

And speaking of classic waggon and drag Kiwi Kroozers , for a pie, who can tell me what's so special about this? Mr Tuck should be first in I expect..

And as we're on a wooden theme...click through here for a chip off the old block...

Being a typical Aussie Cam McFadyen wants to know the origin of the great Biglorryblog 'Pie Quiz'. Well as you've asked Cam I'll tell you...a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far, away) Commercial Motor used to run regular three-day Round Britain group tests which all the manufacturers entered into. They usually happened when a new 'Euro' emission rating was introduced and we ran them at 18, 38, 40 and 44-tonnes. 

As you can imagine, they took a lot of work to organise and we used to hire in a full-time organising secretary and adjudicator to run them for us. His name was Stan Thomas and he was the former fleet engineer for Allied Breweries before he retired and became a highly-respected engineering consultant and expert witness. However, Stan was also (in his own  time) a semi-pro stand-up comic (and a very funny one too) and entertainer---in particular he was a big fan of George Formby and played George's fauourite instrument with some skill.

Stan was also what I'd call a 'snapper up of unconsidered trilfes' and by that I mean he knew (and still does klnow as he's still with us) all sorts of weird and wonderful facts. A sort of walking 'Guiness Book of Records if you like,.Anyway to cut to the chase, during the lulls in those group tests when we weren't measuring fuel, following the trucks or looking at the tachos Stan would invariably start a conversation thus: 'For a Pie...what's the capitol of Bolivia...or 'For a pie, what's the fastest fish in the sea.....etc, etc,' And that phrase went straight into Biglorryblog's little brain..and stayed there....and naturally when it came to rewarding the collected knowledge within BLB's beloved anorak army (especially in Oz and NZ) it seemed the ideal prize. Of course there are SOME people (like Clutchslip) who are most grumpy that I don't actually send them a pie. But I like to think of them as 'virtual' pies....and something that gives you a warm glow (if not warm gravy) inside. There now Cam, does that answer your question?

And speaking of which, for a pie...what instrument did George Formby play...? And don't rush at it either as it's not as clear-cut as it seems!

Witness these two shots from BLB regular Cam Macfadyen who says: "Hi Brian,this Western Star is at a wreckers in Briso,it is out the front,so that's a good sign,I didn`t ask but I would assume it is for sale.Would it be similar to your Mundubbra truck? All the best,Cam." The bit about the small town in Queensland (Mundubbra) refers to the time when I spent three days driving a B-Double Western Star. Well Cam all I can say is what you've got here is something far more RARE! As far as I recall (and please correct me if I'm wrong BLB anorak army) Terry Peabody--AKA Mr Western Star in Oz---did a deal with the Daf importer before Paccar took it over under the Paccar/Kenworth/Daf brand in Oz and needing a cabover fopr his Western Star range rebadged the old Daf 95 Series (pictured above) as a Western Star---and I suspect in the case of this waggon it came with a non-Daf engine. or was peabody the daf importer himself at that time? Who knows the full story? Answers please.

Meanwhile, Cam says: "Here's another couple of relics for you in the same yard, And for a pie quiz can you tell Biglorryblog what they are? Click through here for more....

Frustrated with the 56mph speed limiter on your truck? 

Although BigLorryBlog definitely does not encourage speeding, we do have a handy hint for lorry drivers who really do need to get somewhere in a hurry. But remember, this is only to be used in emergencies.

Not a lot of people know this, but speed limiters only work when you are driving forwards - as proved by this Tesco wagon on the motorway!

 Now here's an impressive little story featuring the 'Three generations of MAN.' KBHS of Llanelli has taken two new MAN TGS 8x4 tippers, thus completing the acquisition of a trio of MAN 8x4 models spanning over three decades. An F8 (on the far left) and three F2000s (in the middle) have between them completed almost one million kilometres of service for the Welsh muck-shifting and scrap-haulage specialists. The two latest and striking new TGS 35.440 8x4 BB heavy duty tippers come with Eminox exhausts and light-bars, and were acquired initially to replace the aging MAN stalwarts.

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with them," Karen Thomas managing director at KBHS tells Biglorryblog referring to the older-generation eight-leggers, "and work has picked up recently, so they'll just keep on keeping on. It's amazing to see the advances MAN has made with its latest TGS eight-wheeler," she said adding, ""Jump out of the F8 and into the TGS and you can see in an instant over thirty years of progress - the designs are so radically different. One thing that has remained, however," she said, "and that's in-built MAN reliability - and I hope that never goes out of fashion."

Now click through here for a cracking close-up of the new TGS tipper....

