Volvo for sail: A nautical but nice F89 Daf XF: A rigid approach in the Borders Heavy, MAN: Lug log of a mighty move by Allelys MARCH 2019 / £3.95 Big boys at the annual Dutch Mack & Special Transport show THE SHINING Flat out @ 44 tonnes FH750 put to the test over three days Incredible 141 V8 Scania restoration by Charles Russell ROAD TRANSPORT MEDIA Scania S730 Highline: To the Manners born 770966 353267 Tel: 01945 581120 Watch and find us on FULL CUSTOM PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN www.truckmax.co.uk email: info@truckmax.co.uk REPLACEMENT SILENCERS STACK SYSTEMS SIDE PIPES MOT Compliant Systems OEM Replacement Silencers for All Makes & Models Manufacturers of Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems Official suppliers of DINEX and KLEERS products Any TRUCK, Any SHAPE, Any SIZE TRUCKMAX LTD, ORCHARD HOUSE, 90 BOLENESS ROAD, WISBECH, CAMBS PE13 2XQ TO THE POINT Editor Dougie Rankine 020 8912 2131 dougie.rankine@roadtransport.com Deputy editor Chris Turner Subscription enquiries 01444 475635 roadtransport.subs@quadrant subs.com Display sales Barnaby Goodman-Smith 020 8912 2128 barnaby.goodman-smith @roadtransport.com Contact our Classified sales team on: 020 8912 2120 Advertising production Lin Blagrove 020 8912 2145 Editor in chief – Road DVV Media Christopher Walton Contributors Numa Randell, Katy Court, Roger Prebble Main cover photograph Tom Cunningham Head of sales Emma Tyrer 07900 691137 Event sales Tim George 07557 677758 Divisional director Vic Bunby Managing director Andy Salter Truck & Driver is published by DVV International Ltd, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1JB ISSN: 0966 3533 © DVV Media International Ltd truckanddriver.co.uk A digital version of T&D is available via magzter.com Any material, words and/or photographs submitted to T&D will be considered as intended for publication Biglorryblog is at biglorryblog.com Email contributions to biglorryblog@gmail.com Ashford Truck Stop, at the heart of the industry hot topic of Kent Pictured right, with editor Dougie, is general manager Darren Smith COUNTY LINE I’m writing these words in the middle of January, this being the first issue of T&D we are putting together in 2019 On the one hand, the start of the new year is quite exciting, with a number of shows and events announcing dates Blue skies, long days and truck shows will be here soon, and honestly we can’t wait Hundreds of thousands of members of the public will attend truck shows to admire our trucks Which you would find weird if you read a lot of social media, as nobody has anything positive to say about trucks or transport The tone of a lot of these enforcement accounts is brutal at times It wouldn’t be so bad if there were more posts telling the public at large about the good, safe lorries they encounter Anyway, thanks to Brexit, the county of Kent is one of the hottest topics in the industry and the country in general Someone asked why we don’t report on Brexit in the magazine, and the simple reason is I don’t think it’s possible in a four-weekly publication The news moves so fast, and updates and advice are published online immediately by the likes of the gov.uk website, the FTA and RHA Kent itself, however, has gained a reputation as being very anti-truck There’s a lot of myth and misinformation to pick through online, so the only option is to go and see it for ourselves and speak to the people at the sharp end; drivers, truckstops, local residents and, hopefully, local councillors I’ve decided to run a series of reports on the county and the situation regarding truck parking To begin with I recently took a trip to Ashford Truck Stop, where I met general manager Darren Smith It was a really enlightening visit and I learned a lot I hope you find the report – see page 78 – interesting @TrucknDriver www.facebook.com/ TruckandDriver TrucknDriver Dougie Rankine Editor, Truck & Driver TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 This month in Britain’s only magazine for trucks and drivers 84 44 Quality in motion 66 Charles Russell may be known for his stunning Scania 1972 LB140; what about his spectacular 1977 LBS141? 52 Editor’s Choice After you: Manners Transport breaks an enduring Daf habit by choosing a Scania S730 as its new flagship 60 Lug log A blow-by-blow account of a mighty move in Spalding by Allelys using a pair of MAN TGX 41.680 XXL 8x4s 36 FEATURES 24 Nifty 750 A real test of Volvo’s FH16 750 6x2 at 44 tonnes over three punishing days: editor Dougie hauls plant and machinery around Scotland for operator C&R White 66 Bad blood Paul Godby’s sobering but uplifting story of how a stroke ruined his business but took his life on a different path 72 Border force Investment in a high-spec Daf XF rigid with Moffett forklift marks a diversification for Skeldons Transport 34 Super heavy April issue on sale … and we follow up by winging off to Sweden and putting to the test an I-Shift-equipped FH16 750 8x4 with an incredible gross weight of 140 tonnes 78 The Kent Reports, Part DON’T MISS OUT 36 Going Dutch 84 Volvo for sail Staying on the heavy side, a report from the Netherlands on 2018’s annual Special Transport & Mack Show This Volvo F89 owned by Mike Philips has a colourful history and hauls an 1894 sailboat all over Europe 26/2/19 Newstrade enquiries: Tel Marketforce on 020 7633 3300 Back issues: Tel Katy Court on 020 8912 2148 Reprints: Tel Tim Noonan on 020 8912 2172 Subscriptions: Tel 0330 333 9544, email customercare@ dvvsubs.com or apply online at www.tanddsubs.com Credit card orders Tel 01444 475635 Address: Truck & Driver Subscriptions, Quadrant Subscription Services, MARCH 2019 TRUCK & DRIVER Rockwood House, 9-16 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH, UK Please make cheques payable to Truck & Driver Subscription rates: UK: £45 (one year) Overseas (Airmail, Europe): £61 (one year) Dougie kicks off a series of reports on the truck parking situation in Kent This month he visits Ashford Truck Stop Classified advertising prepress: Classified Central Media Printed by: William Gibbons, Willenhall, West Midlands Tel: 01902 730011 Distribution: Marketforce, The Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU Tel: 020 3148 3333 Truck & Driver March 2019 52 Cover story 44 60 78 14 The Law