Recently in British truck operators Category

"Hello Brian," says John O..."Just another blatant attempt to fly the Kite-shaped flag again! I've just received the attached photo from one of our flagship fleets, showing four of Terry Seaman Transport's Fodens loading the 'Islay Trader' with grain for Ireland. In just one day (Monday this week) his all-Foden fleet delivered 1,600 tons in 55 loads---quite an achievement. (He does have more than 4 Fodens!) Best regards, John O." Works for me mate.....

Friday morning is FIAT morning...and how about this Italian Stallion? Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson returns to BLB and to say: "Hello Brian, I stumbled across these shots whilst searching for something else in the JWH archive today. They date from around 1982 when I visited FB Atkins at Findern, Derby to take some pictures. Back then 'mainstream' Atkins fleet consisted of Fiat 170s, Seddon Atkinson 400s (with proper sleeper cabs) and Mercedes SKs with their 'sideways' sleepers, as we called them at the time. I think the latter contained a fold down bunk, but it was still a better deal than some of the home-made, 'Rabbit Hutches' which could be spotted tack-welded on the rear cab walls of many old British motors of the day. Best regards, John..." now click through here for more photos and a most unusual Foden!

The recent posting I did of the Foden cutaway has certainly generated a fair bit of feedback. And Mike Ponsonby has goen one further by sending me this photo. ""Hi Brian, this is the same model Foden S70 depicted in Biglorryblog's exploded drawing last week, as operated by Kaye-Goodfellow Ltd of Manchester 1971 to 1978. kind regards, Mike."

Having obviously seen Peter Geany's hand-tinted family photo Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Wood Henderson admits to Biglorryblog:"I do have a liking for these hand-tinted images, there's something quite quirky about them. Here's one that is in my possession courtesy of T.P. Niven of Palnackie, one of Scotland's oldest family haulage concerns. It shows company founder, Thomas Paisley Niven in 1935 beside the Reo that was his first brand new truck purchased after a full nine years hard graft with second-hand motors. The cab was made locally by Penman's of Dumfries and it's one of their Albion 'stock' examples, converted for use on this chassis." Now click through here for more up-to-date motors....

Ask and ye shall receive....Bob Fletcher e-mailed me to ask: "Hi Brian, can any of your army remember some Macks. I think they were B models and were used by a company called P&S Contracts from Glasgow. They kept three at the Kellys Cafe at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire and some at Glasgow. Three trucks came down from Glasgow on a night trunk and when they got to Boroughbridge the drivers got out of these trucks and climbed into the other ones which were loaded ready and of they then went back to Glasgow. Next morning three local drivers came and took the trucks down to places like Sheffield,  off-loaded then reloaded and back to Boroughbridge ready for the night men. These Macks had air starters---I can remember as they used to make quiet a noise when starting up! I dont know what happened to the company but I know that it was in the late 60s/early 70s anyone remember?" Well naturally I consulated the oracle(s) John Henderson and Bobby Tuck...and this is what they both said... 

John Shepherd has sent me this bit of vintage heavy haulage history and says: "Hope this is of interest---I've sent in a few photos before of Stevens Haulage and how they were quite forward-thinking with long-loads, etc. Bob Tuck mentioned them using an eight-legger Leyland and so I've managed to scan a couple of shots from my Uncle's collection." And by Jove you're right John and Bob there's the eight-legger. But what's the model...? And click through here for one more..and what about the two early Volvo's behind it too?!

John Wood Henderson, Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' The Border' has set me a challenge..find that truck! And he says: "Hi Brian, here's a Mack contribution for today featuring Harcon's finest from the front cover of February 1991's Transport News...hence the bar code and date in the image! I'm not sure of the exact model type, but no doubt the BLB anorak army will help me out. Also does anyone know if F821 OBV is still around? Apparently Harcon Trading ran the motor on a regular London trunk back then and the boss at this Cumbernauld firm reported much interest in the truck which was quote, 'the best piece of advertising he'd ever bought!' Regards, John." Well it's a funny-looking Bulldog from my perspective...alot more 'boxy' than I remember. Maybe 'Two Hats' can help us out? And who knows what hapened to it?

