July 2009 Archives

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then what's the value of a video clip? And whatever happened to rhetoric questions? Kidding aside Biglorryblog is impressed by the way that the Swedish truck maker and its US off-shoot Volvo Trucks North America is using new media like YouTube to promote its activities. That's using the old noggin! And what better medium to present the latest version of its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) unveiled back in 2008. And now there's a new version specifically for 6x2 and 4x2 rigid trucks with one or more trailers. Indeed the new ESP system can handle everything from tractors to multi-trailer rigs. But don't take BLB's word for it see it in action--the video clip says more than words ever can!

Word reaches Biglorryblog that in the past 12 months Highways Agency workers have recovered a wide range of items from England's motorways, including the proverbial kitchen sink. Indeed between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 the Agency recorded 7,370 reports of debris on UK motorways with many of those items found during the summer months coming from unsecured luggage and top-boxes. And they included surf boards, bicycles, a hot tub, greenhouse and even yes a kitchen sink. Derek Turner, network operations director at the Highways Agency tells BLB: "What seems secure when you leave home can easily work loose on motorways at high speeds. Our advice to drivers is to stop in a safe place and check your luggage before you join the motorway in case items have worked loose. Many people don't even realise they have lost something until they reach their destination." You know that happened to me the other day with the wife...

Thanks to our Cloggie colleagues at CM's sister magazine TTM, we stumbled across this clip of the first Ginaf X5364T, which has entered service with the Austrian Barnthaler Trans company.

Forget about April Fools day... This is for real! Word reaches Biglorryblog that truck salesman, Kenneth (Kenny) Moore of the Carlisle depot of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North & Scotland casually informed his wife recently that he was going to the local Garden Centre. Naturally she was amazed and delighted at the news because Kenny is not a gardener at all, but - much to her dismay and the jubilation of his 'truck-mad' son, Joshua (10) - he returned home with an excellent new plant pot, as shown. Yes but is there any fuchsia in it asks Bigloryblog? (Ducking to avoid a flying flowerpot?)

I'm grateful to Neil Temple who sent me this video link of a guy driving a 197I Kenworth cabover with a Cummins and two gear levers and no power steering! As Neil says it looks like he's got his work cut out.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0QPajx2xnk To Biglorryblog he looks more like a one-armed paper hanger in a thunder storm---but he can sure drive that thing! All of which reminded me about the terrific DVD on 2 Stick Trucks I got some time ago and click through here to find out all about it...

OK anorak army... What on earth is this? Answers on a comment please (for a pie) and click through here for a close up. The truck in the background provdies a useful clue...

After 31 years working on Commercial Motor the time has come for a major change in life..and don't just mean my new mullet! Yes I'm stepping down as Editor in Chief of both Commercial Motor and Truck & Driver as from today to become a 'hired-gun' freelancer. But funny people that they are my masters at Reed Business Information and www.roadtransport.com have asked me to carry on as a freelancer to both CM and T&D AND especially as editor of Biglorryblog...and you know what? (as the Americans are fond of saying) daft apporth that I am I've said yes! So your favourite waggon-based website will continue as if nothing has happened. You'll still find it where it's always been HOWEVER THIS IS IMPORTANT SO PAY ATTENTION! My BLB contact details have now changed. So from now on if you want to send me a contribution or have a chat you can do so by e-mailing it to brian.weatherley@backupemail.org OR biglorryblog@googlemail.com 

Please make a note of these on your computer as my old e-mail will no longer work as of tonight... Meanwhile, thanks for all your continuing support I couldn't do it without my beloved BLB anorak army! And here's to the next 30 years with BLB (oooh errr what am I saying?)

Maybe that mullet was a mistake eh?

They don't make them like that any more...or at least haven't ever since Scania decided to drop the T-cab. But for lovers of the bonnted behemoth here's an especially smart one with customising from Svempa. I found it whilst looking for a picture taken by ace truck snapper Brian Winstanley of the Humber Bridge (naturally with a Scania in the picture as he's Scania's No1 phtographer in the UK). And rootling around an old cupboard in the CM office I stumbled upon a two CD collection entitled "Scania 4-Series around the World." And click through here and you'll see the one I was talking about....

Last one for today - I thought it was about time we saw again the short video clip taken by Commercial Motor's Colin Barnett when he went to France to have a quick spin in the world's biggest road truck, the Nicolas Tractomas. And Dennis has dozens of them! And this is just 'the baby' - the 950hp 8x8 - there are 10x10s too with more than that!

Gyles Carpenter has joined in the Transcontinental theme with a couple of great pix and links to his work on the fotopic website http://www.ccmv.fotopic.net/p41064491.html Red Southern BRS early model... Who's got any pix of the Blue Midlands BRS ones? (If there were any...?) And here's a question for my beloved anorak army... What other colours did BRS use to identify its regional fleets? Now click through here for one more from Gyles...

Biglorryblog is ofeten engaged in the debate 'What was the very FIRST modern long-haul tractor?' And I'm tempted to say that the Berliet TR 300 is in with a decent shout. This picture is from 1970 and shows the cab off well - the same cab being eventually used on the Transcontinental as well as on other vehicles too. Now click through here to see it's ultimate manifestation - as a Berliet!

Ron Johl has accepted Biglorryblog's challenge for more Transconti shots and says: "Hello Brian , had a quick look through my files and came up with this one from Peterborough 2006 - if I find any more I'll send them on." Well one good turn dereves another this is from 2007 Truckfest!

So where are they now? And lick through here for more...

"Hi Brian," says the 'Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard: "Argosy? Did I hear the word Argosy? A great looking motor to be sure as evidenced by these publicity pix from Freightlner Australasia. KR, MP" And I'd like to be associated with the remarks of the last speaker says Biglorryblog...

Those terrible twins of light van testing are back says Biglorryblog! Yes young Mr Tonkin and Milnes (or was it Milnes and Tonkin?) that well known double-act have now posted up their latest light van video, featuring the little Fiat Fiorino on YouTube - and you can get to it via this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeTfY7Hh4cs

BLB is most impressed by their camera work and slick production. I look foward to their first video test of a 44-tonner.

Dennis Child general manager of ROTRAN Multi-Axle in South Africa just can't keep away from local heavy haulage movements - and Biglorryblog is delighted that's the case otherwise where would we get such cracking pictures of classic heavy hitters in action! This movement took place yesterday and Dennis tells me: "It's a 419-ton reactor section measuring 9.1m in diameter..."

However, that's not all - as Dennis adds: "Note the five MAN 48.700 8x8 tractors--the first time ever!" Now click through here for more...

Richard Warner, Biglorryblog's esteemed parts sales & marketing chum at DAF Trucks UK has sent in these little gems and says: "Hi Brian, I was approached this week to supply some rear lamps for a 1954 Leyland Comet rigid that was being restored out in Malaga, Spain. As you would expect, we had them in stock through our DAF/TRP parts division! http://www.trptruckandtrailerparts.com/  The owners have now ordered through the DAF dealer in Malaga, so I thought you would like to see the finished article..."

Richard continues: "I've since received some more pictures of a 1968 Pegaso Comet also being restored by the same company. The owners are fruit suppliers based in Spain, so both trucks I assume were used for transporting their 'fruity' products in days gone by! It seems a good job has been made of keeping these classics going! Regards, Richard. "And what a cracking pair too... Now click through here to see more of them...

Massimo Pezza has sent me some more pictures of ex-Eastern Bloc military kit he found at a museum in the Czech Republic starting off with this hefty eight-wheeler...anyone know what it is? Interesting that middle axles are closer together...

Now click through here for more...

Bert De Vuyst has picked up the recent Brazilian theme ball and is clearly going to run with it much to the delight of Biglorryblog! "Hello Brian," he says, "Here some pictures of VW Brazil products. Two vans (yes, these are new vehicles) And some proper VW trucks. Cheers, Bert." First one above shows the VW heavy range based on the old MAN G90/VW LT shared cab shell.

While here's the latest Constellation Titan powered by a Cummins engine. Since MAN took over the VW truck plant where Constellation is built it will be interesting to see what happens to it..now click through here for more...

Massimo Pezza has been in touch to day: "Hi Biglorryblog. I'm an Italian guy, and one week ago I was travelling back to my country, from Poland and driving through the Czech Republic with a collegue. On the way we found a very interesting 'cemetry' of old aircraft, tanks and naturally trucks. The place is called 'VISKOW AIR MUSEUM' and is on the way between Brno and Olomouc. I hope you find the pictures interesting."

Well I certainly do Massimo and thanks for sending them in--now click through here for more and a Cold War aviation pie quiz too!

