Recently in New trucks entering service Category

Champagne?  Flowers, A new Volvo? Oh you shouldn't have says Biglorryblog---and no sooner do I do a story on anniversary artics than 'Agent Reg' fires over this missive to me on Peter Carter Haulage's 30th Anniversary FH. (Which is just as well as I was about to give him a sound thrashing for ignoring me) But as ever the old boy has done me proud and click through here for the full story and a picture of the smart new artic.

Is it me or is Biglorryblog the only one to notice a passing similarity between the livery on the six smart new Scania P230 curtainsider rigids belonging to Highway Express and err...another 'slightly better known operator'?  Are they in any way related?

I think we should be told...meanwhile click through here for more....

Now here's one for all your car transporter fans--Biglorryblog has ben neglecting you I know....anyroadup word reaches me that Renault Trucks UK has been busy working beavering away with leading car transporter manufacturer, Transporter Engineering, to develop the first transporter capable of maximising loads of vans and chassis cabs, including large jumbo vans, as well as passenger cars. And here it is...the new 'Plus 10 Maxicom' transporter mounted to a Renault Premium 450, 6x2, three-axle rigid chassis.  Though with a wheelbase that short I always think it's a tractor! Anyroadup click through here for the full story and a picture of it carrying three 'bigguns'.... 

Now this is a CRACKING picture! And meeets all the Biglorryblog 'how to take a nice truck picture' criteria! How so you ask? Well for a start what with the low sun the colours really leap out against the grey gravel background. Then the body is raised on the tipper to create a nice shape, and there's also a driver in the cab too doing something. Add a bit of the old dynamic tilt and you've got yourself a winner. Not sure who took it but whoever did 9/10 (the missing ingredient?) I'd have put the lights on...but hey it's good enough without them! Now click through here to see another and get the full story....

The world turns...and change in inevitable. Not least on Biglorryblog. Take the news that Iveco has secured an order for nine new low-height Stralis Active Space Super³ tractor units from Luckings--the transport and warehousing specialists to the entertainment industry. And it's certainly turned on the Lucking livery too-as I can't see any theatrical name on the front like Luckings waggons used to have. Ahhh...nostalgia, it's not what it used to be. And as if to remind you here's what they used to look like many years ago.

But hwey ho and click through here for the full story....and a close up of what that new livery looks like....

Not, (as you might at first think) an act of heavy-duty wanton vandalism about to take place (i.e. the nicking of a smart Volvo truck dealership sign). But proof, if proof were needed that the fine Wigan-based company, NMS Civil Engineering, has taken delivery of its first Volvo truck. And what a beauty, a Volvo FH-480 tag-axle 6x2 tractor unit with chassis-mounted Hiab crane to add to their fleet of six vehicles. Contracts director at NMS Peter Law tells Biglorryblog: "Operating a number of marques over the years, we were swayed to choose Volvo based on price, reputation and exceptional customer service from our local Volvo Dealership." The 44-tonne has a rather impressive crane too being a Palfinger PK42502c with a 12.1 metre reach, capable of lifting a capacity of over 3000kg at maximum deployment So now you know.

Word reaches Biglorryblog that leading UK food retailer, Iceland, has taken delivery of not one but 29 Renault Premium 450.18, 4x2 tractor units - no mean deal as they're the first Renaults to join the company's 310-strong fleet. The Euro-5 trucks are all fitted with the Optidriver+ gearbox so easy-peasy for the drivers too. Now click through here for more... And not a word about Kerry 'What'shername' from me either...

Pity the poor snapper who had to come back with a decent image in this weather..but Bgloryblog reckons he managed it alright. And the shot commemorates the fact that in July 1999 national equipment hire company A-Plant took delivery of its first Isuzu---and a decade later it's now added its 150th Isuzu, as the marque has become the mainstay of the company's 7.5 tonne fleet. Not only that, but back in 1999, A-Plant ran 500 vehicles--and today its fleet numbers over 1100. Not bad going in anyone's book for Isuzu or A-Plant.....

I know it's been said we're becoming a throwaway society but frankly this taking things just a bit too far don't you think? I mean, who'd want to throw away a perfectly good new Volvo FM that's hardly been used? What kind of person leaves one of these at the dump eh?

(OK I own up... It's all a bit of jiggery pokery cut 'n' paste with photoshop of the original press release picture and click through here for the full story...)

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...

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!

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...

In the best tradtion of PR blurb Biglorryblog learns that "Essex-based oriental food specialist Hoo Hing has (wait for it) 'dished up another tasty treat' in the shape of two new generation Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units." Hey guys leave the cliches to us journalists OK? (And don't forget, avoid cliches...like the plague.) Anyroadup both the Hoo Hing 2555LS 6x2 haulers have been supplied by Thurrock dealer S&B Commercials and sport a most impressive specification including Powershift 2 auto boxes along with a whole host of optional extras, including alloy wheels and Lane Assist.  And thanks to their 550hp V8 BlueTec Euro-5 engines they also qualify for Reduced Pollution Certificates which means a £500 saving in Vehicle Excise Duty for life.  The Actros pair follow six Euro 5-engined 18-tonne Mercedes Axor 1829Ls and a pair of 26-tonne Actros 2636Ls which have already joined Hoo Hing. Now click through here to find out more about Hoo Hing products!

Sea the Stars? Well you would if you were a driver for Brian Yeardley Continental as the Featherstone, West Yorkshire-based international logistics operator has just bought six Volvo FH-480 Euro 5 low-height tractors in order to run with a fleet of brand new Krone 'mega' trailers hauling ADR freight, white goods and chemicals on Yeardley's full load and groupage service to and from the Continent. And here's one of them...

You know I've never quite worked out why more domestic operators aren't interested in low chassis height tractors. Yes the Continental boys need them for the 4.0m height limit - but there are other advantages to having a lower chassis height too, not least in terms of better aerodynamics as there's less air to swirl around undeneath the truck and hit fuel economy. I remember that Volvo always used to punt up low height FH tractors for the TRUCK TransEuro Test. So what's stopping their use in the UK? Speed humps? Coupling problems? Price? You tell me. Perhaps JC can give us a learned dissertation on the pros and cons! Meanwhile, click through here for more...

All in all a pretty aerodynamic artic... The deflector blade on the tractor blends in perfectly with the Don-Bur Teardrop trailer wouldn't you say? Meanwhile, BLB learns that "the Royal Mail has received a 'first class delivery' [yes brace yourselves lads for unrestricted PR puns] of its own in the shape of 29 new Mercedes Axor tractor units." And that's one of them above. "Supplied directly by Mercedes-Benz UK, the trucks are kitted out to the Royal Mail's own, exacting specification, which includes features such as catwalks and steps designed to maximise safety." Sort of 'stamp of approval' you might say, although to be 'frank' these are hardly your average fleet tractor as they have air-con and 400hp straight-six engines driving through a PowerShift automated gearboxes. Now click through here where you'll find it all 'parcelled up' nicely...