robroy:
I remember the DAF with the Princess Diana themed cab sbout 10/15 years ago, that looked good, in good taste, and less macho/aggressive than all the others I have seen.
Belonged to Roy Gill didn’t it remember seeing a programme on tv years ago when they went to pick it up think his Mrs used to drive it,saw one fo his others on eBay recently Comedy Classics theme been converted to motorsport motorhome
I actually quite like the artwork, so long as it’s done properly. Not sure if I’d take a pay cut to drive one though!
robroy:
I just wondered, as there are a lot of drivers (or idiots as I prefer to call them ) that are willing to forfeit a decent wage to be seen in a fancy motor, and if this was the case in their situation
. It more than likely is not the case,…Just curious.
You could be on to something here Rob, im currently on my 3rd corporate gig where your literally just a number, a fluffer for the truck and easily replaceable. Where the truck is the asset and the driver the liability.
But knowing I get itchy feet after 5 years (im in year 2 now), I could be tempted away by a nice blinged out motor (air brushed bespoke paintjob optional). To take a drop in wages even though im not one of the insecure hourly rate whingers would be considered. Perhaps more than a nice truck is needed though.
A smaller family outfit where I was treated as not just a number could do it. Somewhere my efforts where recognised, not neccesarily financially rewarded but a simple thanks would do it.
So yes a nice blinged out motor would light up my eyes but a little more would be needed. Luckily the two can go hand in hand.
But I think back to different times when I used to ring the wife from corley or hilton park services to say id be coming home in the unit, where my arrival was announced by the throb of the engine and the crunch of the non synchro eaton twin splitter (im crap at gears). Where the wife would be waiting for me with open legs and the kids would be all excited that they could sit in the truck and play about cleaning it. The little buggers always ended up covered in 5th wheel grease somehow.
Times when drivers where drivers and not screwdrivers using the size of their vehicle to intimidate other motorists.
Yep times gone by but to get them back I would work for less and love every minute of it.
Some of the airbrushed stuff looks good, most of it doesnt though. Imo naturally. I prefer a good paint job or wrap tbh.
I understand though why firms and o/d do it though. If i had my own truck on the road with my name on it id want it to look smart. This starts with a clean truck. Although some bosses argue that a dirty truck is out earning its keep.
The thing i never understand though is naming a truck, every firm these days seems to have a Name on the front.
bobbya:
Don’t know why any of them bother they just look cheap and tacky,it is only a work tool after all.
Its also the place some drivers spend the vast majority of their lives day in day out so why not make it look nice and a bit different?
As said, the ones who don’t get this are the ones who probably just see trucking as a job rather than being ‘into’ trucks - each to their own…
Bit like modding cars. You get some who like to make their cars faster or look better and you get those its just a method of getting from A to B couldn’t care less.
The alleged business of a lesser wage for the privilege of driving a fancy truck is a whole separate issue.
I was featured in the truck n driver at the same time as the Renault with the Queens Golden jubilee 2002 .
manalishi:
Just pondering the laughable art work to be found on some trucks lately.Always seems to be proposterous yank meathead type of movie bilge,Rocky,expendables,wolverine type crud,why no celebration art work of British world changing rock power ffs?..Bowies Alladin Sane portrait,Jagger and Richards,Page and Plant,Townshend (doing that awesome leap thing he specialised in} to say nothing of the greatest of em all,Abbey Road shot especially?
If i had my own kit i would favour this above the stale machismotary on display all too regularly.I remember seeing an awesome one years ago dedicated to the peerless Deep Purple band in …er…radiant purple,wonderous sight to behold.Hope its still around.
was that the Deep purple belonging to Frank Hudson Transport which was converted to a rigid ?
raymundo:
If I owned a truck again it would be left as I bought it, last one was British Telecom yellow, it’s a tool to do a job and nowt else. I don’t paint me spanners or sockets !
+1,i have allways said they are working vehicles,but again without all the murals you cannot beat a nice paint job,[black,red,etc]
others have probably seen it but last year I saw a tractor unit that celebrated transport from the 50s 60s and early 70s,pictures behind the cab featuring old ERFs, atkinsons, and so on,it did look very smart,made a change not to see themes like star wars or rocky or harry potter etc,
ajt:
bobbya:
Don’t know why any of them bother they just look cheap and tacky,it is only a work tool after all.Its also the place some drivers spend the vast majority of their lives day in day out so why not make it look nice and a bit different?
As said, the ones who don’t get this are the ones who probably just see trucking as a job rather than being ‘into’ trucks - each to their own…
.
Well I spend the vast majority of my time in mine so I have home comforts to emulate home life ie microwave, fridge dvd, tv, coffee maker, toastie maker and partridge & peartree.
As for making it ‘look nice and a bit different’ that is my boss’s prerogative and cost…not mine. 
And yeh trucking is a job because I get paid to do it…or have I got that wrong. 
Ours look cool. not to much ,just enough.
Used to see a red unit on the M6 sometimes. Logo… ’ Coal. Not Dole’ on the back.’
And the Stoke-on-Trent outfit… brilliant paint work. Hiab number if I recall.
My eldest lad’s Magnum had on the back of the cab … ‘Big Mack and Flies’
just a thought …what happens when you fall out/leave a company after you have spent a crap load of money on lightbars,top/bottom stainless,mudflaps,visors ,mirror guards. can you take them off or does the company say pay us x amount to unfit them. or sod off its on the truck! I seem to remember a bit o a argument at a scots company when one o the show truck drivers left under a cloud after spending his own money on fancy interior etc and getting the FU response.
Not trying to stir just interested in what happens!
Way back before I even had a cat C I did warehousing for Khune and nagel in cambuslang (B & Q contract). Guy came in with a container one day and he had a plain white volvo unit and on the back of the cab in black writing was written
“425 horses
1 Stallion
Studs available”
JIMBO47:
just a thought …what happens when you fall out/leave a company after you have spent a crap load of money on lightbars,top/bottom stainless,mudflaps,visors ,mirror guards. can you take them off or does the company say pay us x amount to unfit them. or sod off its on the truck! I seem to remember a bit o a argument at a scots company when one o the show truck drivers left under a cloud after spending his own money on fancy interior etc and getting the FU response.
Not trying to stir just interested in what happens!
Out gaffer pays for all that, there his truck’s end of
raymundo:
My eldest lad’s Magnum had on the back of the cab … ‘Big Mack and Flies’
With sincerest regards, is that with or without the limiter…
Never understood why so many Scanias have a picture of a …king chicken on them.
JIMBO47:
just a thought …what happens when you fall out/leave a company after you have spent a crap load of money on lightbars,top/bottom stainless,mudflaps,visors ,mirror guards. can you take them off or does the company say pay us x amount to unfit them. or sod off its on the truck! I seem to remember a bit o a argument at a scots company when one o the show truck drivers left under a cloud after spending his own money on fancy interior etc and getting the FU response.
Deserve all they get I reckon…‘‘A fool and his money’’ (can’t remember the rest 
)
Beau Nydel:
Never understood why so many Scanias have a picture of a …king chicken on them.
I aint gonna bite, but someone will.