and You 50 Scenes from the Road Two pages on all the latest changes to driver employment law This month: HMRC goes digital Our regular series depicting terrific trucks carrying out everyday life on the blacktop 16 Your Place 90 Compulsory Break Win prizes in our regular four pages of puzzles 10 From the Sharp End Sutherland stunner; High Performance health at Chippenham Pit Stop; Shunter of the Month; Truck of the Irish, part 2; plus Picture Post On social media, why can’t drivers ask questions without fear of reprisal, asks David Russell 31 Next Month! REGULARS News Industry update on who’s got what, including three Iveco Stralis X-Ways for Nixon Hire and 18 Mercedes Actros 2545s for Samworth Brothers 94 Classified Our ad listings include training, parts, return loads, accessories, services and insurance A full-page rundown of what to look forward to 12 Letters A reader calls for courtesy and respect; In praise of Pete; More on the Winter of Discontent 98 The Blunt End 32 Food to Go Top tips on cooking in your cab when on the road This month’s tale of driving, daring and disaster: a boss encounters a truly calamitous character TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 Who’s got what? A T&D update on the latest new truck arrivals Triple-X for Nixon Nixon Hire has expanded its 100% Iveco tanker fleet by adding three 26-tonne Stralis X-Way 6×4 rigids – among the first vehicles of their type to be delivered in the UK Local dealer North East Truck & Van (NETV) secured the order thanks to the proven reliability of the Iveco heavy truck range and the payload advantage offered by the new Stralis X-Way The vehicles complement three Trakker rigid tankers already in service and will supply clean water to customers across a range of sectors Graham Wood, group logistics manager at Nixon Hire, says: “We know how reliable Iveco trucks are because we’ve been using them for years But the Stralis X-Way adds another dimension to our fleet, giving us a bigger payload and even better performance for our long-distance work.” What a lot of Daf XFs! Hegelmann Transporte Group is expanding its fleet with no fewer than 540 Daf XFs The 480 Super Space Cab tractor units will be supplied to the south German company on a programmed delivery throughout 2019 and 2020 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER Hegelmann Transporte was established in 1998 and has specialised in just-in-time transport for the car, heavy and food industry Hegelmann’s 4000 employees, 2000 trucks and 2000 trailers operate from the Algarve to the Chinese border The company’s headquarters are located in Karlsdorf-Neuthard, north- west of Stuttgart In the news this month Samworth opts for Actros, Ocado goes for gas SK chooses FH Jumbo electric This may look like a normal Daf CF but it is in fact the first fullyelectric model to enter service CF Electric has been developed in a joint venture between Daf and VDL and will be used by Dutch supermarket Jumbo to supply its shops in the south of the Netherlands With a 100km range, 30-minute quick-charge and 90-minute full-charge time, the truck is the perfect solution for zero-emissions delivery into cities, especially those with ultra low emission zones The horsepower is a modest 280 but that doesn’t tell the whole story as there’s 2000Nm of torque available from a standstill We here at T&D like it Transport in the next few years is going to change a lot An electric truck like this won’t replace your XF Super Space 530; electric, hybrid and gas trucks are going to be used increasingly for urban distribution instead of diesel The Electric CF is cool because it’s a proper lorry From the driver seat it’s as conventional as a normal CF and we like that SK Distribution of Buxton, a Palletways network member and express pallet delivery specialist, gained a new owner late last year – and with a new broom has now come new metal as well, in the form of a new Volvo FH500 6x2 tractor unit “I came into the business as general manager about a year ago and I’ve worked with Volvo throughout my career,” says Vic Smith, now MD of the Derbyshire-based haulier “I’ve had my own trucks before and ran Volvo because they’ve always been spot-on for me.” Supplied by Mark Lingard, customer solutions manager at Thomas Hardie Commercials Ltd, the new Volvo FH tractor is fitted with a Globetrotter cab and D13K engine rated at 500hp eMAN has the power Porsche has put a full electric MAN eTGM, the first vehicle of its kind in Germany, to work at its Stuttgart factory The 32-tonne 360hp truck uses Li-ion batteries, has a range of 130km and can be fast-charged in 45 minutes “With the MAN eTGM, electric commercial vehicles have taken a big step towards maturity and can now reliably play on their strengths in day-to-day operations,” says a Porsche spokesperson “The findings gained together with Porsche in regular plant logistics will then feed into a first small series, which we would like to offer as early as this year.” The vehicle is used in delivery traffic on the nearly 19km-long route between Freiberg at the Neckar operation site of logistics partner LGI Logistics Group International GmbH and the Porsche plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen In total, the use of the eTruck avoids more than 30,000kg of CO2 annually TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 IN THE NEWS Actros galore for Samworth Brothers Leicester-based Samworth did some careful evaluation of Actros demo units before placing an order for 18 new tractor units, supplied by East Midlands dealer Mertrux Truck & Van All are Actros 2545 models with flat-floored StreamSpace cabs, Safety Packs and optional, fuel-saving Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) systems Samworth Brothers trialled 450hp and 480hp versions of the second-generation OM 471 12.8-litre straight-six Both performed well, returning in excess of 10mpg when pulling single-deck trailers, and only marginally less with twin-deck trailers The 450hp unit was slightly ahead on consumption, however, so it is this engine that powers the operator’s new fleet The Mercedes-Benz Safety Pack bundles together the ground-breaking Active Brake Assist emergency braking system – which incorporates a world first in the shape of pedestrian recognition – as well as Proximity Control Assist and a driver’s airbag Ocado opens gassing station Online supermarket Ocado has opened its first natural gas refuelling station at its Hatfield Customer Fulfilment Centre Ocado is the first UK retailer to self-fund the purchase of an onsite grid-connected station outright The site launched with 29 trucks powered by blended biomethane, a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Replacing existing diesel vehicles, this represents 20% of the online retailer’s HGV fleet, an industry-leading figure Environmental benefits of switching to gas include 99% less particulates emissions and 70% less nitrogen oxide than the latest diesel standard The new vehicles will reduce the Ocado HGV fleet’s CO2 emissions by 29% annually and are on average 50% quieter than diesel trucks Ocado’s gas refuelling station has been designed and built by Gasrec New Scanias for Spiers & Hartwell A dozen new Scania S500s are set for Spiers & Hartwell Since taking delivery of the New Generation S500s in 2018, S&H has experienced improved fuel efficiency, up by an average of 12% across the fleet Adrian Lake, S&H operations manager, says: “We achieve 9.5mpg with the new vehicles; we were getting 8.0-8.5mpg with the previous generation With a fleet of 50 trucks, this can quickly add up “We have a long-term partnership with Scania Some companies may think that using one company for everything – vehicles, telematics, driver training, repair and maintenance – is a risk, but for us it’s a comfort knowing that everything is being taken care of by Scania and it makes it simpler for us.” MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER ｔｈｅ ｎｅｗ ｃｆ ｐｕｒｅ ｅｘｃｅｌｌｅｎｃｅ ｓｴ･ｰ ｩｮｴｯ ｬｵｸｵｲｹ ｔｨ･ ｎ･ｷ ｃｆ ｴ｡ｫ･ｳ ､ｲｩｶ･ｲ ｣ｯｭｦｯｲｴ ｴｯ ｮ･ｷ ｬ･ｶ･ｬｳ ｯｦ ･ｸ｣･ｬｬ･ｮ｣･Ｎ ｔｨ･ ｮ･ｷＬ ｳｰ｡｣ｩｯｵｳ ｩｮｴ･ｲｩｯｲ ｷ･ｬ｣ｯｭ･ｳ ｹｯｵ ｷｩｴｨ ｢･ｳｴＭ ｩｮＭ｣ｬ｡ｳｳ ｳ･｡ｴｳＬ ｢ｵｮｫ ｡ｮ､ ｦｩｴ ｡ｮ､ ｦｩｮｩｳｨＮ ｔｨ･ ｮ･ｷ ｰｯｷ･ｲｦｵｬ ｍｘＭＱＱ ｡ｮ､ ｍｘＭＱＳ ･ｮｧｩｮ･ｳ ｯｦｦ･ｲ ｣ｬ｡ｳｳＭｬ･｡､ｩｮｧ ｰ･ｲｦｯｲｭ｡ｮ｣･Ｎ ａｮ､ ｢･｣｡ｵｳ･ ｴｨ･ｹ ｯｰ･ｲ｡ｴ･ ｡ｴ ｶ･ｲｹ ｬｯｷ ｲ･ｶｳＬ ･ｮｧｩｮ･ ｮｯｩｳ･ ｩｳ ｲ･､ｵ｣･､ ｴｯ ｬ･ｶ･ｬｳ ｵｮｭ｡ｴ｣ｨ･､ ｩｮ ｴｨ･ ｩｮ､ｵｳｴｲｹＡ ｔｨ･ ｎ･ｷ ｃｆＺ ｡ｮ ｡ｬｬＭｲｯｵｮ､･ｲ ｷｩｴｨ ｴｨ･ ｰ･ｲｦ･｣ｴ ｣ｯｭ｢ｩｮ｡ｴｩｯｮ ｯｦ ｳｵｰ･ｲｩｯｲ ｣ｯｭｦｯｲｴ ｡ｮ､ ｬｵｸｵｲｹ ｦｯｲ ｴｨ･ ､ｲｩｶ･ｲ ｡ｮ､ ｭ｡ｸｩｭｵｭ ｶ･ｨｩ｣ｬ･ ･ｦｦｩ｣ｩ･ｮ｣ｹ ｦｯｲ ｴｨ･ ｯｰ･ｲ｡ｴｯｲＮ ｎｯ ｷｯｮ､･ｲ ･ｸｰ･ｲｴｳ ｡ｷ｡ｲ､･､ ｩｴ ｉｮｴ･ｲｮ｡ｴｩｯｮ｡ｬ ｔｲｵ｣ｫ ｯｦ ｴｨ･ ｙ･｡ｲ ＲＰＱＸＮ A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY FROM THE SHARP END KINDNESS COSTS NOTHING Social media can be an unforgiving place David Russell reckons it’s important for drivers to be able to ask questions without fear of reprisal O ften attributed to Voltaire is the quotation: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Free speech is a luxury we all take for granted these days Speaking plainly is all very well but there is no need for it to be put over in an aggressive or insulting manner Good manners and civility cost nothing If you can’t say anything nice, it’s sometimes better not to say anything at all As someone who embraced social media from its faltering start, I am increasingly adopting a policy of not commenting on posts owing to the predictable level of vitriol poured on people for having the audacity to have an opinion which differs in any way from that of the poster or his/her acolytes Drivers of my generation learned our trade by talking to each other, face to face There was a hierarchy The newer drivers asked their slightly older workmates The old salts were generally grumpy sods (not me, guv!) but would generally keep you right rather than let you make too much of a fool of yourself If you didn’t know something, you asked There was often mild ribbing but you got the help needed then went ahead and did the job A thing of the past David Russell Retired truck driver Fast-forward to the present day Drivers have fewer opportunities to actually talk, other than in supermarket DC drivers’ rooms Most people there are so engrossed in their own world with their mobile devices that normal conversations are often a thing of the past Drivers’ groups on Facebook can be very toxic places with some very entrenched opinions Every self-important know-it-all with extreme views seems to inhabit cyberspace Drivers seem to miss the irony of filming on their mobile some perceived indiscretion by another driver then setting up that driver for ridicule by posting the clip A simple bit of help or guidance might have averted the problem in the first place The people criticising a poorly-executed 10 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER reversing manoeuvre by a newbie have short memories A driver innocently asks a perfectly sensible question and promptly has his/her self-confidence destroyed following the acerbic response The guys (and girls) providing the ‘witty’ replies probably have their tongues firmly in their cheeks, but humour is a very subjective thing that is tricky to convey in print I recently saw a post by a Portuguese lad who had asked for advice on how to write a basic covering letter to the DVLA to exchange his CPC card for a UK one, as his English skills weren’t quite up to the job He was called all sorts of unprintable names by guys whose English skills were quite plainly questionable I suspect that, with the roles reversed, they might struggle to write to the authorities in Lisbon to the same thing A simple PM from me offering to help was too late He’d gone He’s going to feel very welcome in perfidious Albion There is no such thing as a daft question if you don’t know the answer After retiring in 2016, I quickly got bored and did some training and assessment work for a former employer He gave (and still gives) newly-qualified drivers a start I always told them: “There is no such thing as a daft question if you don’t know the answer.” Far better to get the answer that way than be the perpetrator of some lifechanging catastrophic event Changing the subject… The contempt with which many drivers seem to regard the enforcement authorities never fails to amaze me Never happy to be subjected to their attentions themselves, many seek to deflect by asking why they are not pulling in ‘Johnny Foreigner’ They do, all the time! When I started out HGV driving, there was an unwritten rule Don’t draw attention to yourself If you went about your business quietly you were left in peace Traffic cops and the DVSA like a quiet life; if you wind them up there is only ever going to be one winner And it’s not you It’s all about ticking boxes Be polite and helpful and, magically, you are soon on your way (most of the time, anyway) Finally, the Driver Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency were amalgamated on 28 November 2013 The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency was created Five years later, why are so many still calling it Vosa? I stopped calling them The Ministry and the Wheel Tappers last millennium Time to move on l TRUCK CLASSICS Above: On the open road, the 330hp F89 copes no problem at all Mike cruises at about 50mph but it can much more wife Susan sharing the driving duties The truck is meticulously maintained, but it’s certainly no show pony The paintwork isn’t perfect, but it’s all the better for having a weatherworn look to it as it’s exactly how you would have found one in the early ’80s A poor hippie “I’ve never driven anything more modern,” smiles Mike, as he prepares to fire up the 42-year-old truck, which resides under cover at his house, normally alongside the 1894 vintage I wanted to be a hippie! But that didn’t pay, so I decided to enjoy the freedom of the open road and become a driver 86 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER boat it’s used to shift Mike’s trucking history goes back way further than when he bought the F89 though “I didn’t intend to be a truck driver I did engineering at uni,” he tells us “I wanted to be a hippie! But that didn’t pay, so I decided to enjoy the freedom of the open road and become a driver.” By chance, a friend told him about a job advertised in the capital’s Evening Standard newspaper – Iran Container Company was looking for drivers, so Mike took the train down to London for an interview The company had 90 trucks coming to Europe with guys driving them who had never been there before The solution was to employ 12 Brits, based in Austria, who would lead convoys of Iranian trucks all over Europe Mike got the job and was handed the keys to an R-series Mack but, sadly, not one like Rubber Duck’s in the famous movie Convoy “The chap who founded the company went to Mack in the USA where he was shown turbocharged engines and sleeper cabs He said no, I want something much more basic, and deleted the PAS, air seat, the RoadRanger He said the gearbox was too technical and went for the Quadroplex Designed for WW2, to be unbreakable by soldiers, it was a two-lever crash ’box They were the most basic trucks you could imagine!” First 290hp version Having cut his teeth in the Mack, escorting the Iranians all over Europe, Mike got a job with a firm called A S Rawlings and was handed the keys to a Volvo F88, registration ETR 370L “It was the first 290hp version in England and I became very proud of it I never had to crawl underneath, 1976 Volvo F89, Mike Philips had just joined the EEC (the European Economic Community), road transport was easier thanks to tripartite permits A typical run could be a fridge load of hanging meat to Germany, unload, clean out, load at the fish docks, unload in Milan, clean out, drive to the Adriatic, load peaches and back to a ferry to Southampton “I did 250,000 miles in that truck and it made me a Volvo fan for life,” he says After getting fed up being weekended abroad, Mike came home and met Susan, who’d later become his wife “At the time I needed more money so opted to go back on the road I called up Robert Armstrong, part of the P&O Group at the time, and hauled wine and whisky The company asked if I minded being a relief driver, covering what needed doing Again, the truck I got was an F88.” Drivers are respected never had to tilt the cab I was in my early 20s and I didn’t think you could get a better truck Compared with the Mack, it was absolutely staggering It was so much easier to drive, relatively quiet, had a radio and sleeper cab “The 16-speed ’box meant you’d always get a gear and I remember once having both turbos glowing bright red when tackling Mont Blanc.” As this was the ’70s and the UK His new job once more meant almost all of his driving was in Europe “I’m glad of that, to be honest In France you have fantastic Routiers transport cafés,” says Mike “Drivers are respected, break times are respected Nothing disturbed lunch! If you turned up anywhere you’d always be given the use of facilities, they’d offer to book you into a B&B “One nice regular trip was to go out empty to pick up rosé wine from France; I would take Susan on a run in the lorry down there We came back just before Christmas and stopped to shop in Le Havre It was really laid back The general rule with English customs was they would have to inspect wine to test alcohol content and so on, a sample from each compartment A cup would do, but you would always be handed a five-litre can!” Mike came off the road in 1978 and then didn’t drive a truck for over 20 years During that time he found an old sail boat, built in 1894 in Southampton, in need of restoration He got it brought back home to his garden, built a barn round it and rebuilt it When the time came to put it in water, Mike had to pay a haulier to take it there and back, WD-40 and duct tape; what else you need? For the period, the F89 had a good dash layout – and there’s a handy storage box under the seat too Radio was by no means standard in the ’70s TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 87 TRUCK CLASSICS which could get expensive “We had bought a trailer for the boat and were then able to borrow the F89 from John Weaver, which we did for some time No money changed hands but we would leave more diesel in it than it came with,” explains Mike “Then we were asked to go to Norway with the boat I asked John if I could borrow the truck and he refused, saying he was selling it “I was about to panic when he told me I was buying it!” Indeed, in subsequent years, John borrowed the F89 from Mike a couple of times Colourful history The truck has had a colourful history It was first sold in Southampton at a dealer called Princess (now MC Truck & Bus), which offered a special deal as it had a forecourt full of F10s and F12s The F89 was sold to Aerosol Research & Development in Portsmouth It then went to work for a company that did P&O work, and Angela and Robert Davis owned it Ian Rycroft, a well-known haulier, then