News About Tractor Units in the UK (173)

Tractor units are the most common type of truck on the UK’s roads. Add to this that they are the largest and you will see why there is so much interest in these types of trucks. For the uninitiated, a tractor unit is the front part of an articulated truck and trailer combination – on its own it is not much use, but couples to a semi trailer can carry over 20 tonnes of payload.

The type of news we cover on these pages ranges from ‘which company bought which tractor unit’ to legislation changes and new tractor unit launch information.

As you would expect, there are always plenty of truck buyers looking to buy a used tractor unit, this is why Truckpages is the best resource to view tractor units for sale in the UK.

On the Truckpages search facility, in addition to filtering by make, model, year etc. it is possible to filter results by axle configuration – most tractor units in the UK are 6×2 with midlift or rearlift axles, but there are some smaller, 4×2 versions that are tractor units for for urban deliveries or for international operation (our continental friends do not use 6×2 as they have no weight benefit).

Other specialist filters include gross train weight (heavy haulage tractor units can go right up to 150 tonnes and beyond), cab type, transmission type and even emission levels.

 

Kent-based Castledene Transport has taken delivery of a brand-new Volvo FH 500 with I-Save Globetrotter XL 6×2 tractor unit, sporting a special livery to celebrate the customer’s 45th anniversary. Supplied by Steve Moon, Truck Sales Director at MC Truck & Bus, the truck joins a 40-strong commercial vehicle fleet, of which 90 per cent is…

The keen-eyed amongst our truck buyers will see that the pair of Mercedes trucks on this week’s front cover are not Actros units, but the beefed-up construction versions, the Arocs. Both 2546 models with 460hp, these are 6×2 models from 2015 with day cabs. This type of configuration doesn’t appear every day, but are ideal…

This question is so complicated and operational and geographical factors will always influence fuel economy but the clever people at a couple of German truck magazines believe that they have the most comprehensive test around. The ‘Green Truck comparison test’ has been running fourteen years now and applies a clever formula that covers all the…

Palletline member HMT Group has extended its long-standing relationship with Volvo Trucks by welcoming seven new Volvo FH with I-Save 460 Globetrotter XL 6×2 tractor units. The deal ensures HMT Group’s articulated fleet remains exclusively Volvo. Supplied by Karl Davies, Customer Solutions Manager, Thomas Hardie Commercials, the trucks each feature a D13TC Euro-6 Step E…

Normal service is resumed as we feature a beautiful Scania V8 tractor unit for sale on this week’s front cover. This example is from MV Commercial’s stock and is the 2020 S Series 650S version with a rear lift tag axle in addition to all the bells and whistles including Kelsa bars, air horns, side…

Clavell Caravans & Transport opted for a new Actros L tractor unit, joining a second Actros in the Lincolnshire operator’s six-strong fleet. That vehicle, supplied in 2017, has proved to be highly efficient while racking up well over 500,000 trouble-free kilometres. The older truck was a 4×2 1845 unit, with a 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engine…

Supplied by Acorn Truck Sales, four new Iveco S-Way 530hp 6×2 (AS440S53TX/P) and three flagship Iveco S-Way 570hp 6×2 (AS440S57TX/FP) have recently joined North Kent Distribution’s fleet of 50 vehicles. The company knows all about efficient fleet management and what a difference having the right truck for the mission makes.  With different power ratings at…

If you are wondering what the ‘L’ means in the Actros L, it now applies to all four- and six-wheeled tractor units with single or double drive axles, and 18- and 26-tonne rigid chassis, that have flat-floored GigaSpace, BigSpace or Stream Space cabs in the wider (2.5m) of the two widths available. Devon haulier Wains…

Mar-Train Heavy Haulage, specialists in heavy haulage and the transportation of abnormal loads throughout the UK and Europe are running a host of heavy equipment in the Euro Auctions Dromore sale on 17th & 18th May. Following the completion of Scandinavian wind farm contracts Mar-Train Heavy Haulage is sending to auction an exciting inventory of…

If you’ve never seen a hotbox then you have now. This week’s front cover features a 2022 DAF LF290 18 tonne hot box with just 47,000kms on the clock. If you are involved in the road repairs and need hot Tarmac on site then these insulated bodies keep the product hot whilst being heated by…

South-East based Lenham Storage has put its first zero-tailpipe emission trucks into operation, having taken delivery of two new Volvo FM Electric 4×2 tractor units. The addition of the electric trucks marks the next step on the road for the forward-thinking, family-owned business’ sustainability drive. Supplied by Steve Moon, Truck Sales Director at MC Truck…

V8 Scania lovers will be pleased to welcome a prime example back to the front cover this week. It’s a 72 tonne heavy haulage Scania S Series 650S V8 with a rear lift double wheeled rear tag axle. It is joined by a series of similar trucks and low loader trailers at the CVA sale…

Phelan Haulage has expanded the flexibility of its operations after taking delivery of a DAF XG 530 tractor unit mounted with a HIAB X-HIPRO 858 EP-6 crane from MV Commercial, that its director describes as “an absolute monster”. With a four-tonne lifting capacity at a full reach of 16 metres, the new crane truck has…

Not immediately obvious from the outside, but this week’s front cover truck will suit the dye-in-the-wool manual transmission fans. Most tractor units in today’s market use automated transmissions, but the 2020 DAF XF480 Super Space Cab High Roof Sleeper is fitted with a 16 speed manual and is one of the latest pre-new generation DAFs…

Bath-based haulier Stuart Harvey Transport has taken delivery of a high specification Volvo FH 500 with I-Save Globetrotter XL 6×2 tractor unit. The stunning new truck is equipped with I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission and numerous creature comforts to maximise driving experience and fuel efficiency. Supplied by Mike Gill, Area Sales Manager, Truck and Bus Wales…

This is becoming a Scania-Fest – this is the third week in a row that we have been able to feature the most desirable trucks in the roads – Scania V8 power! This time we have a 2021 model Scania R580 6×2 midlift. It’s got all the bells and whistles including Kelsa bars, leather interior,…

Felixstowe-based Multimodal Logistics has added five new T480 High Turbo Compound 6×2 tractor units to its fleet, the first for the container haulage operator. Supplied by Renault Truck Commercials, the T480 High TC was chosen for its driver appeal and fuel-economy capability. Equipped with Renault Trucks’ latest DE13 TC engine for optimum performance, the T480…

It is a solid start – an operator with a 93-strong truck fleet has taken the plunge and invested in an electric tractor unit – a 666hp Volvo FM electric. Sensibly, the operator, Glastonbury-based business Sparks Transport took a look at their operations in conjunction with the Volvo Truck dealer, Truck and Bus Wales and…

The second V8 Scania in a row to grace the front cover of Truckpages Magazine. This week it is a Heavy Haulage 2018 R-Series cab – a 72 tonne GTW R580 Topline that is heading through the dedicated unreserved Vaughan Plant Haulage sale operated by CVA on Saturday 23rd March in Dehnam, Uxbridge. The truck…

Second Consecutive Year of Growth in Truck Sales The headline SMMT figures for the full year of 2023 show the excellent news that truck sales and registrations were up almost across the board with a total of 46,227 units. the final quarter’s data did start to indicate some more worrying trends as far as the…