Tachoblog

It is with great sadness that Tachoblog has to report the sad news that Bob Paul (Transport Director at Astran) has passed away (age 81).

Those of you that have been reading Tachoblog for a while will remember that we serialised the classic documentaries ‘Destination Doha’ that were filmed in 1977 by the BBC’s ‘World in Action’ program and followed three British truck drivers on their way from England to Doha in Qatar. The drivers worked for Astran, the company that Bob was an instrumental part of for many years.

Tachoblog likes news that’s a bit different, so this story certainly caught our attention. The Palletways group who say they are Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network for small consignments of goods, has unveiled a new form of environmentally friendly transportation – the world’s biggest hot-air balloon of its kind, a 61ft-tall smoke-breathing dragon, which will act as a national marketing ‘ vehicle’ for the logistics provider.

North West England and North Wales Volvo Dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and Tachoblog wishes them a very happy birthday!

A few week’s ago, Tachoblog brought you this picture…If you remember, it was from a series of shots that showed some truck stunts from yesteryear. If you don’t know what Tachoblog’s on about then have a look at ‘Classic Truck Stunt Action From Tachoblog’.

Anyway, in that post Tachoblog said that the two wheeled action reminded us of a UK truck TV advertisement (in the days when trucks were advertised on the TV!) and that we’d dig it out and find it. And find it we have…The advertisement was from 1984 and for the Leyland Roadrunner.

Visitors to this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK will have some amazing machinery on which to feast their eyes but none more unusual than the exhibit which greets them on the stand of Cummins, the world’s largest independent maker of diesel engines.

Keltruck displayed three vintage vehicles at the ‘Help for Heroes’ Action Day held at Throckmorton Airfield, Pershore, Worcestershire on Sunday 13 June 2010 as part of the Throckmorton Air Show.

No, we’re not joking (and it’s not 1st April), using a 6-tonne racing truck, single-seater, bike and sportscar as his paintbrushes, artist, Ian Cook, has created a unique 50 square metre work of art. And here’s Ian with those ‘paintbrushes’.

Did you know you can disable a Tachograph with a magnet? If you didn’t, you do now and the UK’s Road Haulage Association is calling for a step-change in enforcement against lorry drivers who use magnets to hide how many hours they are driving.

Eddie Stobart achieved another first today when one of their fleet was the first vehicle to cross the new, temporary Workington road-bridge in Cumbria.

From the 29th – 31st May 2010, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is playing host to Trucks & Troops. Staged by the South Hampshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust the show is a celebration of the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages.