The first job of the day is to deliver the accident damaged hire car that I had collected from near Augsburg last week. It’s going to Mulhouse, which is only about 30km away so no need for an early start. A French car coming from Germany, being delivered by an English truck causes a bit of confusion. The fact it was a Ford being delivered to a Peugeot dealership didn’t help, but I am soon tipped and on my way.
The run up the eastern edge of France goes surprisingly smoothly. The usual traffic struggle getting through Strasbourg is a clear run and I’m soon in a queue for cheap fuel in Luxembourg. With both tanks brimmed I cruise into Belgium and just about to call my last collection in Aachen to make sure that they would be open, when the phone rings. It was my boss Mark Cowan and the conversation starts with something like “Hello mate, have you got anything on for the weekend?” Here it comes I think! Fortunately there is nothing planned, well at least nothing that I can remember my wife telling me anyway!
One of our larger customers, a large manufacturer, has a development car in the middle of Slovakia that needs to be delivered to a little place near Heilbronn as soon as possible. It’s a massive change of plan but I cut across country into Germany to pick up the A4.
Day Eight
After nine hours off in a small rest area I point the truck south. Today is simple, get as far as possible in a shift. This isn’t always easy in Germany with its massive congestion problems and road works. The smell of fresh tarmac and concrete hangs heavy in the air as I motor south on the A3, past Frankfurt, Wurzburg and Nuremberg.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2020 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