Yes I know what you've been thinking--'Isn't it about time we had a Daf XF105 story on Biglorryblog!' So here's one on machinery moving specialists Flegg Transport who have chosen high-spec Daf XF105s for their 2008 fleet replacement programme to ensure driver comfort and to reinforce the company's professional image with their customers. An FAS three-axle rigid and a pair of mid-lift axle FTG tractors, all at 460 horsepower, have already entered service in the Buckinghamshire firm's fleet, with another FTG at 510hp due in August.

All four have an AS-Tronic auto for stress-free drive--as will the full air-con, luxury air-suspended seats with arm rests for both driver and co-driver, a radio/CD player with six speakers, and a stylish silver dashboard that incorporates a hands-free telephone kit. And when they're not rolling the driver have plenty of room to move about in the Daf cabs not least to stow theior gear plus a fridge, TV with DVD player, and a microwave.  From the outside they look stunning too in their smart Porsche red paint, with a full air management kit and 'skylight' spot lamps contoured into the cab roofline. They're on 315/60 tyres to keep the height down and the tractor units have a Jost low-height fifth wheel to give a coupling height of just 1080 mm to match the Royen low-deck curtainsided trailers that the Dafs will pull.  Now click through here for more and a somewhat 'older' crane truck.....

Who says the Americans don't have a sense of humour? They do in California anyway. home of der governader! This comes to me from rod Simmonds via Gary Walker...thanks guys. I imagine this company has branches throughout the civilised world... 

Biglorryblog's favourite krafty kiwi Rod Simmonds has sent me this selection of White Road Boss pictures starting with this magnficent beast---or beastie carrier anyway...looking at the file name it's from Western Australia. Love the 'aerodynamic' moudling on the front of the stock trailer---Rod says "They were the bees' knees....not many left though.".

Don't be put off by the Western Star mud-flaps--it's a genuine White alright with a tray body on the back. Now click through here for one more....

Have you noticed that press releases on Mercedes tippers are a bit like buses? You wait for weeks then they suddenly come along all at once. Nevertheless Biglorryblog is delighted to announce the arrival of the two Axor eight-leggers (its first Mercs) that have gone into service with construction and civil engineering contractor PT McWilliams www.ptmcwilliams.com. The company, which is based in Seskinore, near Omagh, has added the Thompson heavy-duty steel-bodied Axor 3236K 8x4 tippers to its 40-strong fleet.

Patrick McWilliams, (that's your man above)who founded the company with a single truck in 1972, tells me: "Mercedes-Benz have been knocking on our door for a while now and I decided it was time to give them a chance. I've talked to other operators and the Axor seems to offer exactly what we look for in a truck. Our work is predominantly muck-shifting, which is a much tougher job than delivering aggregates. "So we need strength and reliability above all, allied to good off-road performance. The vehicle must be strong enough to stand up to the punishment - that's much more important than a few extra kilogrammes of payload."

Now click through here for more teutonically tip-tastic  reportage...

It's funny how one thing leads to another isn't it? No sooner do I do a post about the Beardmore than I get a reply from the 'The Brochure King' Richard Stanier  to say :  "Hi Brian, that really is uncanny. Only last night I was going through my 'archive' (otherwise known as the back bedroom at brochure HQ) and looking at some photos I have on the Beardmore artic, and what do you know..........."

Rich goes on to say:"Anyway it's great to see one of these machines on the Blog, and it's not every day I get to assist someone who needs more information or pictures on these!" Well 'Two-Stroke' will be delighted Rich I know that, and it will eb something to get his teeth into as he return from his hols!.

 

 

He goes on to say: "This particular truck was used in the area for delivering coal. When it comes to design for the urban environment - The cab design may even find favour today as it only has one door to the kerbside - with wide door, large step and high aperture - the spare wheel carrier is nicely blended into the design of the cab structure. With the spare wheel fitted it would like a short wheelbase 6x2 with a lifted mid axle!! It will be a delight to see when the restoration is complete."

Now click through here for more and a call for help and more information...

That Agent Reg, he's a boy isn't he? He certainly knows what Biglorryblog likes anyway--a nice selection of carefully-crafted truck photos in an interesting location. A naturally these one of the new FM-480 6x4 tractor that's entered service with South Wales forestry firm Karl Jones & Sons of Crumlin, near Newport fits the bill nicely. In fact, it's their sixth truck complete with a rather natty forestry crane mounted behind the cab, that's been added to the all-Volvo fleet.

Karl Jones, who has been in business 20 years this year tells me: "I started off by buying used Volvo's and we've just taken an 'M' plate vehicle off the road. They're a really hardy truck and I started to become a real fan then. We got our first new Volvo four years ago and have been running with them ever since." And why not? As Karl says: "The new FM is such a rugged looking truck, there's plenty of room inside and the low overall cab height is good for the work we do in the forest as it helps avoid overhanging trees. The cab size and height was a major factor in choosing the FM. They're reliable trucks that don't fall apart on tough jobs like forestry. We couldn't really go anywhere else than Volvo."

Now click through here for another great picture a a quick pie quiz based on the 'wooden wonder'.

Question: What have these two Mitsubishi Fuso Canters got in common? Answer they're parts of Europe's "Largest Fleet Test of Hybrid Trucks" And they're in London too. On Tuesday Daimler presented eight big-name operators with no less than 10 Fuso Canter Eco Hybrids as part of a three-year fleet test under Daimler's "Shaping Future Transportation" initiative.

And according to the press blurb: "...the goals of the three-year trial are to gain new insights into the use of 7.5-tonne hybrid trucks by customers and to demonstrate the diesel-electric hybrid drive's high level of efficiency. The Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid could consume up to 15% less fuel than conventional diesel vehicles, and the hybrid truck's CO₂ emissions are therefore decreased correspondingly as well."

The 10 Fuso Canter Eco Hybrids will be run by Amey, DHL, Hill Hire, Ringway, Royal Mail, Scottish and Southern, Tesco, and TNT---and all in the heart of London. And those test partners were chosen by Daimler to provide the broadest operating conditions imaginable including grueling stop-and-go city traffic as well as regular runs between supermarkets and the central warehouse. Now click through here for more...

Thus does travel broaden the mind....yesterday Biglorryblog took a day-trip to Holland to meet the good folk from Hyva. It's funny how you can pigeon-hole a company based on what you THINK hey do---only to find out that they do much more than you thought. Witness the Hyva Group. Yes we all know they make tipping gear (they're the world's number one ram manufacturer) but what I didn't know was ther global reach of their business nor that their product portfolio included cranes, brick grabs, moving floors systems, body-covering kits,,skip loaders and hook loaders, assorted hydraulic stuf and so on. They're also responsibloe for this magnificent beast pictured above (or at least the body). And for a Global Pie Quiz....what's the truck and can you tell me anything about the body too?

Meanwhile, just to show how global a company Hyva is..it's even had a street named after it in China. Now that is cool....

,

Biglorryblog has Daf's Tony Pain for tipping me off on this monster---the world's largest truck-mounted concrete pump boom. And we have those jolly German concrete pumper experts Putzmeister at www.putzmeister.de to thank for it. And naturally, they used a Kenworth to do it too.

According to the press blurb Putzmeister will present the M 70-5---modestly described as 'the largest truck-mounted concrete pump boom in the world'----to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the company. With a vertical reach of around 70 m and the largest working radius ever achieved, the machine has raised the bar definitively in the concrete construction sector.

Now click through here to read more...it's worth it!

But Holmes...How on earth could you tell from simply following it that the driver of this heavy goods vehicle was a left-handed Pole--it's extraordinary!"  "Extraordinary? Elementary my dear Watson."

Once again Biglorryblog has spotted a rather unusual message on the back of a foreign artic...so click through here to see for yourself.

'The King of Vintage' Bob Tuck has put us out of our misery by showing us more pictures the 'other' hippy hauler he spotted on the road during a trip to New Zealand. He tells me "Brian, you certainly have some knowledgeable contributors to your blog---and there again you have some right wassocks too! [I think he means me--BLB!]. It makes me think I should be studying the structure of road wheels to identify vehicles as some sort of thesis."

Bob continues:"I thought you'd like to see the Ford Thames which was running alongside 'Piesy' that was featured on Biglorryblog recently. And what a cracker it is. I of course like the wishing well it carries on the back. Couldn't see much inside but if the exterior is anything to go by then they must be different."

"Just think there's an untapped caravette rental market out there waiting for old classics like this to be built in a certain fashion. Keep blogging, Bob."

And here's a close up of the wishing well..

Now click through here for the ultimate bumper sticker!

And here it is again with a nice little dangler on the back...now click through here for a couple of real Golden Oldies... 

Aussie Biglorryblog 'regular' Cam McFadyen has clearly been a White Road Boss fan for many years and has enjoyed the recent postings. But more importantly he's renovating one himself having saved it from the scrap yard and it's looking terrific! But the interesting thing is that the starting point was VERY different. And it should jog the memories of BLB readers as he bought this weird monstrosity---and yes that's a Bedford TK on the back tgurning it into an impromptu sleeper cab!