Ever wondered how to get that extra pallet on the back of your artic when the trailer is full...? Martin Phippard provides the perfect solution which sits on the back of your tractor and is a called Camelback... Or was it a dromedary... Or a hump-back? He did tell me once but I forget... Now what was I doing here?

Hello... What's going on here? I've had this series of photos kicking around on the Biglorryblog laptop desktop for quite a while. they originally came to me from Rod Simmonds, BLB's very own Krafty Kiwi, in 2008. Where Rod got them from I have no idea - nor who was the snapper. If someone wants to get in touch with me I'm happy to put a credit up. All I know is that the heading on the e-mail read 'Booths Transport Tanker in pond at BRL Hardy in Berri SA.' So it sounds like an Aussie adventure.Now click through here for the full story in pictures...

'Two-Stroke' writes me to say: "Following on from the Biglorryblog post on the Cargo-cabbed Ashok Leyland 6x6 in Africa. There was some interesting 4x4 solutions displayed on Ford Chassis at the recent Hospice of St Francis steam rally."

"In the forestry section next to the Latil (that Ron featured) was a 4x4 Thames Trader. Is it safe to assume this was County conversion? As Ford was not a big player in 4x4, compared to Bedford who had the military business." Well interesting questions TS. It could well have been, as you suggest, a County conversion. But equally active in the all-wheel drive conversion market was Newton Abbott Motor (NAM), United Services Garage (USG) the big Bedford dealer in Portsmouth and Reynolds Boughton to name but a few... Now click through here for more weird all-wheel-drive wonders!

John Shepherd has ben rummaging through his archives and come up with this one. "I found this photo taken by my father, when we went to open day for launch of Transconti at local Ford dealers at the time of Neshams of Teesside at Thornaby. Remember both of us being impressed with it - mind you, Dad was driving a Atki Gardner 180 at the time! Econofreight's yard used to be nearby, as you can see just to left of shot one of the fleet parked up, on roadside. John." Nice memory and two lost icons for the price of one - Ford Transcontinental and York Trailers!

Anyway John's e-mail has set up the perefect excuse for 'Tranbsconti Time' on Biglorryblog starting with this ad on the front copver of Commercial Motor from 1979 showing the one bit that Ford actually made for the Transconti - ther badge! Now click through here for more!

In March Renault Trucks set out on an 18,600 mile journey from the North Cape in Norway to Cape Town, South Africa.
The Cape to Cape expedition would take the convoy of six Kerax trucks and six Sherpa 4x4s through no less than 17 countries. Conditions would be tough, including the harsh winter of northern Europe and the arid deserts of Africa.
During the 80 days it took to complete the journey, the self-contained convoy would consume 21,585 gallons of diesel, which to put into perspective, is enough to fly a fully-loaded Boeing 747 from London to New York. It would munch its way though 1200 croissants, drink 18 barrels of beer and consume 3800 litres of AdBlue. But for a pie, how many tyres do you think they got through? I'll give you a clue - they took 60 spares with them.

There will no doubt be some people who describe the Cape to Cape extravaganza as wasteful, but Renault Trucks argues that it had a very real purpose and was far more than just a PR exercise. Event organiser Pierre-Alain Brendel explains that one of the primary purposes of the event was to prove that AdBlue can be used in a variety of conditions, temperatures and altitudes - which it did in style. It was also the perfect chance to test the reliably of the new Sherpa 2 (France's answer to the Humvee, and definitely not to be confused with the British Leyland Sherpa!).
T&D joined the convoy on what were arguably the two most interesting legs. Photographer Tom Cunningham saw the deserts of Jordan and Syria, while I spent four days in the sand dunes of Namibia. Look out for our diary in the November issue of T&D (out early October). In the meantime, here's some photos from Namibia.  

THE ROUTE
From the North Cape the convoy headed south to Russia, where is passed through Moscow and St Petersburg. Next stop was the Ukraine, but only after a 36-hour wait at the border crossing. On its passage through Eastern Europe it travelled through Romania and Bulgaria, and then on to Turkey. The temperature began to climb as the convoy headed through Syria, Jordan, and then into Egypt. The original plan was to travel through Sudan, but the French government advised against it. Instead the trucks boarded a boat and floated down to Ethiopia on the Red Sea.
Next on the trail were Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, where it took in the Victoria Falls. Avoiding Zimbabwe it crossed into Botswana, Namibia and finally down to South Africa and Cape Town.

 
Click below for more Cape to Cape 

'Hello, hello, hello... What's going on here then?' says Inspector Biglorryblog? I have it on good authority that the boys in blue in Lancashire www.lancashire.police.uk/ have drafted in some tough new recruits to help them deal with outbreaks of public disorder and other incidents - 14 Mercedes-Benz vans. All 5.0-tonne Sprinter 518CDI Long models have auto boxes and various other bits of ironmongery plus special lockers for pork pies and kebabs (OK I made that last bit up - so arrest me) and replace nine-year-old units from the previous Sprinter model generation, which clocked up an average of 100,000 trouble-free miles apiece. Nowe click through here for more...

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has uncovered a hitherto unknown fact - namely that national New Zealand treasure Vic Hungerford AKA 'The Old Vic' has a truck named after him! So click through here to read all about it...

The pick of this week's Commercial Motors classified ads are this pair of classic Volvos from the same vendor. The grey F88 240 4x2 drawbar rigid is described as in "good running order" and priced at £4500 + VAT, while the yellow F89 6x4 tractor was "used and tested up to 2007, in good original condition", at £12,000 + VAT. Full details in Commercial Motor on Thursday.

Here's one for all you old African hands and especially Jerry Burley. It's from Bruce Elston who e-mails me to say: "I've been dipping into BLB over the last few months and notice that you have some definite preferences within the subject of trucks. Prominent are:
'Vintage trucks', 'Recovery Vehicles', 'American trucks' and recently a bit on
the GM-Detroit Diesel's emergency stop device..." (Guilty as charged on all counts Bruce-BLB.) Anyway he goes: "In order to preserve your, no-doubt precious, band-width I'm attaching a one size fits all snap covering all four of those categories! Taken at Ndola, Zambia mid-1970's. First three topics are pretty obvious, as for the fourth, 'Sunshine' behind the
wheel had got himself into a bit of a pickle on a long down-hill stretch of gravel
road and had resorted to the big red button!! Anyway, after he finally came in
to land (it was only the banks on either side that had kept him roughly within
the vicinity of the road), he had somehow managed to work out how to re-set
the stop flap valve. So he set off once more on his merry way..for a while,
that is, until a paucity of lubricant in the workings slowed him down again
which is how I came to be involved!" And click through here for rest of Bruce's story and another shot of that African half-cab wrecker!

"G'day Brian," says AtkiPete Lynch in that chirpy, down-under 'good morning' manner we've all come to know and love. "Just trying out your new email address with a couple of recent photos. Two Inters still on the job and an Aussie roadbuilder who manages to fit all his gear on just one truck, grader, loader, excavator plus a container for the odds and ends. (Don't try this on the M25)  Cheers Pete." Don't worry mate...I won't! And don't forget that new Biglorryblog e-mail address for sending me pictures is biglorryblog@googlemail.com

And what's that Bulldog? Meanwhile, click through here for Pete's Inter pix and a quick pie quiz too! 

Bert De Vuyst has been following the recent thread on mercedes trucks built in Brazil and says: "Hello Brian, Martin sent you some pictures of the latest Mercedes trucks from Brazil. So here are some pictures of their bonneted range."

"Back in the '80," says Bert, "Mercedes only sold bonneted trucks in Brazil. Now this range still in production is for the die-hard fans, but it doesn't get any upgrades. Mercedes did actually develop a new bonneted range, based on the Axor. But this truck never made it into production."

Now click through here for some shots of a military Ashok Leyland unearthed by Bert..

Biglorryblog is deglighted to welcome Rufo to the anorak army...especially with these pictures and words! "Hi Brian," he says, "I've not long found BLB but while perusing the Jan archives I saw mention of an 8x4 Scammell Contractor that was a bit short on info.
The picture actually comes from the BCVM archives but was taken by a commercial photographer (whose name evades me at the moment) in Mt.Isa,Queensland."

Rufo continues: "The truck has just been delivered to it's new owner,Angas Campbell.It still has a Dealers Plate on the bullbar.Whether it had been driven from Brisbane, where it had been fitted with a deck and cattle crate by McGraths, or railed to Mt.Isa, I have no idea. It looks rather too clean to have been driven over several hundred miles of dirt road,though,so rail seems more likely!" Now click through here for more...
    