took it on It did European work, then it was used as a shunter One day in 1993 he took it into MC Truck & Bus for a full rebuild A road test was done to check for vibration, the bill for which was £16.25 The propshaft was suspected, so it was re-balanced The vibration wasn’t cured so MC took off the cylinder heads, removed the gearbox and the sump… then fitted a replacement engine, which, amazingly, cost only £773 and was the In the care of MC Truck & Bus Ever since Mike took ownership of the F89 it has been serviced by MC Truck & Bus Each September the truck is brought in to the Southampton-based Volvo dealership for service and MoT Mechanic Trevor Gale (right) has been on the tools for 48 years and can remember the truck from way back when it was new at Princess “I’ve been working here for 24 years and at the Basingstoke branch before that,” says Trevor “The F89 has been looked after by me for the last 14 years and we’ve never had to a great deal to it, just oil changes, service items, the odd hose and mount I’ve got a real soft spot for them They were a huge step forward at the time, but also the simplicity of the design is amazing.” Mike is also keen to praise the guys in the parts department, who are never beaten when it comes to sourcing parts for the F89 In fact, on the day of the photoshoot, Mike (below right) stopped in to collect a new hand-throttle cable last one in stock in Gothenburg A new gearbox and clutch came next, then it became a full rebuild The total cost of all that was £11,644.97! Clearly, Mr Rycroft had an attachment to the truck Remember, at the time, this truck was no classic, it was a tired old banger, so that constituted a huge investment Not long after, a rust-free cab was sourced in Portugal Ian Rycroft then sold the truck to John Weaver Volvo support The first trip to Norway marked Mike’s return to European truck driving after 24 years “We spoke to Volvo; the company helped with the ferry and was able to secure a huge discount We went from Immingham to Brevik at very low cost on a freightonly ferry Volvo sent a photographer to take pictures of us leaving “The steward came down and said, ‘You’re Volvo people, I have a manifest, you must stay in the owner’s cabin!’ It was the loveliest North Sea crossing I even spent some time steering the boat, as its auto-pilot system wasn’t working, then gave the captain a tour of our sail boat!” The truck has always received attention, the public interest only increasing as the years pass The moment it was parked outside a Routiers, someone would come and ask who owned it Susan passed her HGV test in 2003, so she and Mike would split the driving “Susan was actually able to take her test in the F89,” he recalls “To so we had to get special dispensation We pointed out that it was the only truck she will ever drive, and the authorities agreed “She had a baptism of fire with it when loading onto a ferry and she was made to reverse into the furthest corner, which took a while When we went up to the ferry’s drivers’ canteen she was greeted with a round of applause from the other drivers!” Swiss roll-over The Volvo has been the length and breadth of Europe without so much as a mechanical glitch, but it has seen plenty of action On the first trip to Switzerland, Mike discovered the 88 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER 1976 Volvo F89, Mike Philips Mike’s nickname in the ’70s was Joe 90 “Because I wore glasses and talked too much,” he says truck had to have a road toll card based on the maximum gross weight of the vehicle – and the F89 is plated at 50,800kg! “They said we had to pay for 50 tonnes,” says Mike “I argued that figure was for two trailers in Sweden but they wouldn’t have it.” On another occasion, Mike had to leave the truck for a week prior to a regatta He found out who owned the biggest local fleet of Volvos, phoned the company – STG – and asked a transport manager if it would be possible to park for a couple of weeks Susan got special dispensation to take her C+E test in the F89 as it was the only truck she was ever going to drive! Free parking “It was more like Heathrow than a haulage yard The foreman asked if we would sell it! Then a car turned up and a very smart man got out It was the boss, Mr Gautier He was very excited to see the truck: ‘I did my apprenticeship in an F89 just like yours,’ he said ‘I haven’t driven one since! Can I sit in the driver’s seat?’ “He took it on a tour of the yard STG never did charge us for the parking We sent Mr Gautier a set of spare F89 badges as a gift and he responded by posting us a hazard warning switch, as ours didn’t work.” Mike and Susan sold their boat sonar business in 2017, so they’re officially retired now Which means more time for trucking – and boating! ● Susan had a baptism of fire with it when she was loading onto a ferry TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 89 111 21 21 21 21 21 21 11 21 21 21 21 WIN £25 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 14 20 21 27 26 21 21 21 22 24 21 21 21 15 15 21 21 21 16 16 17 21 21 21 21 21 33 21 21 21 23 21 21 391 21 21 21 21 21 43 21 Postcode 21 28 29 21 34 21 21 21 30 21 21 21 21 36 401 21 4121 21 21 21 21 21 37 21 21 21 1 Small subterranean English city (10) 8 Helped though attacked, but not initially (5) 9 Serve a purpose as a mask, say (5) 10 Thanks Russian leader for road surfacer (3) 11 Shut in, seen lock almost wrecked (7) 12 Scottish city that’s been read about (8) 14 The girls test out urban illumination (6,6) 21 Motor car found in a pub? (6) 22 Renault truck (see photo) (6) 23 A rainy storm? Run budget flight company (7) 25 Regal jewel is somewhat exorbitant (3) 27 Steers LDV models (6) 28 English racecourse for a Highlander? (5) 30 Channel bobbed down, it’s said (4) 32 M1 services maybe got on? Didn’t! (10) 34 Law they amended if rolling in it (7) 38 Sprinted around cedar (5) 39 Dread not opening? It’s a mistake (5) 40 Welsh town that’s funny and dull? No! (9) 42 Make enquiries before noon for old Turkish truck (5) 43 Flowing Thames helped me reach town near Watford (5,9) DOWN 21 21 21 21 21 21 Address Email You could win £25 (in the form of a high street voucher that can be exchanged anywhere) Send the completed Crossword, with (important, this!) your name and address, to: CROSSWORD