Great stuff Cam and thanks...

Biglorryblog has the TMD Friction Team (don't laugh) to thank for this splendid example of crash-test dummy lateral thinking...The above being (and I quote) " A completely new advertising concept developed for Mintex." You'll see it shortly in the form of posters and magazine advertisements and according to the PR Blurb "The theme running through the campaign is Crash Test Dummies, many of them seen in situations that one would not expect to find a Crash Test Dummy." BLB's mind boggles as to what situations you wouldn't find dummies...I seem to meet them in all walks of life. But I digress....

Aside for providing a good laugh the ads have a serious side--namely that many brake friction brands in the UK import their products from non-specialist factories in the Far East,"...which means that making the right choice isn't always easy. " so there's a safety message too. Meanwhile, click through here for another bunch of dummies.... 

Now click through here for more....

Do you want to win a pie just like this one?

Click below to find out how.

Regular Biglorryblog contributor Vic Hungerford has sent me these pictures from New Zealand under the heading 'The Desert Road' and when  first saw the one above I thought that white stuf was sand! Errr....i'ts snow. Anyway I'll let Vic take over from here: "Hi Brian, here are a few photos taken as I was driving southwards on the Desert Road last Sunday."

Vic goes on to say (and that's a picture of his immaculate International B-train tanker) "When the 'Lord of the Rings' series was being made I occasionally used to stop here and watch the filming, quite a lot of which was done in this area."

The Desert Road is part of State Highway 1, which runs from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island to Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island. You may, or may not, wish to put a couple of the photos on BLB." Well Vic how could I resist? Especially if it gives me the chance to put 'Lord of the Rings' in the blog headline--always good for a few extra hits!

Anyway click through here for a couple more of Vic's spectacular scenery shots..

I have Commercial Motor's classified advertising supremo Phill Wass to thank for 'outing' my profitable little sideline. Seems he spotted it whilst on a trip to the recent Farnborough Show. Only don't blab it all around Phil as the tax man might get to hear about it and then where will I be?

.  

Interestingly enough it's spelt the 'RIGHT' way..i.e. WeatherlEy---there are some who spell it without the last 'e' but we don't talk about them in my family....

Now here's a question for all of you (and naturally a pie is in the offing). What's the most remote VOSA test station. Could it be this one--and Biglorryblog has Phil sampson to thank for the picture. Phil was on one of his regular jaunts for Scania (he's the Scania GB PR geezer) and often does stories for Scani's World Customer magazine.

Phil tells me: " A copy of my snap of the VOSA test station I found - I've run it through something called an High Dynamic Range tonemapping programme to give it that Bates Motel feel! Phil"

If you can't guess it (and don't cheat by trying to blow up the picture) click through here for a clue....

It's not likely that you'll be able to predict what happens at the end of this video:

If you did work it out, then maybe you should be giving lessons in recovery techniques...

Thanks to Rod Simmonds from New Zealand for the link.

Sorry, I don't know what came over me then. It was just the photo of these smart Heil Front End loaders belonging to Midlands-based Fortress Recycling (they've just added two more to their fleet).

Fortress operates 14 RCV's from bases at Warwick and Lichfield with three Heil FEL's operating on commercial waste and recycling rounds throughout the Midlands. David Pass, accountant at Fortress, tells Biglorryblog: "The FEL's are more cost effective, especially when it comes to light compactable waste," adding "...as they can move larger amounts of waste more easily."

He goes on to say: "We find them a great tool and by combining them with the weighing devices we have fitted we can really keep a grip on our costs per lift". And with good reason as the the Heil Front End Loader provides its operator with a robust and efficient vehicle. It has the ability to handle larger containers and with its live drive 'pack on the move' facility it achieves more pick ups per day and keeps efficiency high.

Now click through here for more BLB whimsy on trucks that want to take over the world....

Rod Simmonds from New Zealand knows how to get around Biglorryblog--send him a picture of an Argosy!  Anyway this very smart new Freightliner waggon and drag from Timaru, features a rather 'nutty' bit of artwork on the side locker door which you can see more clearly by clicking through here...And my thanks to Graphixman for the original photo!

Should you be passing Eden Tyre Sales on Farndon Road, Newark you might be forgiven for thinking you had one too many the night before having spotted Bidendum 'in the flesh' standing on the forecourt. However, this particular life-size Michelin man is a free airline service available to any passing motorist.

"I had seen a picture of the Michelin Man airline and thought that would be just right to offer a new service to our customers in Newark," Matt Eden, retail manager for Eden Tyre Sales. tells Bigloryblog. "But I never expected the reaction we have been getting since he arrived a couple of weeks ago. Drivers slow down and stop just to look, parents and children are walking to the site to have their photo taken with him and more and more drivers are taking advantage of the free airline service and the accurate pressure gauge."

The Michelin Man airline is placed on the forecourt each morning as the depot opens and is taken inside at night (probably just as well considering how desirable a life-size Michelin man is). Meanwhile, Eden should be congratulated as in recent years the availability of free airlines at garages has virtually ceased. And BLB does object to paying for air.... 

I'm also reminded of the time when the mighty 'Clutchslip' engaged in an impromptu gut-barging competition at the Hanover Show in one of the aisles. Talk about a clash of the Titans! Who do you think won? Well I'll simply say the Michelin man came off a poor second......now if only I can find that picture.....

This a kind of left-hand/right-hand story. First of all I get an e-mail press release from MAN which tells me it's just struck a "framework agreement for the delivery of more than 500 trucks" with Veolia, thereby "...reinforcing a business relationship that's existed since 2004. The agreement is a milestone in our partnership with Veolia", Josef Sindl of Business Center Key Accounts at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge tells Biglorryblog whon is suitably impressed.

 The vehicles----including TGL, TGM and especially TGS models----will be delivered in 2009, and end up operating in Belgium, Germany, France, Britain and Poland.  Apparently the decision to go for MAN as a preferred supplier boiled down to the fact that: "The MAN vehicles comply with the exhaust standards Euro 4 and -- upcoming -- Euro 5 with an engine technology that dispenses with any additives. That simplifies use of these vehicles enormously", explains Jérôme Lecardonnel, purchasing director of Veolia Propreté. The automated MAN TipMatic gearbox scores well with the drivers too.

So far so blah...indeed you're kind of left with the impression that MAN has got it all nicely tied up. Only click through here to see how few fleets ever put all their eggs in one basket.

Now here's a tale of woe and no mistake. This selection comes to me from Kev (an Aussie mate of Rod Simmonds in New Zealand who kindly forwarded it to me. I'm surprised they're still talking after the rugby!---NO Biglorryblog, walk away from that one)). Anyway Kev's e-mail is headed: "Roast Pumpkin in a diesel sauce." Look carefully at the bottom right in this picture and you'll see why the pumpkin reference...

Anyway Kev goes on to say: "How's this for a three-month old truck 70kms north of Fitzroy Crossing going up in smoke? In two hours it was all over...I got the call as it was burning. That's one prime mover, one Tautliner trailer and two dollies---the third trailer got 'slight' heat damage. Oh yes, and 42-tonnes of roasted pumpkin. Hot work in WA North!"

Ahh...what would I do without the old 'Brochure King'? Thanks to Richard S Biglorryblog can continue the recent stream of postings on the late Volvo White Integral sleeper---naturally Richard had a brochure on it and here it is!

Someone also e-mailed me to ask where the Volvo-White and White GMC names came from. Looking at the Volvo Trucks North America website I can confirm the following. And pay attention as this is the history bit OK?

Back in 1981 A.B. Volvo purchased some assets of the White Motor Coporation in the States to form Volvo White Truck Corporation---which sold waggons under the Volvo, White and Autocar badges.  Seven years later it then formed a joint venture with GM (effectively taking over GM's heavy truck business in the US) whereupon Volvo GM trucks were badged WhiteGMC and Autocar. Fast forward to 1995 when the WhiteGMC name was dropped and trucks were then sold as either a Volvo or an Autocar.  Then in 1997 Volvo bought out GM's interest in Volvo GM and it became Volvo Trucks North America.  And for the really pedantic in 2001 Volvo licensed the Autocar name to Grand Vehicle Works Holdings LLC while all other VTNA were then sold as Volvos. There now, simple when you know.

Now click through here for a rather nice shot of a White GMC Integrated sleeper that comes to me via 'Keeper of the Flame' Martin P..where else?

 My Cloggie mate Iep Van der Meer (and ace reporter for Truckstar magazine) has sent me these shots of the recent Truckstar Festival bash at Assen. (His website is on http://www.iepvandermeer.nl/ ) I reckon Truckfest Peterborough has some competition in terms of now being the 'Biggest trucking spectacular in Europe..' What do BLB readers think?

Volvo VN waggon and drag belongs to Stam Trucking.

Truckpark...or bicycle park? Well it is Holland after all! Now click through here for a great night-time shot from Iep!