The area I covered is as far as Stranraer to St. Austell and beyond. I met some interesting people on my travels, and I have had some amazing experiences. In general I used to love driving at night as I mainly had the road to myself. It is much easier to tell if the road ahead is clear and let vehicles past as I trundle along at 30mph.
On 28 October 2005, coming over Salisbury Plain at 9pm it was pitch black and the only lights were my head lights and the three dashboard lights from the oil pressure, vacuum pressure and speedometer gauges.
In my mirror I spotted a car approaching, however, it was not travelling much faster than the Leyland Beaver. As it got near the lorry I used my left indicator to advise that the road ahead was clear but nothing happened. I wound down the window and waved the car on but again nothing happened.
More worrying was the fact that the car was travelling too close and an accident would result if I had to brake suddenly. Just before Devizes there is a layby so I pulled into it and thought that would sort the problem, however, the car followed me in.
I wasn’t best pleased. I got out of the cab and approached, thinking it must have been some young driver who had never driven in the dark. But I was wrong, the driver was an old lady who could hardly see over the steering wheel.
Before I could speak she said, “I know that you want me to come past you, but the A342 is a lonely old road and I’m more comfortable behind you.” I asked her where she lived and I said that I would guide her home, if she dropped back 10 yards so I could see her in my mirrors!
Calling card
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2020 من Truck & Driver.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2020 من Truck & Driver.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Well forked Daf
Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift
King of the hill
Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750
Time Machine 2015-2019
It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up
Original and best
There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420
GOING ALL THE WAY
Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet
Abnormal loads
In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals
Range change
After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie
Cutting a dash
Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update
Air we go!
On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance
A Cutt Above
From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years