Thanks to David Bauche at the Australian Trucking Association and its excellent weekly 'ATA 'Friday Facts' e-newsletter I learn that final preparations are being putting in place around Australia as the trucking industry gets ready to celebrate 'TruckWeek 2010' from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 February. David tells me: "The week brings all sectors of the industry together to inform the community and politicians about the importance of the trucking industry, the issues the industry will face in the coming years, how to drive safely around trucks, and the great careers that are now available in trucking. Across Australia, trucking companies, both large and small, have organised events as diverse as inviting local politicians to participate in on-road trials, to organising a stall at the local market day to promote sharing the road safely with trucks." What a fantastic initiative....and read through here for more.

"Hi Brian, " says Graham Bellman "...thought you might like this trip down memory motorway! Flintshire hauliers starting with this F7, driven by Ken 'Snicker' Peers, for a firm I worked for, when new, coupled to a Peak, 30' crane trailer, used to carry bricks from Buckley Brickworks, Lane End. And it was the first sleeper cab truck they bought!,...(As you can't really count F86 as a real sleeper!, not when you're my size!!")

And dig the old crane too - well before the 'You can't climb up there!' school of elfin safety Graham!  Do they still allow those now I wonder?
 

You know there are certain advantages to being a pensioner...for in the latest edition of 'Reedlink' there's an article all about Reed Transport and in particular the fact that John Marsh, who worked for the company for 30 years, has written a book all about the firm with 350 photographs which feature many classic trucks. Now click through here for more and how to get a copy...

Biglorryblog's man 'North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has been updating me on the evolution of the famous livery sported by Pollocks and to remind me that "2010 sees Pollock (Scotrans) Ltd celebrate their 75th anniversary in business. I'm in the process of putting together a celebratory piece for Truck & Driver. So that's as good an excuse as any to send you a trio of Pollock pictures!" Works for me John. In the days of the AEC and Atkinson, this famous livery was applied by hand and gold leaf was always specified for the 'Pollock' lettering. Before the advent of tartan paint, (ha-ha) it could take the sign writer many hours to apply all the different coloured lines of the band which was replicated correctly to a 'proper' tartan. I as young lad I remember watching this being done and occasionally these bands even matched the intended drivers surname, if a relevant clan plaid was available...."

Now click through here for more..

As fully-expected, John Ormandy has kindly responded to the question of Glendinning Fodens (posed by 'The Boss') and he kicks off his response by supplying me with this superb photo which he says was taken by Tim Andrew for Trucking International back in 1985.(And I trust the guys at Trucking have no objection of me using it on Biglorryblog...) And if 'The Boss' and everyone else, clicks through here there'll find John's full story on it too!

I am grateful to Scott Pollock, managing director of Pollock (Scotrans) www.pollock.co.uk . I bumped into him recently and naturally we got talking about the company's fine-looking fleet complete with great individual tartan-clad livery and he told me that Pollocks were naming their trucks long before one Eddie Stobart got in on the act. And not a lot of people know that...What's more, to prove it he kindly sent me a copy of 'Pollock - The Early Years' written by Frank Richardson--a fascinating book.and that's 'Night Scotsman' on the cover (and for a pie what's the truck?). Now click through here for somethign a little more up-to-date....

There I was, just wondering where that slack-jawed idler 'Agent Reg' had got to, when once again he pulls a veritable rabbit out of the hat... And what gems do you think would lurk behind the doors of the Donald Malcom Heritage Centre... Well what are you waiting for? Click through here to see the collection that carries the name of the great man! And there are mutton pies up for grabs too!

I know the cost of diesel is high---but there's got to be an easier way to save the stuff! And having recently finished a cracking book about the race to the South Pole ('Death on the Ice by Robert Ryan '-- 'I couldn't put it down', Biglorryblog) I was naturally struck by this example of modern day 'man-handling'...and err...'woman-handling' too! (Hold on, that doesn't sound right). Anyroadup, word reaches BLB of any excellent stunt for charity held by distribution specialist Parcels to Ireland, who knew exactly where to turn for some heavyweight support at its 20^th anniversary party. The Rugby-based firm called on Coventry Mercedes-Benz dealer Gerard Mann Commercial Vehicles, which pitched in by providing an Axor X tractor unit for the truck-pulling event - and a team to pull it too! Now click through here to read all about it and how much P to I raised...I'm impressed.