when in Belgie this week Ive just noticed that the “V” and the numbers that were on their fuel tanks have all but gone
what were they? and when did they go if it was ages ago just shows how much notice i pay, also while im here what were the little white stripes somtimes with a red boarder on the front and rear of Itailian trucks?
malcolmj:
when in Belgie this week Ive just noticed that the “V” and the numbers that were on their fuel tanks have all but gonewhat were they? and when did they go if it was ages ago just shows how much notice i pay, also while im here what were the little white stripes somtimes with a red boarder on the front and rear of Itailian trucks?
The V numbers in Belgium were just a random identity number allocated to a new truck or trailer by the Ministry, we used the last 3 digits as the fleet number on the cab or trailer. I didn’t realise they were not using them anymore.
malcolmj:
when in Belgie this week Ive just noticed that the “V” and the numbers that were on their fuel tanks have all but gonewhat were they?
Hi malcolmj, I’m not too sure about the “V” number, but I do recall seeing Belgian trucks with it painted on them, usually it was on the fuel tank as you said.
malcolmj:
also while im here what were the little white stripes somtimes with a red boarder on the front and rear of Itailian trucks?
Ahh, now this one is a bit more up my street, so I’ll do my best to get this one right…
The white stripe means conto terzi = hire and reward
The red stripe means conto proprio = own account
The border you mentioned was to differentiate between the stripe and the colour of the vehicle if both were the same colour.
Eg. If a vehicle was white and needed a white stripe, then there would just be the red border, and vice versa for a red vehicle, which would need just a white border if the vehicle was red.
This is the Italian truck I drove, but this didn’t have a colour problem, cos the stripe was white, but the bumper was blue. Also no problem with the trailer being red, cos the stripe on the back of that was white too. 
I just realised that it’s about 24 years since I drove that.
(So my grey cells may be a little wonky. 
)
However, I did get nicked by Milan’s finest for pulling the wrong type of trailer, but that’s another story.
thank you both I’ll sleep better at nights from now on 
The “V” number is in fact the VERGUNNING number,which is plain and simply the equivalent of the operators licence in UK.
Vergunning loosely translated means “AUTHORISATION”
It is no longer legally required that they are displayed on the sides of trucks or trailers.
Robbies Dad:
The “V” number is in fact the VERGUNNING number,which is plain and simply the equivalent of the operators licence in UK.Vergunning loosely translated means “AUTHORISATION”
That’s interesting RD, I thought that the “V” stood for vervoer or a word very similar to that, so that’s cleared that one up then.
Unless anybody knows differently… 
dieseldave:
I thought that the “V” stood for vervoer or a word very similar to that, so that’s cleared that one up then.
me too, but as RD runs wagons in belgium i’ll defer to his knowledge on the italian subject, a subby of mine used to order his 142s and 143s in dragon red (actually orange) which was popular in italia, and mount the number plate in the centre of the grille as he insisted that they got fewer pulls from the italian law - one of his drivers decided to add those stripes too one day but got a bollocking for it when he did get a pull 
jj72:
dieseldave:
I thought that the “V” stood for vervoer or a word very similar to that, so that’s cleared that one up then.me too, but as RD runs wagons in belgium i’ll defer to his knowledge
Hi jj72, I’ll also defer, can’t argue with somebody who works there after all. 
jj72:
on the italian subject, a subby of mine used to order his 142s and 143s in dragon red (actually orange) which was popular in italia, and mount the number plate in the centre of the grille as he insisted that they got fewer pulls from the italian law - one of his drivers decided to add those stripes too one day but got a bollocking for it when he did get a pull
I remember the Italian liking for the dragon red colour, there were plenty of red motors in Italy back then… mostly 141s IIRC.
I never heard that the Italian cops had any preference for exactly where the front number plate was mounted. ( and I got pulled-in often enough too! )
jj72:
me too, but as RD runs wagons in belgium i’ll defer to his knowledge
Was this to match the rust on the home grown italian trucks■■?
dave, wasn’t a preference as such, just that (they thought) it not being on the bumper where most UK motors would have it would throw the law long enough for you to sail past - the italians often has their small numberplates on the grille also IIRC
jj72:
dave, wasn’t a preference as such, just that (they thought) it not being on the bumper where most UK motors would have it would throw the law long enough for you to sail past - the italians often has their small numberplates on the grille also IIRC
Hi jj72, sorry mate, I didn’t take [= completely missed] your meaning.
My Italian gaffer was a wily old fox, and if there was a stroke to be pulled, I’m sure he’d have known of it.
Now you mention it though, some of our other motors had the front number plate on the grille, but mine was defo on the bumper. You can see it in my pic above. [TO 10064 Z]
The one advantage that I had with the Renault was that I often got a wave through French customs when passing out of Italy.
The yellow headlamp bulbs I fitted helped with that.
The other lads driving the Fiats always got pulled for ‘coffee’ money, so I had to buy the lads’ coffees in France with the money I’d saved. 
I can’t help noticing that we’ve done a rather good Italian job on this Belgium post.
dieseldave:
I can’t help noticing that we’ve done a rather good Italian job on this Belgium post.
hmmm, you’re right - mind you they’re close together, and on way to the middle east too