March, T&D, DVV Media International, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1JB Closing date: March Note: The judge’s decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into 90 MARCH 2019 TRUCK & DRIVER 21 21 Name ACROSS 21 35 21 21 19 31 21 42 18 21 21 21 40 13 21 21 21 38 21 21 21 21 32 21 21 21 21 25 21 10 12 2 Ensure lad repairs car’s protective coat (9) 3 Just about miss American truck (5) 4 Motorway service company ached for change (8) 5 A sheep brought up, not bad for VW pickup truck (6) 6 Make ideal bet at place near Dumfries (10) 7 Partner’s carrots crushed by big trucks (3,12) 13 Sag down at first with bad back (5) 15 Half-lively cathedral (3) 16 Oral expression ahead of fuel upheaval (7) 17 Paid out for Apple product (4) 18 Gap created when a hut is removed (6) 19 Cakes turn up on roundabout with Seddon truck (6) 20 To be sure, an unusual English resort (10) 24 Made straight by dealing out (7) 26 Fellow decorates tight-fitting garments (7) 29 Pinch most of article using furtiveness (7) 31 Heard of ways to holiday island (6) 33 Country between hotel and Juliet? (5) 35 Old truck reverses direction without charge (4) 36 Tick over to avoid leaving contents (4) 37 Truck seen across a road? (4) 41 Supply weapons within a calendar month (3) January 2019 solution Giant Crossword COMPULSORY BREAK Answers across: Glenrothes Optic Antar 10 Pea 11 Outflow 12 Ligament 14 Abnormal load 21 Orchid 22 Sparse 23 Komatsu 25 Yes 27 Econic 28 Shown 30 Swig 32 Roadrunner 34 Croydon 38 Assam 39 Erode 40 Anarchist 42 Jamal 43 Annandale Water Answers down: Lethargic Nacho Ovaltine Hotels Shrewsbury Compulsory break 13 Maine 15 Owe 16 Make way 17 Lime 18 Ottawa 19 Drudge 20 Upside-down 24 Hornsea 26 Swansea 29 Harvard 31 Moscow 33 Rumba 35 Feta 36 Fiat 37 Star 41 All Jan winner: Kimberly Brownrigg, Preston By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy – dvvpolicy.com – and our Cookie policy – dvvpolicy.com/cookie-use-policy From time to time we will email you about selected industry events and services tailored to your business, but you can choose to opt out at any time If you not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box ❏ Puzzle pages Win prizes with T&D Where’s This? Can you tell us the name of the grand Victorian edifice pictured right and where it is located? Send your answer (on a postcard or the back of an envelope) to: Where’s This? March, Truck & Driver, DVV Media International, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1JB The deadline for your answer is March – and don’t forget to provide us with your name and full address The January T&D Where’s This? competition depicted a scene from the historic county town of Monmouth, in Monmouthshire, Wales Pictured was the Monnow Bridge (Pont Trefynwy to our Welsh speakers) on the River Monnow and the only remaining fortified (the gate tower stands on the bridge) river bridge in Great Britain First out of the hat with the correct answer of Monmouth was Mrs C Sanderson of Keswick, Cumbria WIN D C N O L C T H K E Y I H O O A O G Y L E O Y A B N E U T S E D Y E L B A D R Y C K F Y D H F B S D S E A D K G O L A Y S U M W Y N G A I WIN A TRUCK! This month’s Word Search winner will receive one of these 1:50-scale, limited-edition models courtesy of promotional model vehicle specialist Search Impex The Scania R580 Streamline Topline 6x2 tag-axle tractor unit with three-axle extender flatbed trailer is in the livery of Aberdeen-based McCaul Haulage Ltd The recent takeover of McCaul Haulage by Dycebased ARR Craib follows the decision of founding owner, Tim McCaul, to retire from the business McCaul Haulage had an excellent reputation as an abnormal load specialist As ARR Craib and McCaul Haulage operated in broadly similar sectors of the haulage industry, there was a seamless transition of staff, contracts and assets – including McCaul’s fleet of HGVs and a number of its curtainside and flatbed trailers The takeover now makes ARR Craib the largest company of its kind in the area, with a workforce of 430 and a fleet of more than 300 vehicles and trailers Models cost £153 each (inc UK delivery & VAT) For details of availability of this and other models, visit search-impex.co.uk or call 01332 873555 To win this one, send the completed Word Search and coupon (don’t forget your name & address) to: Word Search March, T&D, DVV Media International, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1JB The deadline is March Well done John Edworthy of Devon, who wins the model in our January Word Search competition – an ARR Craib Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4 BigSpace 6x2 tractor unit with three-axle curtain trailer I T R E R K E L U I H S E N C G N T E D E N B H A A M G Y I H U G T E Y I E M N T T I W R K T W T B N W C I L O N G S U T T O N O U S K T N E R T N O K R A W E N Word Search A N H S D R O F A E L S K N F All the words below are place names off the A17 See if you can find the words hidden in the large grid above ASGARBY CODDINGTON DRAYTON FLEET FOSDYKE FULBECK GEDNEY HAY GREEN HECKINGTON Name Postcode HOLBEACH HUMBY KING’S LYNN LEADENHAM LONG SUTTON NEWARK-ON-TRENT SLEAFORD SWINESHEAD WIGTOFT H J B T E N N U D E B A E R Y C L O E U G N O T L I D D G A January solution Shutterstock £25 O T R H V E D M L O D G A R B L D H I A Y L I J E A R R T A N A C U C L H A R Y D A D O L I H I I R Y T T D B H D G N B K A V R T S O N A A R U A G L H N L T G N O N N R M A Y V A C O E Y A E R T I E T R N L I N B M R I A L B Y K T S A O R I N C S T A O R G O N H O J B Address Email TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 91 COMPULSORY BREAK 18 What is the county town of Norfolk? 19 What are mascarpone, halloumi and fontina? 20 In which country did Pol Pot conduct a reign of terror? 21 In which English county will you find Shap? 22 What is the county town of Cheshire? 23 Which gearbox manufacturer produces the TraXon? 24 On which vehicle did Steve McQueen try to flee in the film The Great Escape? 25 What is the county town of Berkshire? l The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy – dvvpolicy com – and our Cookie policy – dvvpolicy.com/cookie-use-policy From time to time we will email you about selected industry events and services tailored to your business, but you can choose to opt out at any time If you not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box ❏ Question Time Exercise the brain cells and secure some cash in our monthly general knowledge quiz The first correct Question Time solution out of the editor’s hat wins £25, in the form of a high street voucher, exchangeable anywhere Just fill in your answers on the form below and return it to us before March 2019 WIN £25 Who presents the TV programme For The Love of Dogs? What is a native of Glasgow called? In which county is Leeds Castle? Which medical drama takes place in Holby’s A&E department? Which Cilla Black TV series made dreams come true? Which truck manufacturer produces the Econic? What is the county town of Essex? Which English town is famous for its pork pies? Which English town is famous for its mint cake? 10 What is the county town of Shropshire? 11 Who played the TV and film character Alan Partridge? 12 What is the county town of Dorset? 13 Specialised vehicle manufacturer Terberg originates from which country? 14 Which Sebastian was a record-breaking middledistance runner? 15 What is the county town of Pembrokeshire? 16 What sort of factory did Victorian philanthropist Joseph Rowntree found? 17 Which Czech tennis star Martina defected to the West? January 2019 answers Mayall Osborne House Peach India Horses Bedford Extraterrestrial Mary Rose Ronald Reagan 10 Social Democratic Party 11 Truckfest South West 12 Sand/silica 13 Citrus 14 Cream 15 Dressing 16 Ford 17 Over 18 Jade 19 Wilde 20 Bull 21 Box 22 Heating/air-con 23 Ballet 24 USA 25 Outside l £25 winner: Eric Brookes of Spennymoor, Co Durham Question Time March 10 19 11 20 12 21 13 22 14 23 15 24 16 25 17 18 Send your answers to: Question Time March, T&D, DVV Media International, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1JB Closing date: March Name Address Postcode 92 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER Email Puzzle pages Win cash prizes with T&D £25 and email address if you have one – to: Code Breaker March, Truck & Driver, DVV Media International, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1JB, by March 2019 The first correct answer out of the editor’s hat will win £25, in the form of a high street voucher, exchangeable anywhere l January 2019 T&D’s Code Breaker: Lichfield Winner: F Sweeting of Pickering, North Yorkshire 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A P Code Breaker Each number in the large grid below represents a different letter of the alphabet Use the small grid to keep a record of the decoded letters Four letters are already in, as a start When you’ve completed the puzzle, rearrange the letters in the coloured squares to spell the name of the location suggested by the picture below Send the place’s name on a postcard, along with your name and address – WIN L M W 25 16 23 15 23 13 15 21 25 25 15 13 20 24 13 15 15 13 19 24 15 5 24 12 10 21 19 16 3 25 15 15 14 11 20 15 26 25 20 25 25 26 23 20 24 15 13 19 21 25 14 19 26 20 12 18 21 26 11 21 10 20 18 25 25 20 26 11 11 19 21 19 21 24 22 19 25 11 17 1 25 14 14 21 15 17 25 21 13 15 25 16 1 15 24 26 15 26 23 15 15 13 13 8 13 23 11 15 16 11 15 18 22 11 18 20 12 26 15 17 17 19 16 11 15 24 20 25 11 16 25 12 21 26 17 25 25 15 20 16 20 19 19 23 21 25 16 26 21 19 20 26 10 21 P A L M Shutterstock TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 93 Tel: 020 8912 2120 / Fax: 020 8770 3907 email: INSURANCE CRAMLINGTON INSURANCE SERVICES LLP “With over 30 years’ experience” WE OFFER COMPETITIVE QUOTES FOR: New start-ups, owner drivers, small fleets to large fleets ● UK and European Cover ● Goods in transit insurance ● Employers and public liability ● Instalments available For a Fast and Friendly Service call 01665 713344 or text your name and telephone number to 07779 013918 and we will ring you! Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority For the best online deals Go to www.commercialmotor.com 94 MARCH 2019 TRUCK & DRIVER PARTS VAN – TRUCK – FLEET INSURANCE plied · Free fitting on all wheels supplied · Full range of Alcoa wheels stocked cked · New + Used wheels available · Repolishing service for dull/ used wheels ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Immediate cover available Own dedicated advisor always available New ventures and established hauliers Owner operators and Small Fleets 60% Introductory Discounts available Goods in Transit and Liability Monthly Instalments Annual European cover available QUOTELINE 01953 602866 Authorised and Regulated by the FCA Visit our website: www.prioryinsurance.co.uk Email: enquiries@prioryinsurance.co.uk PRIORY INSURANCE BROKERS LTD 4, Fairland Street, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0AN · Full range of wheel polisher & cleaners · Next Day Delivery · We are located minutes offf M6 Junction 14 (STAFFORD) Alcoa Wheels UK Distributor CLUB ALCOA “Follow us on facebook” CLUB Join Free Now ALCOA See our website for details Se Join Free Now See our website for details GENUINE DANISH S ILLUMINATED HEADBOARDS IN STOCK 01785 212818 sales@tyretracks.co.uk www.tyretracks.co.uk TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 95 USED VEHICLES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUR SUBBIES KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ Keep your trucks going and your cash flowing with Wincanton • Unlimited container work • Fast payment – we pay week in week with no penalties • Secure blue chip company • Easy admin - self billing • Fuel escalator • CPC training • Very competitive rates • Nationwide opportunities • Immediate start For moreinformation information onsubbies our subbies package, call 01394 612685 on package, call Paul Hunn 07730 988818 For more information onour our subbies package, call Paul Hunn 07730 988819 or emailcontainer.subbies@wincanton.co.uk container.subbies@wincanton.co.uk or email container.subbies@wincanton.co.uk More than you think RETURN LOADS TRUCK & DRIVER MARCH 2019 97 THE BLUNT END Tales of driving, daring and disaster… Some truckers ’ave ’em This haulage company owner (name and address supplied) encountered a truly calamitous character Dirty washing One of my trampers was off sick and I needed urgent cover, someone willing to a night out He jumped at it It was easy; take a loaded trailer, tip it, run back empty So