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Welcome to the FREE January 2012 issue of Truckstop News. All pages of the paper are available to download right here.To view a page, simply click one of the images below. You can then use your keyboard’s cursor keys or click the arrows to flick through the pages.

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Welcome to the FREE December 2011 issue of Truckstop News. All pages of the paper are available to download right here.To view a page, simply click one of the images below. You can then use your keyboard’s cursor keys or click the arrows to flick through the pages.

(Please note the page must load completely before you click on an image, otherwise the viewer may not load correctly.)

(Please note the page must load completely before you click on an image, otherwise the viewer may not load correctly.)

To view a page, simply click one of the images below. You can then use your keyboard’s cursor keys or click the arrows to flick through the pages.

(Please note the page must load completely before you click on an image, otherwise the viewer may not load correctly.)

Production of the new truck is planned to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Swedish truck manufacturer’s 16-litre engine next year.

“With the Volvo FH16-750 we can offer our customers a truck with absolute top performance, good fuel efficiency and extremely low emissions,” said Staffan Jufors, president and CEO of Volvo Trucks. “It’s an uncompromising combination for the heaviest and most demanding of transport operations.”

According to the firm, the new engine is based on the same technology as Volvo’s current 16-litre 700 bhp diesel engine – an in-line six with overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and unit injectors.

It has been optimised for higher power and torque, but fuel consumption is unchanged.

The 750 bhp engine is available in two versions – one for Euro-5 and the other for EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle), giving even lower particle emissions and less smoke.

The Volvo I-Shift automated gear changing system is fitted as standard and has been modified to handle the engine’s high torque. The rear axle range encompasses axles for gross combination weights of up to 250 tonnes. For fast long-haul duties, the recently introduced RS1360 solo axle is a fuel-efficient alternative.

The new 750 bhp engine produces 2800 Nm of torque at 900 revs/minute. After this the torque curve rises sharply and reaches its peak level of 3550 Nm at 1050 revs/minute, then levels out to 1400 revs/minute. This makes it possible to maintain a high speed on even the toughest uphill climbs.

“The more power you have at your disposal at low revs when starting to haul a heavy load, the less strain on the engine and the more fuel-efficient your progress. This in turn results in superb drivability,” said Hayder Wokil, product manager at Volvo Trucks.

The Volvo FH16-750 is intended both for truly heavy transport duties and for assignments that demand high average speed running on hilly or very undulating roads.

“For most FH16 customers, the focus is on transporting as many tonnes as possible in the shortest possible time. However, many customers also need to quickly transport high-value goods and fresh products across long distances with varying topography and deliver just-in-time,” said Wokil.

Production of the first Volvo FH16 trucks for the European market with the higher power output will get under way at the beginning of 2012.

In addition to the 750 bhp version, Volvo’s 16-litre engine is also available with power outputs of 540, 600 and 700 bhp

Details are scarce, but the new FH steals back the crown of Most Powerful Production Truck in the World from arch-rival Scania – whose 730 bhp R-series toppled Volvo’s FH16-700 from the top spot last year.

Volvo’s new truck is set be unveiled to the general public today [Thursday, September 8] as it conducts a three-day tour of UK service stations, where it’ll give eager onlookers a tantalising first glance.

The full list of sites the new Volvo will be visiting is below (times are approximate and depend on traffic and weather conditions).

We’ll be at Chieveley for the big reveal and will post exclusive pictures and hopefully some video footage of the new truck as soon as we can.

Until then, take a look at these photos and let us know what you think in the comments below, or on our new facebook page.

Thursday 8th September:

10:00 am – Croydon, Volvo Truck and Bus Centre dealership, CR0 4XB

12:00 noon – M3, Fleet MSA (westbound), GU51 1AA

14:30 – M4, Moto Chievley MSA (westbound), RG18 9XX

16:00 – M4, Leigh Delamere MSA (westbound), SN14 6LB

18:00 – M5, Strensham MSA (northbound), WR8 0BZ

Friday 9th September:

09:00 am – M6, Hilton Park MSA (northbound), WV11 2AT

12:00 noon – M6, Lymm Truck Stop, Junction 20, WA13 0SP

14:00 – M6, Charnock Richard MSA (northbound), PR7 5LR

17:00 – M6, Tebay MSA (northbound), CA10 3SB

Saturday 10th September:

09:00 am – M6, Carlisle, Junction 44, CA3 0JR

10:30 am – M6, Penrith Truck Stop, M6, CA11 9EH

14:00 – A1M, Wetherby MSA, LS22 5GT

The stolen vehicles looked similar to these trucks

Firm director Simon Gibson says the stolen vehicles are of identical spec, liveried in the SGT blue-and-white colours (the same livery as the trucks in the picture) and have the following registrations:

YJ06 FWP
YJ07 EWX

If anyone has information that could help officers investigating the thefts, they should talk to the police on 01482 597 971.

See below for a breakdown of the spec of the two stolen vehicles:

Volvo FH13
6×2 Midlift
Blue / white
Gardner Denver blowing equipment

The engines are heading from Horsham in Sussex to the Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton in Dorset before the five-day event begins on Wednesday, August 31.The convoy plans to leave at 2 am on Friday, August 26 and is scheduled to arrive at the show site around lunch time on Sunday, August 28.

Image courtesy of James Hamilton

Denise Searle, director at Les Searle Plant Hire and Sales Ltd, is joint owner of the engines with her husband Les. They each will be driving an engine in the convoy along with a total of 13 family and friends, including three children to assist with the journey.

Denise says: “We have a trailer that belongs to The Great Dorset Steam Fair and needs to go back to Tarrant Hinton in time for the show. GDSF managing director Martin Oliver said to me: ‘Why not take it back by steam?’ So I made some phone calls to the authorities and it appeared this would be possible.

“The police, councils and Network Rail have all been absolutely fantastic in helping to allow this to happen, and we can’t thank them enough.

“We are also hoping to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust by doing this, as well as providing many spectators along the route with a taste of yesteryear.”

The convoy will include ‘His Majesty’, a Burrell 6NHP Road Loco; ‘Boadicea’, a Mclaren 10 NHP Road Loco believed to be one of the largest road locomotives left in Britain; the Crane trailer belonging to the Great Dorset Steam Fair and a transformer load; ‘The Great North’, a Fowler 8NHP Road Loco; as well as a full crew and support vehicles.

Image courtesy of James Hamilton

The convoy made a similar smaller journey of 82 miles from London to Brighton then back to Horsham in May, but this 114-mile trip will be the group’s biggest challenge yet.

The huge size of the ‘road train’ means it will be incredibly slow-moving, with an average speed of only five miles per hour. It is recommended that anyone travelling on the roads on this route over the bank holiday should allow plenty of time for their journey.

To donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust, please visit Denise’s Just Giving Page at

http://www.justgiving.com/horsham-traction-london-to-brighton

The Route

Friday from 2 am:

• From Horsham yard, Station Road, through Horsham, taking the B2237 to join the A24
• Continue on the A24 to Worthing, pick up the A27
• Continue on the A24 through Crossbush, Arundel, Tangmere, Chichester
• At Cosham follow the old A27, go through Portchester to Fareham
• First overnight stop at the Park Gate area of Fareham, arriving between 2-3 pm

Saturday from 2 am:

• Rejoin the A27 and follow the High vehicle route via Wide lane then rejoin the A27
• Continue on the A27 towards Romsey then Whiteparish joining the A36
• Continue on the A36 to Whaddon for the second overnight stop, arriving around 2 pm

Sunday from 7 am:

• Follow the A36 to Salisbury and join the A354
• Continue on the A354 to the Great Dorset Steam Fair show ground at Tarrant Hinton