Joe Hupp, Biglorryblog's official Central NSW contributor in Oz says: "Howdy Brian, I thought you'd all like to see this! This video is from a friend of mine in the United States, Henry R. 'Hank' Good. The truck is his 1981 Kenworth K100C VIT Aerodyne, known as 'Hank's Highway Hilton', which has just turned 28 this week! He has had this Kenny since new - July 23rd, 1981 is when he picked it up from his local Kenworth dealer.... he then set out to make it stand out from all the other K100C's plying the highways and byways of America! The truck was completely restored in December 1998 - 12 months or so later, the Highway Hilton looked better than he did when he was new! Stay tuned for more videos!" I look foward to it Joe

Regular readers will have been following the travels of BLB stalwart Vic Hungerford and his wife Val as they bimble around Britain. Vic sends me this message from the far north... "Hi Brian, it's our last day in Orkney and we're sitting in a cafe at St Margaret's Hope waiting to get on the ferry back to Scotland. As you know, there aren't many lorries on the islands, but we did see these 2 dump trucks while we were waiting for the ferry at Gill's Bay."

Vic continues: "I'm not an expert on dump trucks, so maybe (for an Orkney beef and ale pie) some of the anoraks may be able to help with their identification." Now click through here for why ERF's are popular on Orkney!

Last one for tonight. Mariusz Kościński has been away from Biglorryblog for far too long! Anyway he says: "Hello Brian, some time ago by chance I stumbled upon a webpage about the biggest show of its kind in the world - The War and Peace Show, at the Hop Farm near Maidstone in Kent." And naturally BLB says tell me what these are? 

Anyroadup Mariusz says: "So I've decided to give it a go and went there yesterday. Apart of getting a sunburn and a plenty of photos of various tanks, troop carriers, Jeeps and Land Rovers I also managed to snap quite a few trucks."

And click through here for more....

Ignore the grille blank and what you have here is a spy shot of the next generation Mercedes-Benz Atego complete with a high roof cab. Spotted in Germany and passed on to Biglorryblog. The current range of Atego stretches from 7.5-to-16-tonnes whereupon Axor takes over at 18-tonnes. Expect the new model to stick to that weight definition and I'd guess it would also appear with Euro-5/6 versions of an SCR managed four and six-pot engine. The most powerful engine on current Atego four-wheeler is 290hp so power ratings up to that level should follow through on the new model. Launch date? Probably not this year but who knows for 2010?

Help! Somebody left this Foden steamer out in the rain and it's shrunk! Now click through here for a veritable 'mist' of (full-size) steam waggons from Two-Stroke... Welsh nuts anyone?

Gyles Carpenter is back on Biglorryblog: "Morning Brian, one of the stars of the Welland steam rally was John Pearson's latest projest, a Foden S20 8 wheel bulker. and just because it's one of my favourites, an ex Magnaload Volvo F89."

Now click through here for one of the Ayr run...which I think came from Gyles too!

Alex Saville in Scotland has sent me this and says: "Brian, while not in the same league as The Boss's 'Les camions americains en France', this offering, spotted yesterday in Lugton, Ayrshire, must qualify as 'Le camion americain en Ecosse! As you can see, it is an International. I remember a firm called Scot who manufactured trucks in Canada, who also used this cab. Martin Phippard will perhaps fill us in on Scot trucks. Sorry the image is so large, seems I have problem with hotmail that I need to investigate, it wont let me send smaller photos. Alex. " No worries mate Biglorryblog has the technology!
And for a pie what's the year of this truck? Vic something for you to do when the rain stops!

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' The Border' John Henderson writes""Hello Brian, here's a question for the BLB army. Did Volvo ever produce a special Middle East version of the original F12 Globetrotter?" Well did they? I think they did and if you have any pictures of one please send them in! 
 
Meanwhile John says: "I stumbled upon this picture of the cab-proud chap in Jean Christer Olsson & Henrik Moberger's Volvo 75 years book (published in 2002) and it would appear to show a Globetrotter with extra interior equipment." Well John if you want my opinion is that this is a 'staged' picture. No self-respecting driver would ever be seen dead doing the washing up in his Volvo---the 'real' photo shows his girlfriend doing it...Oi Biglorryblog YELLOW CARD! You've been warned.....Anyroadup click through here for more...

Fancy a Brazilian says Biglorryblog? "Good Morrow Brian", replies 'The Keeper of the Flame" Martin P. "Following on from your comment about paying more attention to local markets I found these rather splendid pics on the Mercedes (Brazil) site."

Martin continues: "I particularly liked the fact that these all show 'trains' of one sort or another, i.e. a couple of artic two-trailer road trains, a B-train which I believe to be a relative newcomer to Brazil and a truck with two trailers, what Vic would probabaly call a 'body truck and two dogs'. Anyway that's all I can find on this damp and discouraging Sunday so you'll just have to make do. Best wishes, Martin." And click through here for two more Brazilian beauties?

OK ten'shun! Biglorryblog anorak army. For a Sundy morning pie what is it? And if you give up but want to know the answer AND have a go for another pie, click through here now...

"Good morning Brian" says Andrzej Bakowski in Poland: "I hope the above picture of a Unipower S24 Contractor recovery vehicle would be somehow topical in the light of the recently published shot of a S24 Unipower from Scottish Nuclear and Bob Tuck's comments. I took this picture at 1991 Truckfest at Peterborough and still have the negative (somewhere). Unfortunately, I know nothing about the vehicle or what has become of it. It looked like a factory demonstrator at the time but there was no one around to talk while I was there. The display board on the right reads 'UNIPOWER S24 Contractor Recovery Chassis'.I do hope it has survived. All the best from Poland,Andrzej." So did it/has it survived wonders Biglorryblog?

Now it's a well-known fact that the best way to get Biglorryblog to run a PR story, especially a 'new vehicle entering service' kind of thing is to supply a decent picture... Well my cup runneth over as I've got three from Solihull bulk haulage specialist, R Adams & Sons, which has reaffirmed its loyalty to the MAN marque with the delivery recently of four TGX 24.440 BLS 6x2 mid-lift tractor units. The tractors join an existing MAN TGX eight-wheeler, and an established fleet of 16 TGA 6x2s. But which one is best? I know I'll use all three and YOU choose. What's you favourite? Number 1 above with the blurred/speeding truck in the foreground (not so easy to do with a digital camera) and a line-up in the background...

Or Number 2 showing one of them on the road (with a nice bit of the old dark sky filter? Good looking fleet by the way too!

Or Number 3 - four-truck tilted line-up with 'BIG' sky behind it? Which do you prefer? A traditional non-wide angle level shot...(like no 2) Or something a bit more creative/artistic like 1 and 3? Post me a comment and also click through here for more - and what Adams thinks of its local dealer...

"Hello from Carnock in Scotland, Brian!" says Vic Hungerford, Biglorryblog's travelling Kiwi who ttogther with his wife Val is travelling the length and breadth of this great land--and seeing classic lorries along the way!  This picture comes from his recent visit to Richard 'the brochuire King' Stanier's gaff. Vic adds: "Following on from the photos I sent of Rich Stanier's
Guy Big J, Here's a photo of another beautiful Guy that was parked beside it." And for a pie what exactly is it?

Vic continues: "You said you wanted to see a photo of the Brochure King's 'Brochure Room', well I'm afraid that all the memory sticks in the UK wouldn't have enough space to cover the collection, but here is just a taste. This basket contains just some of his Mack brochures!" Now click through here for more....

Hi hoy Nanny...away...! Yes we'll have more on that story in just a minute. It's Saturday, the sun has gone down in Uganda..and Biglorryblog's 'Good man in Africa' has a beer in his hand, his solar topee on his head and a keyboard in front of him so naturally he's e-mailed me more lurid tales from the Dark Continent featuring weird trucks, occasional goats...and the Jerry Burley formation construction project and heavy haulage dance team...

He takes up the story in his usual 'gather round chaps' style: "We were bimbling around in a Customs Bond yeserday having a look at an MAN "plant truck" with crane (I am fairly certain this was originally a long chassis, heavy haul tractor unit that someone has bodged an amateurish flat deck body onto)..."

....when with only a phone camera to hand - I seem to have got out of the habit of lugging the Nikon around - I bumped into a couple of other 'interesting' units."...

.

Parked up next to the LHD ex-Dutchland (as opposed to Deutschland) MAN was this Lloyd Maunder Seddon. Weren't/aren't this crowd based in the West Country of mud island? Well, their treasured, flagship tractor, pusher axle,si no use to us (and possibly last seen at a Sainsburys unloading bay in early 1997) has floated into Africa in a bottle and is now languishing in a storage yard looking for a 'good' home. Meanwhile, In the second from top photo you can clearly see that's Allard. Though what he's doing looking under the hood of that Land Cruiser I have no idea..."

