Questions about older trucks... hope you can help

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS OLD TIME LORRIES, COMPANIES AND DRIVERS (INTERACT
2

JCS:
Hi all
I have always been a truck fan - mainly 1980’s vintage. I have a few questions about trucking in the 1980’s that have always baffled me a bit. Wondered if you guys could shed any light? Apologies if these are stupid questions!

  1. How did ‘Tilt’ trailers get their name? As far as I can tell, they do not actually tilt?

They do not tilt, the name comes from seafaring days long ago, A ship would carry a recce boat called a Shallop aka (Sloop) these sloops were normally powered by 8 oarsmen and used to get into narrow coves. The boats were towed by the mother ship and had a fabric cover stretched across a frame. This was known as the tilt cover. Later any cover on the cargo hold of a barge became called a tilt cover. This has become common parlance in the transport industry to keep the cargo dry
2. Why were tilt trailers the main type of trailer used for international work in the 1980’s? Is it due to their versatility? Linked to this, why were tilt trailers seldom used for domestic work? Also, these days it seems tautliners have replaced the tilt?

The TIR agreement recognised a properly constructed trailer could cross borders without excessive beuracracy if it could be sealed against tampering. An agreement was reached with customs offices throughout the world to come up with a common arrangement.
They were versatile in that they could be stripped to a flat trailer, although not quickly or easily by one man.
A certificate called a GV60 was issued and most trailers carried one with a photo of the inspected trailer on it.The certificate or photo also showed the sealing points.

  1. Why did tractor units sold on the British market in the 1980’s usually have much shorter wheelbases than continental units?

Axle weights were much lower and still are today, In France the 13 tonne drive axle is allowed, in the UK it is only 10.5 tonne

  1. Why did the ‘Middle East’ run decline throughout the 1980’s? Was it linked to the decline of the UK manufacturing base and UK exports?

Probably due to the faster seafreight and cheaper air freight although trucks were still doing middle east into the 90’s and some still are although it is much less and more specialised nowadays.

Im not sure whether these answers are what you were looking for but they are my take on it all.
Discuss :smiley: