Three new MAN 18-tonners at Hadfields Transport Limited
Trucker Darren Wren has been driving HGVs for 35 years. He is currently enjoying the driving experience with a new MAN TGX 18.330 at his employer Hadfields Transport Limited – it is entirely in keeping with his motto of ‘easy driving’, just how he likes it.
‘The drivers are really impressed by the new vehicles, especially how the cabins are equipped,’ says Martin Storah, Transport Manager at Hadfields Transport Limited. ‘We regularly receive feedback from drivers on how comfortable they are to drive and spend time in. Due to the complexity of our operations and the fact that our drivers sleep in the vehicles three to four days a week, we chose the larger GM cabs, which provide them with a spacious environment where they feel at home.’ One of the Hadfields drivers, Darren, can look back on 35 years of professional experience with trucks and is really impressed by his new lion: ‘The new MAN is very quiet and effortless to drive. The cab is more spacious than the previous model and is beautifully designed. The media system with MAN SmartSelect is convenient to use, and the refrigerator under the bunk is also practical. We have an air-sprung rear axle that allows the truck to glide over bumps, so the ride is really smooth,’ says the 59-year-old, happily.
He travels all over the country on his routes and enjoys meeting new people and seeing different places every day. In terms of landscape, Darren is particularly fond of the north of Scotland: ‘The views are breathtaking,’ he says with enthusiasm. As with so many other truckers, driving runs in his family: ‘When I was growing up, my uncle drove a truck for work and I rode with him a few times. I am a trained plasterer, but at the age of 24 I passed my HGV test and have driven trucks ever since. I like the open road, being outside, meeting other people and seeing different things,’ says Darren, explaining how he, too, became a dedicated trucker.
Martin Storah recognises that driving a truck today is anything but an easy job. ‘A lot is expected of the drivers. It is always a challenge to meet customer expectations in the face of traffic jams, obstructions and delays, as well as legal regulations. Our vehicles run with live monitoring so that we can work with drivers and keep our customers informed.’ Since Hadfields Transport drivers are away from home and their families throughout the week, the transport company makes sure to pay its employees fairly, and the well-being of the drivers plays a central role. This includes offering drivers a good working environment, Martin Storah explains: ‘We provide our drivers with large cabs and highly specialised vehicles,’ he says. ‘Here in the UK, there is a lack of safe and convenient overnight truck parking, and as there have been some cases of fuel theft, some drivers have safety concerns.’
Those measures have been well received by the drivers and are another thing Darren appreciates about his employer. In any case, he is in good spirits and enjoys driving his routes in the MAN 18.330. It is ‘easy driving’, as he likes to say, and when he’s not behind the wheel of his truck, he still likes to be on the road: on his motorcycle, which, like truck driving, is a passion of his.