I sent him off with one of our (first ever) new lorries and a load of sheeted material He got back on a Friday evening and parked the truck I got in on Saturday morning and noticed there were no tarpaulins anywhere to be seen on the flat trailer Where the hell were they? Had he left them on the job? Had they blown away? No He’d put them in the cab He had scrunched up these wet, dirty, greasy sheets and shoved them up on the bunk behind the seats It must have taken some effort; it took me long enough to pull them out I had to book the lorry for an urgent, expensive valet Luckily for him, by the time I saw him on Monday, I had calmed down a tad but I was still angry and told him I’d be docking from his wages the cost of the valet He was shocked “What else was I supposed to with them?” “Put them on the trailer, you numpty!” Things came to a head a couple of weeks later in a quite spectacular manner We sent him off in the afternoon to get south, park up, take nine off, tip, reload and head back Frank got to somewhere near Leeds, pulled off and parked (illegally) on a slip-road for a sleep He awoke and set off on his 98 MARCH 2019 TRUCK& DRIVER journey once more But now the truck was performing badly – apparently it was very sluggish and shortly a warning light on the dash indicated that the clutch had overheated He called me to explain what had happened As the truck was one of our old ones, I assumed clutch failure I called for a recovery truck to haul it off the hard shoulder to the local dealership During this time, the police arrived to see what was happening The policemen took Frank’s details, ran them through the system as a matter of course and promptly arrested him owing to an outstanding warrant! What a drag… Then the recovery guy arrived He took one look and started laughing “I know what’s wrong here,” he said, and pushed in the trailer brake button The air had dropped when Frank was asleep and the trailer brake had come on Astonishingly, he’d managed to drag it for two miles – down the M1 – with the wheels locked, before the truck began to protest It was a new trailer and he had flat-spotted six Continental super-singles I had to get a lift down in a car to pick up the lorry from the dealer Thankfully the clutch survived, but I still had a recovery bill, a bill for six tyres and had to get the goods to the customer It was an absolute nightmare Best of all was when Frank called me to get me to bail him out I not so politely refused and advised him never to set foot in my premises again A woman arrived at the yard a week later to pick up his car and, surprisingly, return the phone I had given him Later that day I got a call from an irate man shouting at me down the phone to stay away from his daughter?! ● Shutterstock W e’d been struggling for drivers after picking up extra work last year, so someone with years of Class experience turning up looking for work was a godsend This is a short version – I could write pages on what this guy (let’s call him Frank) did over just two months He talked a good game; he’d driven all sorts Wanted a night job for family reasons, he preferred night work I sent him off on a trunk with an experienced driver and he managed that okay He wanted to be paid in cash, which I had to explain would not be possible as everyone’s wages were paid directly into a bank account He said he didn’t have a bank account He was generally one of the first trucks away but always the last one back This came to a head one Monday morning when he hadn’t appeared I had told the day man to come in for 5am, and the truck didn’t turn up until 7.30 He would sneak his missus down the road some nights until I found out and stopped it I don’t want to think what they were up to This became a regular thing; a trunk that should take 10 hours would take 12 or 13 because he was spotted parked on a slip-road sleeping One day, he forgot to fuel the truck and left it running on fumes for the day man How can you forget to get diesel? That’s like forgetting to pull your pants down when you go for a crap But we put up with it as, unlike some, he did at least turn up every night COLLECTOR’S COLLECTOR’S TOYS TOYS IN NI SH ANNON- COU N T Y C O R K - IR EL A N D ▲ BARCLAYS OF PORTSOY ▲ PHILIP RYAN HAULAGE S730 WITH POWDER TANKER ▲ ST MARYS DAF106SSC WITH LIVESTOCK FLOAT ▲ PROUDLOCK LIVESTOCK FH4 WITH PARKHOUSE LIVESTOCK TRAILER TRI - NATIONS Future Releases Barclays of Portsoy Daf XFSC with Livestock Float IRISH COLLECTION Govern T-cab 8x4 (unit) Currently in Stock ▲ JAMES ADAMS SCANIA R HIGHLINE ▲ W BARKER & SONS, SCANIA R 560 WITH PEZZAOILI LIVESTOCK TRAILER ▲ R & J LOVE PHOT DAF XF106 SSC WITH CURTAINSIDER ▲ SUREFREIGHT S580 WITH LOW LOADER ▲ ALEX WILKINSON SCANIA WITH MULDOON ▲ BRADFORD VOLVO MG TRI-NATIONS Alex Wilkinson Scania $ with trailer St Marys Daf XF SSC with livestock Float Barclays of Portsnoy, Daf 106ssc with Houghton livestock float Ricketts XF106 ssc unit only R&J Love DafXFSSC with Curtainsider Proudlock FH4 with Livestock Float Stevie Wilson (unit) Habro Feeds FH4 with Muldoon A.Binns XF105SSC (unit) David Philip (recovery truck) JM Bell Scania with Livestock Float W.Walker Scania with Livestock Float RW Stewart Scania 143 with Livestock Float Alsop Transport FH4 with Curtainsider (5 only) S & N Caravans (7 only) IRISH ▲ FRANK PRATT R730 WITH LOW LOADER ▲ DEMPSEYS ACTROS(UNIT) ▲ McAULIFFE XF106SSC ▲ C GOVERN ▲ STEVE WILSON Tekno Back Catalogue Irish, UK & European models in stock Philip Ryan S730 with Powder Tanker C.Govern T-Cab 8x4 unit only Martrain Scania 143 8x4 unit only Dempsey’s Actros Unit only Bradford FH4 Unit only Surefreight S580 with Low Loader James Adams Highline Unit only Corr Bros T-Cab only McAuliffe XF106SSC Unit only Sam Culotty FH4 with livestock Float Transzone Scania R with Reefer (5 only) Polar FH4 with Reefer Julian Davis Scania T-cab with tipper Keohane FH4 with tipper (6 only) PJ Gillane FH4 with Reefer Barna Transport scania R with Reefer McCulla F12 with reefer Derry Bros Scania 111 with reefer C Rocks Scania 560 Unit only T Hayes R730 with crane Zellwood Daf XF106SSC with Reefer Frank Pratt Scania R730 with Low Loader Tel: 00353 (0) 21 4775218 Tel: 00353 (0) 21 4775301 Mob: 00353 (0) 872355379 Open days a week 10am - 8pm MAIL ORDER A PLEASURE www.collectors-toys.com