Andrew Thorpe’s family business L.&K.R. Thorpe has a long history with ERF trucks, dating back to the firm being established in 1977. His grandfather Les retired from the police aged 45 on medical grounds. With his son Keith, (Andrew’s dad) who was fresh out of agricultural college, they started out with just one lorry. Les is now 92 years old and is still on the ball when it comes to all that’s going on in the Lincolnshire-based company!
The business developed with ventures into Middle East work. They also did a lot of European work for many years, when you were required to purchase a permit to do so. Germany and Czechoslovakia were popular destinations. Volvo F12s, Scania 111 and 141 and Foden 4000s were used. There UK side saw many big rigid trucks in the fleet, and at one point the fleet was entirely made up of ERF. Thorpe’s were one of few takers of the rare ERF M-series and surprisingly, there’s still one on the fleet today. Andrew completed university obtaining a degree in Genetic Engineering with a specialty in Virology (crikey!) to have something to fall back on, but having grown up around trucks his priority was getting out on the road.
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Esta historia es de la edición February 2021 de Truck & Driver.
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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
