The Life Of Brian

Acquisition of a smart specialist Scania S500 three-axle sliding/tilting platform plant transporter rigid prompts Brian Rowland to reveal his background in road haulage.

- Bob Beech

Regular T&D readers rarely anticipate seeing a three-axle sliding/tilting platform plant transporter rigid featured as an Editor’s Choice and gracing the front cover of their favourite magazine. But we like to cast our net as wide as possible and, if a truck is a real headturner, regardless of the application, it’s definitely on our shortlist.

Clearly it has to be something extra special to be considered – and Gloucestershire-based Brian Rowland’s new Scania S500 6x2 more than meets these requirements.

The new truck joins a long line of Scania rigids to be operated by Brian; they’re always smart and well turned out, with just enough bling to stand out. This is the second Rowland truck to appear in T&D, Brian still having the stunning T-cab Longline Topline tractor unit that is a favourite at many truck shows and was bought as a lasting memorial to his son Tom, who was killed in a road accident in 2013.

Tom, just 20 years old, worked alongside Brian in the family business from an early age. He was universally popular and is greatly missed; more than 600 people attended his funeral.

Brian, wife Jayne and daughter Leanne were obviously devastated at losing Tom, but Brian carried on with the business because it is what they do and who they are – and the latest truck to go into service is a continuation of that process. They regularly attend a number of truck shows with the T-cab and are active supporters of a number of important charities, including their local air ambulance service

We met up with Brian to see the latest S500 and get the background story to his life in transport.

Specialist cargoes

The new truck has been carefully specified to meet his exact requirements and is used to shift forklift trucks, farm machinery, construction equipment and a whole lot of other specialist cargoes, including aviation equipment.