JB adds: "And in the corner of the same yard was this interesting (to people who are interested of course, that is) Ashok Leyland 6x6 drilling rig. Looked brand new to me, though it was already sign-written in the name of its new owner. That afterthought-ish Leyland Comet (was it?) cab glued on top," [Actually I think you'll find that's a Cargo cab--BLB..but carry on]  

"It makes it look very high clearance, though on examination underneath it wasn't much different to any other quasi-military, all-wheel-drive chassis. Presumably a pre-ordered vehicle?  All fine except you need a cherry picker to be able to get into it."

"And that, says JB, "was our exciting morning spent in the bond. The glamour of it all, I tell you. And I got sunburned. Plus the bar was shut..." Never mind that click through here for an exciting new African fast food delivery service...

The recent post from Martin Phippard on the the US-built Paymaster struck a chord and I found myself thinking...hang on, I'm sure I featured one of those on Biglorryblog in a recent posting on SUPERTRUCK magazine--the occasional spin-off from TRUCK. Well I asked Martin and naturally he put me straight (as ever!). The wedge-shaped wonder I had in mind wasn't a Paymaster---but this thing.from a 1989 SUPERTRUCK and my doubtless BLB's Aussie readers will already be saying 'Duh! WE know all about that!"'

What I do know is that it used to run in New South Wales and was apparently based on a Ford Louisville with a 14-litre Cummins 'Big Cam' engine under the hood Now click through here for one more. But for sure this is definitely some kind of one-off wonder from Oz (unless there was moe than one!) and not a Paymaster...

Last one for today...spotted by Biglorryblog on the M6 this morning near Brum on this livestock trailer...

Now here's a thought. According to those jolly folk at Volvo: "The truck of the future will have a digital co-driver on board. A virtual guardian angel that assists - or even takes over - if the driver loses control." I've got news for Volvo, I've got one already on the mighty Multipla... Only she's very real and packs a real wallop should I fail to pay attention to her... I refer of course to the chamring Mrs 'Watch what you're doing/You're not listening to a word I've said/What did I just say?' Biglorryblog. But I digress.

Weekends, accidents, bad weather or road-works - we all know what cuases traffic jams. But did you know that where there are queues, there's also a higher risk of accidents. Indeed, a survey by the European Truck Accident Causation Study shows that 47% of all truck accidents take place in what are described as 'monotonous situations' such as traffic jams, with vehicles travelling in the same direction, or in stressful situations such as crossroads and road-works. However,technology is now being developed to help ensure that this type of accident becomes less frequent and click through here to find out how...

Biglorryblog has David B Traver Adolphus, esteemed associate editor on the excellent US Hemmings Motor News www.hemmings.com for this contribution. "Howdy," says dave. " I can't remember if I might have sent this along once before. Ignore if that's the case. But I like those Actrosses. Actri. Actrossen. I have a 1/43 version for my son. Michael Browning there is good about answering questions, if you have any. American auction biggies Barrett -Jackson are doing something similar with a motor coach as een here - I'm not sure if that's your bailiwick. Big up yourself, Dave." Thanks mate, and as for it being my bailiwick - if it's weird, it goes in BLB!

Martin P is definitely on a roll and says: "Hi Brian, Herewith a few nice images of Western Stars which I know to be one of your favourites. No reason really other than that they are great pictures from a Western Star site, in Australia naturally! Best regards, Martin." Hmmm interesting. I've always looked at the Western Star site on the Daimler Trucks Global site...I can see I need to get more 'local'!

Now click through here for one more....

Gavin Smith has kindly sent me these pictures and he says: "Here is a photo of my Danish Spec 141 in Doha, and one of my 112 in Kuwait, when I was subbing for Astran. GS OVERLAND." And click through here for more..

So why try and trun around? Because of a low bridge that's in front of you....that you can't get under...

And my thanks to who ever took these pictures, sadly without a name I can't credit you but if you are the unkown snapper or know who it is post up your details and I'll gladly credit your work....now click through here to see just how tightly-wedged the truck ended up..

I have Martin 'The Keeper of the Flame' Phippard to thank for this late night pie quiz topic...so what do you think this bull-nose beauties are?  Or indeed this one too below..?

Could there be a touch of the Bulldog breed in it? Now click through here for a full explanation... 

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has sent in this cracking selection and says: "Hello Brian, it's just over a week to the biggest trucking event north o' the border, so I thought it may be as good a time as any to feature some interesting motors from Scottish events past starting with this fine turnout of Iveco TurboStars circa 1991 from the Neil Pendreigh fleet which hailed from Kirriemuir. This operator disappeared off the radar some years ago and in its day pulled a fair few crown lock vans full of whisky. Pendreigh's must have run one of the biggest complements of these Iveco types in the north of the UK."

 
John continues: "One for 'The Boss' [and I hope he appreciates it too!-BLB]. An early Renault Magnum AE420TI on the maker's stand at the 1994 show. As far as I'm aware Forrest of Carnwath only ever ran the one Maggie and again I'm not sure if they're still around. I remember thinking the paint job on 'said tag axled unit was a top quality job."

 
"'Torness Clansman' should strike a chord with Bob Tuck," says John, "...as I'm sure he once did an article on this Unipower and its sister truck, 'Torness Reiver.' The East Lothian nuclear power station of the same is still in operation, does anybody know if these S24s are still around?" Now click through here for more Scotish Ghosts from the past..

Dennis Child, general manager at ROTRAN Multi-Axle and Biglorryblog 'regular' has sent me the latest shots of his move of a large vessel which I seem to recall weighs about 245-tonnes or such - I am sure Dennis will correct me if I'm wrong. Still it's pretty big either way and just managed to get under the wire!

And it's taking five (count 'em) of Dennis's finest 8x8 Tractomas heavy hitters to move it too. Now click through here for one more.

I promised you a video clip of the Don-Bur Safe Suzie coupling which has been developed in association with DHL. What's it meant to do? Stop drivers becoming 'fall guys' by removing any need to climb up onto the back of a tractor to couple up the suzies.  Biglorryblog was imprssed by it (I even had a go myself---which shows how easy it must be!). DHL will now make it standard kit on all their new dry freight trailers and are working with Don-Bur to develop a version for tankers and reefers too. It's all part of the operator's accident reduction strategy which has recently recorded an impressive  40% year-on-year drop in its Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate for drivers----and it intends to reduce that by a further 30% this year, not least thanks to the Safer Suzie device,. which has been given a resoudnign thunb's up by DHL's drivers. And thanks to Richard Owens at Don-Bur and DHL's Dave Potter, Russell Clark and Keith Tress for yesterday's demonstration. Scroll down and you can see some more detailed stills of it and a more detailed description in a post I did yesterday too. And keep an eye out for the full report of it in a forthcoming edition of Commercial Motor.

You know some people are just plain greedy. Take Don-Bur for instance. Wandering around their yard this afternoon what does BLB spy but this venerable old-timer? And not content with having one Volvo FL10 (and a day cab at that) working as the yard shunter what does Biglorryblog find as he turns around...yes another one. So that's where they all went! And they're not in bad nick either. So congratulations to Don-Bur for winning Biglorryblog's 'Shunter of the Month' award (And for a pie does anyone know where it came from...?)

Well you're naturally used to Biglorryblog being the first with the news so here's another Scoop! Today I visited the good folk at Don-Bur (Bodies & Trailers) who wanted to show me an exciting new piece of safety equipment developed in conjunction with DHL (more on that in a moment). But having showed me it they then put the icing on the cake by saying 'We've also got another surprise for you...it's just up the top of the yard." And here it is THE FIRST EVER Don-Bur Teardrop curtainsider body on a rigid.

The neat 22ft 'Teardrop' body on this smart CF65.220 will used by DHL on its regular contract with Rank Hovis delivering pallets of bagged flour. As the truck does a fair bit of long-distance work clearly DHL wanted to save fuel and what better way than with a Teardrop. Not that DHL needs that much persuading as Dave Potter DHL's vice president operations for UK and Ireland and EEMEA tells me the operator has plenty of experience with Teardrop having taken the first box trailer version, the first curtainsider version, the first rigid box version and now this! Dave tells me he's expecting around a 8-10% fuel saving by fitting a Teardrop curtainsider on the Daf which will be trialled over the next eight weeks or so. Meanwhile, click through here for some exciting artic coupling safety news.

Hey even Biglorryblog can dream can't he...? OK so it's not a truck, but I could used to it. Given that I've crossed over to the dark side and into 'carworld', what with all that talk of Dodge Challengers, Chargers and Plymouth Barracudas, I thought I'd post up this picture of 'Yours Truly' taken many years ago at Euro Disney....and that's me pretending as if I own this '58 Corvette...which was parked otuside the American Diner  And for a burger what are those two cars next to it? 

And talking of 'posers' the man with the great big smile standing next to this 'General Lee' Dodge Charger is none other than BLB's Good Man in Africa Jerry Burley--this phto was taken at this year's Peterborough Truckfest. It was all I could do to stop he leaping in it and blasting off around the arena....anyway it started me thinking (always dangerous I know). Do you have a favourite picture of yourself next to your dream car, truck, 4x4, digger or ride-on lawnmover? Then send it in to BLB and I'll post it up---but you must be in the picture (that's the whole point err...DUH!) Now click through here for another bit of tom-foolery on YouTube involving a Charger and couple of Good Old Boys...

"Just for the record," says Ed Burrows, "the Willeme 245-tonne GCW bonnet 4-axle outfit was most definitely NOT the first with this configuration. The oldest truck I am aware of this nature was - wait for it - a Guy 'experimental' built in 1930." And here's a picture that Ed has kindly supplied--I bet 'The Brochure King ' hasn't seen one of these (although knowing his collection he probably has!) Either way it looks surprisingly modern to Biglorryblog... Almost 'Germanic' (No! what am I saying?) Meanwhile, Ed continues, "Would you credit it? The good old Brits, eh? But better than that even, this particular Wolves Wonder was an 8x8! And again as far as I can tell, it was the world's first truck with four axle all-wheel-drive." Now click through here for another great British 8x8... (In colour)

He's back! Yes Biglorryblog's very own 'Dr Livingstone' or was it 'Stanley' (Unwin?) 'Good Man in Africa' Jerry Burley has returned to the fold with this weird wonder... From the land of the Gnomes of Zurich... And he says: "Sent to me a couple of days back by Sherwen who is currently lighting up cycling-nerds-only TV sets around the world, from Switzerland this particular time. That looks like partner-in-dime Liggett with the shades over his cap too, though I can't be totally sure. Maybe someone out there has the official Wiki-philia definition for this thing "cos I sure don't. Single-diff Volvo FL10 by the looks, so this unit has probably been around for a few years. Very low trailer too, which I find slightly odd as there must be the odd tall quack out there! There must be a half-sensible reason as it's even lower than the tractor cab line. Only in the land of the numbered bank account and dubious-origin gold I guess. Comments from the Biglorryblog blognoscenti as to its origin much welcome. Regards, JB." Well search me... An emergency vehicle for helping bankers extract their wallets that have become jammed inside their jacket pockets perhaps? That's the best you'll get from BLB. Meanwhile, watch out for more of JB's news from 'the Dark Continent over the coming days!

Crash! Bang! Wallop! According to the most recent report from ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association), it's a sad fact that some 40,000 people die on Europe's roads every year (that's more than 100 a day). However, Volvo Trucks reveals that..."despite a three-fold increase in traffic over the past 30 years, the number of fatalities in Europe during this same period has been halved, largely thanks to technological developments."

Meanwhile, Carl Johan Almqvist, the Sedish truck maker's new Traffic and Product Safety Director tells Biglorryblog: "We've made significant progress in technology in recent years. In the longer term, it is fully realistic to have a zero vision for accidents involving trucks." No more truck accidents? Someone should tell the drivers of all those left-hookers on the M20 and M25! So exactly how are they going to do it? Click through here to find out more...

Exclusive preview from Commercial Motor classified ads this coming Thursday.

"BURNA 4TON ex army RHD, circa 1939, completely original, £7,500."

Alan Drake has sent me a gentle reminder "Hi Brian I thought you might like to see the Cowan Motor Group's latest big hitter. Theyre not all in 'Yankeeland'. Regards, Alan." Quite right AD... And what a fabulous looking beast!

Biglorryblog has the fine folk at the County of Salop Steam Engine Society to thank for this gem. They tell me "The pictures are of a 1934 Leyland Beaver. This vehicle was new to Peter Walker's Dallam Brewery Warrington. One of two Beaver's supplied together as prototypes for the new model, their performance being closely monitored by Leyland. They were used with trailers on the beer deliveries throughout Merseyside until ED 8132 was destroyed by a fire, allegedly in the Mersey tunnel in 1950." And no jokes please about the condition of old beavers... Nick Santon had a terrible accident the last time Clutchslip tried that old gag. Meanwhile click through here for more and news of an exciting major old truck and steamer rally!...

Tony Cauchi in Malta is back with Biglorryblog and says: "Brian there`s been an absence of ERF`s for a while so I thought I would post in some that still earn there keep here - plus other British makes from those days when trucks were built in Britain---and are now enjoying the sunny weather!"

Old and 'new' well almost new. EC in the background - but what's the one in the front...? And click through here for more Malteasers!

Now that's what you call a BIG load... More pictures from Dennis Child and his team at ROTRAN in South Africa under the e-mail heading of "SASOL LOADS" - this is the operation in which Dennis says: "ROTRAN has Tractomas D75 (709kW) 8x8 - four off in lead 235ton reactor 9m in diameter Nicolas 18 axle with spreader + Tractomas D75 8x8 at the rear. MAMMOET has MAN 48.700 x 4 in front reactor 419ton 9m in diameter Nicolas 24 file 6.3m wide module and MB 3850 at the rear."

Genlemen - start your engines! And click through here for the latest update on how things went...

The Keeper of the Flame is clearly an early bird as he's e-mailed me to say: "Good morning Brian,I hope that this isn't doing the Willeme theme to death [as if anyone could! BLB] but I stumbled across this superb picture of the 8x4 heavy haulage tractor featured on an earlier blog and thought I should confirm that it WAS built for the Portugues Power Authoity in 1949 and was designed to operate at weights up to 245-tonnes gross. That was quite hefty for the time I imagine. Anyway it's a handsome old beast in my opinion and one has to ask if it was the first bonneted 8-wheeler ever built? Now there's a question. Pete Davies, where are you?

Cheers, Martin P." Now click through for more more from MOP - another French Sisu heavy hitter.

Volvo Trucks North America's press wallah Jim McNamara has sent me this picture of a smart new red lorry and says: "Volvo Trucks North America again demonstrated readiness for the EPA2010 emissions regulations when, on July 2, the first production-level EPA'10 Volvo VN (above) was driven off the line at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, VA. The Volvo VN670, including its production-ready selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, was fully assembled on the NRV production line. As previously announced, production of customer trucks with EPA'10 systems will begin in the Fall." No doubt I'll soon get similar phtos from Mack, Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt...

As The Boss clearly hasn't got the pie (or the book) this should put him out of his misery... This is the original trailer for the film 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry' which appears on YouTube and featured a YELLOW Dodge Charger. Although 'The Boss' was right in that a BLACK Dodge Charger R/T was used by the baddies in 'Bullit'... But I've stil to have any get the pie question about the Dodge Challenger movie... C'mon! get cracking BLB army.

Yes I know that this has NOTHING to do with trucks but as an avid fan of US Musclecars Bglorrylog will not back down! So obviously I'm going to blog on "Dodge Challenger & Plymouth Barracuda - Chrysler's Potent Pony Cars". Published by Veloce at £29.99 in hardback, follows a chronological journey through the development of pony cars from the 1960 Valiant onwards. Fascinating design concepts are also included in the book along with all the sub-series and models. Inside you'll find 375 mainly colour pictures, including fresh new photos of original vehicles and rarely seen archive pictures and period adverts."

Along with the Ford Mustang, the Plymouth Barracuda was often referred to by the colloquial name 'pony car', and although the Mustang went on to outsell the 'Slippery Fish' it was the first incarnation of the Barracuda that was released first on 1 April 1964, beating the Mustang to the dealerships by two clear weeks." Now click through here for how to get a copy of the book - and an easy-peasy pie quiz...

That young PR whipper-snapper James Keeler clearly knows how to get a story into Biglorryblog - send it in with a picture of a Moggie! And not just any Moggie too, but a genuine 1968 ex-Belgian Army Mercedes Benz Unimog 404S, powered by a 2.2 litre petrol engine. And what's all that got to do with the price of fish... Welll click through here and you'll find our won't you?

I thought it was about time we havd a few big wereckers on Biglorryblog and Truk International of Bristol, has obliged by launching a new range of heavy recovery equipment. Truk's engineers tell me they've been working on these new models for the past two years. The new 'Colorado' models range from a 3 tonne capacity Underlift that is available with or without a crane boom, all the way up to their current largest model the 60 tonne 'Colorado' R60, a continuous 360° Rotator.

Then there's Truk's new 'Colorado' CB25 with its 4.3m extending crane boom and integral U21 4.3m Ultra Long & Low Underlift is likely to be one of the most popular models offering, as all their 'Colorado' models do, a great specification at a very competitive price. And if their U21 4.3m Underlift with a retracted capacity of 21 tonnes and a fully extended one of 9 tonnes, together with a third extension height of only 130mm, isn't powerful enough for you, they have other more powerful ones available as options.

Oh I say... Now here's an attractive philly... And the horse isn't bad either! Yes Biglorryblog is proud to present one of the most impressive horseboxes to be seen on Europe's roads today - a custom-built, 12-horse transporter based on a new generation Mercedes-Benz Actros. Naturally it wears the colours of Equine Travel Agency, www.eta.uk.com the Dover-based company that specialises in the long-distance transport of horses throughout the world.

Founded in 2005 by former professional showjumper Sue Eggleton (née Banyard) and her husband Graham, ETA has grown rapidly and now moves up to 4,000 horses a year. Now click through here to read all about it.

Biglorryblog is most grateful to Scott McFarlane, chief engineer at Powertrans (check out their site on http://www.ptrans.com.au/) in Australia, maker of the mighty T1250 prime-mover pictured above which has featured lately in BLB. Scott tells me:" The T1250 started as a concept about 3 years ago, when it was evident that the need had arisen for a high horsepower mine site haulage vehicle, capable of existing in the mining environment. The vehicle was originally designed around a CAT C-16/18 but none of these ever made it to production. Our main customer---Bulkhaul---has a preference for the QSK-19 engine due to the excellent experience using this and its former KTA-19 engine. This engine has proven itself to be a good choice as we have now produced the latest vehicles with 760hp which is needed to haul the 350-tonne units that you posted earlier."

And here's a shot of the Bulkhaul T1250 line-up as Scott adds: "The T1250 has a lot of features that we feel are unique for the mining industry..." And to find out what they are click through here!

Remember all those jokes about Skodas...? I.e. 'How do you double the value of a Skoda?' (Fill it with petrol) and 'What do you call a Skoda convertible?' (A skip)...Well I guess the Czechs and Germans are having the last laugh now. And to cap it all say 'hello' to the new Skoda 4x4 called 'The Yeti'. Fortunately, unlike the mysterious beastie of the mountains this looks much more welcoming! And with a starting price of just £13,750 and four models to choose from Biglorryblog reckons this could really put the domestic feline amongst the birdies....and click through here for the full story and more pictures.

Tim Cotton has e-mailed Biglorryblog to say: "Brian, I thought you might like this for the Berliet thread. It was taken in a French scrapyard." And an interestig shot it is too Tim thanks...So Martin--can we assume your query is now answered?

For all you Aussie and Kiwi members of BLB's anorak army I know you've been fretting about how New Zealand's favourite son (Vic Hungerford) have been managing in this little old backwards island of ours...So I thought the above shot of 'The old Vic' in a Guy should reasure you that he and his wife Val haven't been eaten by wild animals!

Indeed, Vic's been spending time with Rich 'The Brochure King' Stanier and his immaculate Guy--and click through here to see the latest message from the travelling duo..

Following Martin Phippard's posting yesterday, 'The brochure King' Rich Stanier has bounced back to say: "I reckon Martin's mystery Berliet heavy hauler is one of these - a TBO 15 Tank Transporter. What do you reckon? Rich." WEll it could be. And one good turn deserves another because if you click through here you'll find a couple more Berliets that are genuine crowd pleasers....

I thought it was about time that my beloved anorak army got to see some shots of the impressively muscular Kenworth C500 which is offered as both a rigid and tractor for all those little 'heavy-duty' jobs that you might have down a mine or in a quarry, carrying timber or in an oil-field--you know the kind of things I mean. I seem to recall Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' (who has been unusually quiet of late) has one. I trust JB is well. In the past I've put up some C500 tractors so this time I thought I'd show you some rigids.

And you can have all sorts of big-bangers in your C500 up to 15-litres which presumably would include a Cat C15 or Cummins ISX/Signature. And here's a shot of one with a yellow diesel...now click through here for one more C500--a dump truck this time..

If you're one of those many Biglorryblog that likes weird and wonderful mining trucks and roadtrains with powered trailers (and who doesn't?) then clearly the Powertrans website is the place for you and you can get to it via this weblink http://www.ptrans.com.au/index.htm and read all about their acvities, see some great little video clips and a decent phto gallery too--which where these great images come from.

Just love those side dumper trailers.....and click through here for one more..

Regular BLB readers may remember that back in January I blogged on the Atomic Cannon and the fact that it was hauled around by two Kenworth tractors. And I had some terrific comments back on the trucks and the history of the cannon itself. Well I found this clip of it in action on YouTube (it seems to be posted up by more than one person). This particularly clip appears to have a History Channel logo in the top corner.  It shows the atomic cannon in action during a test in the early 1950s when people thought it was good idea to stand close enough to photograph atomic tests! It's pretty mind-blowing footage and for all of us children of the late 40s 50s and 60s who grew up under the shadow of nuclear war it's a reminder of what might have happened....now click through here for a picture of the cannon and its two tractor limbers.

Anyroadup he recently sent me this whole shed-load of shots from one of his trips abroad and he says: " Have just finished watching the Top Gear guys motorcycle their way up through Vietnam."

"So this prompted me," he says, "at the risk of turning BLB into a truckie's travel log, to share some of my own on road experiences in this wonderful and fascinating country. There were no Enfields or motorcycles of any type involved this time, just a car from Ho Chi Min City (aka Saigon) to Hanoi, via Sapa in 2005."

And click through here for the full 50 cent tour of Vietnamese trucks from Gary!

Where else but Biglorryblog would you get such a trucking travelogue?

Encouraged by the kind remarks from Don at the wonderful Adclassix site (who has very kindly allowed me to feature the odd image or two from the world's best retro site for old and new truck, van,pickup  and 4x4 and also car) ads---and dont' take my word for it go and see for yourself using this handy BLB webblink www.adclassix.com/truckindex.htm here are a few more from the adclassix collection. Frankly I can't get enough of them and I suspect Biglorryblog readers like them too! And you can buy the original ads from the site as well...If only I could have bought an original 79 El Camino Chevy pickup though...

It's clearly a world apart from the Studebaker pick-up seen here in this advert I'd say. And for a pie does anyone have an idea what year it comes from...? And when did Studebaker end making cars?

Getting a bit heavier now....here's one for REO 'Comet' engines from 1955...now click through here for great news if you're an old American car freak...

Ron Johl has been so please with the fact that I posted up one of his pciture recently on Bigloryblog he's sent me some more....Here's the 'real thing' next to a Kenworth plus a detailed shot." he says. Shot at the Santa Pod event earlier this year...

Nice shots Ron.

You know somethimes it's just as easy to do a job yourself...than it is to ask someone else. Which is probably why Mercedes dealer Rygor Commercials literally went the extra mile to fix a customer's broken down trailer - it rushed one of its own technicians to Normandy to repair the fault! And the picture you see here is of the self-same technician showing off his pearly-whites on Biglorryblog. Now click through here for the full story and a cracking shot of Pulleyn Transport's pristine fleet.

Time for today's heavy hitter pitcture, and it's from Dennis Child, Biglorryblog's man  in South Africa. he tels me: "Recator 165ton x 30.9m x 5m SAPREF Durban." Which should be enough information for anyone...Nice old MAN doing al the hard work.

Those young whippers-snappers Ian Tonkin and Julian Milnes are forging ahead with their RTTV light commercial video roadtests which you can find via this link on roadtransport.com The latest van to come under their video gaze if the Ford  Transit 'double cab-in-van' otherwise known as a 'crewcab' to those without the marketingspeak gene. Well worth a look and the guys are really getting pretty slick in their filming and presentation of these video roadtests( though of course Biglorryblog has already sent their 367 outtakes to Harry Hill's TV Burp.....) www.roadtransport.com/StaticPages/video.htm

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear...err...three-point seatbelt, happy etc, etc.....Yes this year marks 50 years since Volvo first introduced the three-point safety belt - an invention that has saved more lives in traffic than any other technical feature. And before you ask The world's first vehicle with a three-point safety belt fitted as standard was a Volvo PV544 delivered in Karlstad, Sweden on August 13^th 1959. 

"Following its invention, Volvo immediately gave free use of its patent to all manufacturers and today the safety belt is a natural feature in virtually all trucks and cars. That is why we can say that there is a bit of Volvo in every vehicle on the road - irrespective of make and model," Volvo Trucks' traffic and product safety director, Carl Johan Almqvist tells me....and click through here for more..

The man with the best toy set in the world is back on Biglorryblog... Yes Dennis Child, general manager at ROTRAN, the South African heavy haulage specialists has sent me this picture and says: "Hi Brian in Richards Bay. These shots show us preparing to move the smaller section of the two - a 254-ton 8m diameter load on a MAMMOET 18-axle 2 file module" Now click through here for more...

