The 2015 Scania R560 owned by John Kehow is a truck we both agreed I needed to drive at some stage. What should make it so special then? Well for one the spec; left-hand drive on full air suspension, all the option boxes ticked; full leather, microwave and coffee maker. Add to that a sensible engine remap, a recent chassis respray and cab buff along with the fact that it has been meticulously cared for by its regular driver Paddy Donnelly, who was taking a week off. This is a truck that needed to be driven.
“Load to Paris, out Irish Ferries tonight, tip Paris Thursday, no panic on you” was the message. After collecting the gleaming truck in north County Dublin, then bouncing in closer to the city for the trailer which is being loaded, I make the 9:05 pm Irish Ferries sailing to Holyhead with minutes to spare, pressing the button to raise the air on the front axle as I ease into the voluminous Ulysses ferry.
After a meal in the drivers’ restaurant, it’s time to put the head down for an hour or two in a cabin to myself, thanks to the Covid restrictions. At around midnight we arrive in Holyhead, where I’m looking forward to the night drive across Wales and into England after a cold shower and a coffee to get me going. The truck is beautiful to drive; no pulling to either side, the additional red lights in the interior roof create the perfect ambience, as I cast a glance out to the sea at my left, distant lights of the world’s fifth-largest offshore wind farm at Gwynt y Mor twinkle across the lonely water. At the bottom of the famous Rhyll Hill, manual mode is selected on the Opticruise, changing down to 11th as she romps up the hill, passing all in sight, even at 35 tonnes. Impressive.
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Truck & Driver.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Truck & Driver.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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
