Did stockton haulage not run 60’ flats for years on the steel work.?
Don’t really get the argument with these longer trailers. On the show they say another 9 roll cages on but you’d get 5 times+ that on a double decker of which there’s thousands already in service.
Morrison had 40 of them in there bellshill yard ive all so seen asda got some
Rikki-UK:
Kemaro… the lads doing steel have been running 50; 55 and 60 foot flats (not trombones but rigid trailers) for many years and perfectly legally loading them back with loads that cube out before hitting GVW. Obviously gaining a advantage- I dont see that they have put other flat trailer hauliers out of business
The trailer suits the needs of the steel job but, a reason behind these trailers is to reduce truck numbers , less trucks equals less drivers, another post on here shows a prototype of an automated truck doing shuts around a warehouse & I watched a programe the other night that had a completely automated factory, no workforce atall, as technology advances jobs will surely go & we will get obese , its evolution , with my truck & hiab I probably do the work of what would have employed 10 or more men in the past all working hard, healthy & slim , the human race is doomed as we know it
bigtruck:
Did stockton haulage not run 60’ flats for years on the steel work.?
yes as well as Stevens , Foxes, FVS/Prestons,Burn Bros, Durhams and quite a few others – the point is you dont have to backload a long load as long as at one point in the journey the trailer has carried a long load you can legally use a 60" long trailer to traverse the country … and this has been done for years without the turning circle requirements this trial demands. All those hauliers have run quite legally all over the country trailers that are 33% over the usual length without all the current restrictions this “Trial” is imposing. I have never heard of a major incident with these trailers ( a lot longer than currently trialed) have you.
That alone says longer trailers can and have been used for many years - and counts out the safety arguement
kemaro:
Rikki-UK:
Kemaro… the lads doing steel have been running 50; 55 and 60 foot flats (not trombones but rigid trailers) for many years and perfectly legally loading them back with loads that cube out before hitting GVW. Obviously gaining a advantage- I dont see that they have put other flat trailer hauliers out of businessThe trailer suits the needs of the steel job but, a reason behind these trailers is to reduce truck numbers , less trucks equals less drivers, another post on here shows a prototype of an automated truck doing shuts around a warehouse & I watched a programe the other night that had a completely automated factory, no workforce atall, as technology advances jobs will surely go & we will get obese , its evolution , with my truck & hiab I probably do the work of what would have employed 10 or more men in the past all working hard, healthy & slim , the human race is doomed as we know it
People had the same opinion when the weaving looms arrived, but in the end more were employed as more people could afford the goods they were making,
As for healthy and slim?
Slim is right as many were undernourished, as the Country couldn’t produce enough food, using only horse and manpower. When many of the farm workers went of to Army training during the First World War they actually put weight on as it was the first time they had got 3 proper meals a day.
As for Healthy when they introduced the pension most men wouldn’t actually live long enough to receive it, but now most will.
kemaro:
Rikki-UK:
Kemaro… the lads doing steel have been running 50; 55 and 60 foot flats (not trombones but rigid trailers) for many years and perfectly legally loading them back with loads that cube out before hitting GVW. Obviously gaining a advantage- I dont see that they have put other flat trailer hauliers out of businessThe trailer suits the needs of the steel job but, a reason behind these trailers is to reduce truck numbers , less trucks equals less drivers, another post on here shows a prototype of an automated truck doing shuts around a warehouse & I watched a programe the other night that had a completely automated factory, no workforce atall, as technology advances jobs will surely go & we will get obese , its evolution , with my truck & hiab I probably do the work of what would have employed 10 or more men in the past all working hard, healthy & slim , the human race is doomed as we know it
Its called progress the industry has changed beyond all recognition in my working life time, and by the time I retire it will have moved on again- the job I knew and loved has gone… the job the new guys today are getting to love is going to change even quicker- technology and innovation has changed a grass roots job - and it will never go back
“Tinks, it’s Rikki. They aren’t swallowing it mate, time for plan B. By the way how are my shares doing ■■” 
Rikki-UK:
Its called progress the industry has changed beyond all recognition in my working life time, and by the time I retire it will have moved on again- the job I knew and loved has gone… the job the new guys today are getting to love is going to change even quicker- technology and innovation has changed a grass roots job - and it will never go back
Sad but very true. I’m only 32 and in my 11yrs of driving trucks, the industry has changed so much in that time. It’s not the same anymore, and getting worse by the day.