"Hello again," says Martin Phippard, adding, "I Knew I had it somewhere! Herewith the Willeme 5741-CG with the big crane and the 'jet dangling from it' as accurately described by Dave Powell in an earlier comment. And, as he mentioned, the two wheel and tyre assemblies being carried amidships in the Roy larkin photo are installed on the rear axles here, again as Dave described. What's really interesting is that the stamp on the rear of the 'photo' says 'PHOTOGRAPH BY AEC LTD SOUTHALL MIDDLESEX, Buses, coaches, lorries and industrial diesel engines'. Oh, and what make is the jet please? Manufacturer and model name. Thanks, Martin." And BLB will throw in a pie too if you can get this one!

I was just wondering where that concave-shinned idler Agent Reg had got to when up he pops with this beauty. Yes Yorkshire-based hay and straw supplier Steve Gilleard has taken delivery of a new FH16-580 rigid - and what better way to announce it than on Bigloryblog! The highly-specified, platform-bodied drawbar vehicle is the first Volvo in his fleet of three; deciding factors in his choice of the FH16 for this purchase were comfort on long continental trips, superior performance on hilly terrain and competitive pricing. Now click through here for more!

Biglorryblog regular Nick Garlick continues with his cracking picture report from the Iowa-80 Show and he says: "These three never made it into the show! Sleeper cabs were just mobile home away from homes and for some drivers these were their only residence. Sizes varied from large to XXXL to palatial."

What was the line from the song by Eartha Kitt? "Big enough to have a bowling alley in the back!"

Ahhh... That Kenworth moment. But click through here for a REAL cracker from Nick...

Martin 'Keeper of the Flame' Phippard recently sent me this shot which rang a bell in the back of my mind as it reminded me of a more recent picture which appeared in Motor Transport . Anyway MP says: "Check out this cleverly posed picture of a Meachers F10 in front of the Royal Princess at Southampton Docks I guess. Photographer was John F. Simons by the way who I guess was the predecessor of Agent Reg! Martin..." Well click through here to see the same picture... But with the odd subtle difference.

"Hi Brian," says BLB regular Nick Garlick. "I'm just back from a far-too-short trip to the US of A."

"Since watching 'Towering Inferno' at the movies as a boy I've had a thing for the American articulated fire trucks, like you put on BLB. Here are a couple of rigids I saw during my visit to the Iowa-80 truck show. Regards, Nick."

Now click through here for more from Nick and the Iowa 80 show...

I'm grateful to Scott McFarlane of Powertrans who has sent me this video clip link of a Powertrans 350-tonne payload roadtrain hauling at a minesite in Western Australia. The vehicle has two engines - one in the truck the other in one of the four trailers." The first video clip shows it going down hill...

(Picture copyright Rex Features. Do not reproduce without permission.)

Talk about perfect timing. Biglorryblog learns that no less than 900 miles of motorway roadworks are planned for August. And where do I get this intelligence. Why, from none other than a Parliamentary answer to Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker. Baker tells BLB: "Holidaymakers face gridlock and delays on English roads this August, with more than 900 miles of roadworks planned on motorways, just when families are planning to getaway this summer they face hours of misery on the motorway." Well it's not just holiday makers mate... It's the thousands of poor old Great British Truckers who have to put up with roadworks every flamin' day of their driving lives! Now click through here for more details... Unless you don't want to get depressed!

Scott McFarlane (from Powertrans in Oz check out their great site on http://www.ptrans.com.au/) says :" I've been trying to work out how to submit  to your Biglorryblog and did not know any other way than direct email!" Well no worries Scott as I'm always post struff up." Especiall if it's like this!

Scott continues: "Attached are some photo's and youtube links to our latest 350-tonne multi-powered roadtrain.We are operating 6 of these vehicles at an Iron ore mine in Western Australia hauling a 350,000kg payload on a 52km lead. The trip time is just under one hr. The gross combination mass is just over 500,000 kg!" Now click through here for more.....

...But look closer!

Martin Phippard's mystery Spanish motor has really got you commenting and this is from Andrzej Bakowski in Poland who's been posting up some great stuff lately. Anyway he says "Good morning Brian, I know I promised to disturb you only when I have something relevant - but there is a bit of argument regarding the OAF truck posting on BiglorryBlog!"

Andrezj was quick to identify Martin's mystery motor as an OAF but it seems others thought it was a Pegaso. So he says: "I've tried to explain that the truck in an OAF quoting two reliable sources and now have taken the liberty of scanning the relevant photos from the excellent "The World Encyclopedia of Trucks" by Peter J. Davies which shows an ÖAF TornadoFS9-200L - here the 'L' in the designation stands for the Leyland power unit, an 0.680 in this case." And click through here for more proof... If proof were needed.

We appear to builidng up a nice 'blogging stream' on Stonefield on Biglorryblog - not least from Stu who says: "Hello there Brian, I would have commented directly through the blog but it won't allow me to attach pictures for your viewing pleasure so I'll nag you via email instead!" Fair enoughski and he has sent me this picture and comments: "I don't know much about Stonefields but I did take a snap of a fire tender based on one at Doncaster Aeroventure aircraft museum last year. According to the chap I spoke with it was awaiting an engine. A mighty fine vehicle the Stonefield certainly is, I'm glad it's got some well deserved coverage on BLB. It's a shame they're not around anymore, it would be nice for a UK company to be providing some competition for the mighty Unimog." Now click through for a rather unusual remark regarding ther Stonefield's windscreen wipers!

"Hello Brian," says Ron Johl, before asking: "Could this be the only time these Texas trucks are brought together only as pics or will we ever see them at a Rally side-by-side? First pic was taken at Santa Pod the Marmon is/was (its up for sale) owned by P Nash he also owns the Peterbilt."

"Marmon two is owned by Dancer Haulage pic taken at the Redbourn Rally today. All the best, Ron." Well Ron, if it's Marmon's you want... Then it's Marmons you'll get starting with this one shot by Ollie Dixon!

Quite a late model at that too... Now click through here for more!

OK, so where's this line-up of Scanias? For a pie. And click through here to find out what the story is all about...

Biglorryblog regular Alex Saville has sent me this shot of a very smart Atki (one for Chris G) from the recent Ayr Road Run but it's what's on the next page that really interests me... And should you too as there's a (Scots) pie quiz in it for everyone...

Ahhhh... The smell of anthracite, the toot on the whistle and the crunch of solid rubber tyres on the road - yes they don't make them like that anymore (And for a pie what is it?) Anyroadup I have Rich Stanier to thank for this little melange. he says: "Hi Brian, I thought I'd send you a few shots from last weekend's Cheshire Steam Fair at Tabley House, Knutsford. As you may recall from Richard Grey's posting on BLB the Steam Fair also acts as a Seddon and Atkinson gathering." And for all you Seddon Atkinson enthusiasts click through here now to see what Rich spotted...

When it comes to road safety the biggest problem all of us face is having to stay alert through out an entire journey - I don't know about you but my brain isn't really geared up to stay that focussed on the road ahead for hour after hour. But what if you could monitor driver behaviour to see when we went 'off the boil' as it were... Then find way to keep us on track?

Well the latest news from Volvo may go some way to addressing that for Biglorryblog learns that the Swedish truck maker has joined the research project known as euroFOT, which involves 28 European companies and organisations. And what will Volvo be doing? Punting up no less than 80 trucks, packed with monitoring technology, into circulation by 2010. The project's aim is to achieve safer, more efficient road transport. Cameras will record every second the truck is being driven, allowing every little incident to be studied and evaluated.

Roy Larkin (whose website at www.historicroadways.co.uk is well worth a visit) has more to my knowldge of the AEC Monarch and along with this picture says: "Brian, the AEC Monarch was the lightweight version of the Mammoth in the 1930s. Basically it had lighter axles. The picture above is 'probably' a Monarch - but they looked the same as the Mammoth, although this one doesn't have the usual 'Mammoth' badge on the radiator. Best wishes, Roy."

Sometimes even the life of a truck journalist can get mildly exciting. Driving around the Bavarian countryside on the launch of the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Euro5, we found the preceding truck, running a few moments ahead, in the middle of a breakers yard. It turns out that the BMW in the picture had lost patience with the Canter obeying the 70km/h limit and went for the overtake approaching a blindish bend/crest, collecting an oncoming Renault Espace. The Renault ended up in the field behind the picture, leaving its offside front suspension in the road and its driveshaft bouncing off the Canter's windscreen.

With the only injuries being a bit of airbag wrist for the Bee-Em driver, we helped clear the road then legged it before the Polizei arrived to interview everyone in the vicinity, just in time to meet the firemen coming up the road.