billybigrig:
“Tinks, it’s Rikki. They aren’t swallowing it mate, time for plan B. By the way how are my shares doing ■■”
I gotta say Im looking good in that photo 
not sure your point mate - but our shares are doing fine. Unsure why I would need a plan B… cos plan A is doing pretty ■■■■ good and has done for over 10 years- sorry to disapoint you 
Rikki-UK:
billybigrig:
“Tinks, it’s Rikki. They aren’t swallowing it mate, time for plan B. By the way how are my shares doing ■■”
I gotta say Im looking good in that photo
Well it was a few years ago 
Yes well , I am older and wiser now - do you have a relevant comment or just looking to post a random photo? (ps unbeleivably I still have the same amount of hair- my dad was bald by the time he was 30- if its genetic should I be having words 
)
Rikki-UK:
Yes well , I am older and wiser now - do you have a relevant comment or just looking to post a random photo?
Lucky bugger some of us are just older
On a more serious note, as I’ve said before on this topic they’re hardly big and just like when we humped up from 40 - 45 foot and 38 - 44 tons they will quickly become the norm. Like you used to, I run wide and long a lot without the bat of an eyelid or the need to put my coffee down. That said, the way some folk struggle with 45’s I may join you in the shares market 
perhaps in the cab repair, mirror replacement or street furniture areas
Now I’m off back to my quiet corner before Captain Paedo arrives and ruins this thread too 
…
FarnboroughBoy11:
I still think they have [zb] up on that rear steer axle, I would have thought it would have worked better to have fixed axles the same distance from the rear like we have now and just have more “cut in” from the trailer, that tail swing is bollox.
why would that bother you … you can turn a class one on a sixpence
discoman:
FarnboroughBoy11:
I still think they have [zb] up on that rear steer axle, I would have thought it would have worked better to have fixed axles the same distance from the rear like we have now and just have more “cut in” from the trailer, that tail swing is bollox.why would that bother you … you can turn a class one on a sixpence
I think it is great how everyone is going on about Stobart’s enviro trailer with steering axles now i don’t want anyone to think i am trying to take away his glory ( as if i would )but back in the good old days of the early eighties being from Stoke-on-Trent i used to drive for a firm called S.C.Fernough ( tippers) they were now on CB as UFO Squadron and when they passed you, you soon knew why anyway we had a steering axle trailer all that time ago and there was a company i think it was Sturge a steel haulier yellow trucks they had an extendable trailer with a steering axle and it could go up to 75 feet in length so as for mister Stobart being revoloutionary 
i don’t think so bit like the vauxhall astra with headlights that turn when you do Citroen had them in 1960s a lot of this technical stuff is old ideas worked on new vehicles that’s all and the advantage of driving an old truck when you scratch it no one notice’s
discoman:
FarnboroughBoy11:
I still think they have [zb] up on that rear steer axle, I would have thought it would have worked better to have fixed axles the same distance from the rear like we have now and just have more “cut in” from the trailer, that tail swing is bollox.why would that bother you … you can turn a class one on a sixpence
That is true… Great game yesterday by the way
bigmiler:
I think it is great how everyone is going on about Stobart’s enviro trailer with steering axles now i don’t want anyone to think i am trying to take away his glory ( as if i would )but back in the good old days of the early eighties being from Stoke-on-Trent i used to drive for a firm called S.C.Fernough ( tippers) they were now on CB as UFO Squadron and when they passed you, you soon knew why anyway we had a steering axle trailer all that time ago and there was a company i think it was Sturge a steel haulier yellow trucks they had an extendable trailer with a steering axle and it could go up to 75 feet in length so as for mister Stobart being revoloutionary
My old Citroen CX Estate had the turning headlights too.
I’ve drove skelly’s with floating rear axle’s, and tesco trailers with active steer rear axles, and even a Honda Prelude with 4 wheel steer, so I know what you mean
I will stick to my masive 30 ft trailer I have done extenders and fixed 55 and 60 on plate and steel much prefer 30ft