You know, there's nothing more refreshing than a quick wash and brush up... Don't you agree? Though Biglorryblog did wonder whether 'The Boss' had actually walked through the truck wash to get this rather splendid picture! Now click through here to see exactly what came out the other end...

Martin Phippard's posting on the Willeme has really created some feedback on Biglorryblog! (But then I suspect he knew it would). Roy Larkin at www.historicroadways.co.uk has now joined in the fun and he has e-mailed me to say:

"The piece on BLB about Willemes reminded me of a dreary autumn Saturday in Northern France. The signs were ominous when the air was slow to build on the boat, but it moved and once onto the A26 the air did slowly reach somewhere close to where it should be. The peage at St Omer didn't help and the air used to stop refused to be replaced. No problem with the Shell not far away and copious coffee available while waiting assistance and phones to facilitate the same. But no, the Volvo had other plans and stopped mid-way between peage and services. On the hard shoulder, refusing to move and because the Volvo relied on air for just about everything, refused to allow the engine to shut down either. A comical phone call on the emergency phone trying to explain that the camion wouldn't go but also wouldn't stop eventually led to a man in a Renault appearing."

Now click through here to see how it all turned out... And what it's got to do with the Willeme pictured above!

Ron Johl has sent me this picture of a Peterbilt grille from Santa Pod 09 as a test for picture resizing. So why am I running it on Biglorryblog? Because I rather like it... Fair enoughski? And for a pie what model is it?

Thanks to the good folk at the excellent www.Aussiebigbangers.4T.com website which Biglorryblog heartily recommends I've been sent this great Convoy for Kids Hervey Bay YouTube clip link which you can get to by clicking here http://www.youtube.com/user/aussiebigbangers and a great high-speed spot that truck pie quiz too!

Fuel theft in Zambia is a major problem - and the average haulier loses 20% of his diesel. The problem stems from a mutual disrespect between the drivers (predominantly black) and the haulage bosses (mostly white or Asian). The drivers are treated as nothing more than a commodity, and in return the drivers see the diesel tank as a petty cash box. 'They dip into it whenever they need to eat or whenever they see a woman they want', explained one Zambian haulage boss.

When you drive along the main highways, every so often you see a fuel tank and a truck tyre by the roadside. This is a sign that there's a guy hiding in the bush nearby who wants to buy some illegal diesel. The truck driver pulls over, and within minutes 75 litres have been syphoned off.

But the drivers aren't always in on the scam - like the driver of this BP tanker. As soon as he pulled-up at the refinery to load, these two guys immediately started draining the dregs out of the empty tanker. This scene took place just yards away from a police road block.

And here are a few more waiting for the next tanker to arrive.

The Brochure King writes on the Willeme's theme... "Hi Brian, Martin's Willemes have got me wondering some more about this interesting marque! MP asks if anyone knows any more about the cab, and although I can't honestly say 'yes' I can offer this photograph of the cabs being made. The photo is an official AEC one so please excuse the "Master, not to be taken away" stamp, but the caption on the back is pretty interesting (to me at least!) It states 'Assembly of Monarch chassis at Willeme Factory near Paris'. Yes it's the Monarch again. It's also curious to see the Willeme staff working at floor level, and in normal casual clothes. One of the guys is wearing slip-on shoes!" Now click on here for more...

I thought you might like to see some of the many examples of unroadworthy trucks I spotted in Zambia... Starting with the one below.

Is this the longest overhang you've ever seen? Apparently they've got to have four men in the cab in order for it to steer. (Where it steers to is anyone's guess!)

Smashed lights, broken landing legs and a bald spare tyre - appalling even by Zambian standards.

I'm not sure what's worse - the precarious load... Or the lack of a windscreen!

Hello... What's this venerable Streamline V8 doing in Andrew Cooper's paint shop? And you can see project Petebilt peeking through behind... Well Andrew explainsw all: "Hi Brian, a very excited Harry Cooper and I really enjoyed the 2009 Carmarthen truck show. As was mentioned in a recent blog posting. The show was to host the unveiling of a special truck in memory of a very special lady. Karen Thomas and her partner Andrew founded KBHS bulk haulage - A company which has gone from strength-to-strength over the years. Sadly at a very young age and on Xmas Eve in 2008 Karen very suddenly passed away. Andrew, being the strong character he has always been, has continued the hard work and dedication that any business needs to keep moving forward and grow."

Andrew continues: "We've had the pleasure of doing the paintwork on the KBHS fleet for several years now and when Andrew approached me several months ago to restore the scania in memory of Karen I was honoured." Now click through here to see how it all turned out... It's a fantastic job too!

The Boss is back on BLB and he's been out and about with his camera to bring you this contradiction... "Brian - interesting week one way and another. Working my way up to Dover I pulled into the M3 services for a Costa. Not many rigs have the WOW factor but West of Scotlands heavy,parked up for a break,has it in spades. As it was raining, if the driver thought I was mad or pathetic taking pictures well... Probably both but it's for the Blog laddie!"

Now click through here for more includign an interesting question from the old curmudgeon!

"Mornin' Bri!" chirrups 'Keeper of the Flame' Martin P. "No hangover I hope!" (Nah... Vic and I have been taking things easy... Honest)." Perhaps BLB readers can help with a wee puzzle relating to this pretty little truck that visited England from Spain regularly back in the 1970s. It was always immaculately turned out but I never managed to talk to the driver. My questions are, what type of truck is it? The badges show the Austrian OaF and the German MAN, but whose cab is it?"

Now click through here for more...

Well it's Monday morning and 'The Old Vic' and Val are off down to Cornwall after a brief sojurn in Biglorryblog Towers... But he won't be going off in this old Atki (Pete Lynch took the shot when Vic was over in Oz). No, just a VW Golf hire car. Anyroadup I've had this post from Vic kicking around my e-mail in-box for a while and it's entitled "Why I like truck driving in NZ"--and naturally it features his beloved Inter... So I thought I'd post it up as a farewell offering.

"You might like to see why I enjoy truck driving at the other end of the earth," explains Vic, "...about 19,000km away from the M25 and the A14. It's not only because we have Cummins engines and Eaton Fuller Roadranger 18-speed gearboxes, you know! Regarding the above picture, as you know, I spend most of my time carrying grape juice and wine between wineries and from various wineries to bottling plants around the country, and a lot of the vineyards and wineries are in beautiful parts of the country. In this photo where they even have sheep around the vines (in case any visiting Aussies get lonely) I was filling one trailer with wine for bottling in Auckland."

"The next stop, to fill the other trailer, was Esk Valley Estate, where the tanker drivers always try to arrive at morning tea time as the winemaker's wife makes fantastic scones, cakes etc. Cut into the hill on one side of the winery is this small and very low-yielding vineyard, called The Terraces, from which come the grapes for one of the best and most exclusive red wines in New Zealand (the world?) called Esk Valley The Terraces. Esk Valley don't pay me to say that, either!

To which BLB replies... Grow my beauties... Grow! And to read more click through here... (Not a bad place to park up either...)

Last one for tonight guys. Vic and I are about to get outside of a dinner and some of the old falling down water... But I thought I'd post up this YouTube clip of a Mack Trident or Titan (you tell me) with a couple of trailer loads of kindling... Shot on the North Island. We looked hard but we couldn't see Rodders on the roadside with his camera! Vic and I were wondering who the operator was... Any ideas?

I thought it was about time we featured one of those wonderful American LaFrance http://www.americanlafrance.com/ fire trucks on Biglorryblog and here's a recent delivery to the burgh of Lambertville. And they've chosen a 75' Mid-Mount Tower Eagle six-wheeler with a throbby 515hp Detroit Diesel S60 and Allison 4000 EVS autobox. That should get them to the fire in a hurry. Now click through here for some more...

That loveable old curmudgeon is back... Yes 'The Boss' has returned from terrorising Le Continent with his beloved Maggie and naturally Biglorry is keen to hear all his news." Orkney Isles again, whatever, you're back!" he says with a harrummphh... "While you were on hols I thought I had lost it, permanently!" What? 'The Boss' losing it? What strange event prompoted such an outrageous response? He takes up the story again: "Heading south... Again, hunched over the steering wheel like Quasimodo and it was hot (air con is for wimps) I started to hear bells, faintly at first but it became louder.Looking round couldn't see nowt 'cept another Maggie at the rear, panic began, I was losing it,a looney at last..."

"Into the next services for a strong black coffee and the bells followed me in and stopped when I did,was the Grim Reaper parked alongside me I thought, leapt out, not 'The Reaper' but the Travelling Carrilon of Prague, 57 bells on the back of a Maggie rigid!" Now click through here for more and a picture of a rather attractive lady on the back of a truck (as if that would make you want to read more...)