Owner-operator worthy, the combination vehicles of the Leverink hauling company. This type of semi, consisting of a 4×2 cabover tractor with a tri-axle curtainsider, can be seen all over the continent. Yet an outstanding color scheme and livery can clearly make the ordinary extraordinary.
The 19.5 tonnes (42,990 lbs) Scania R500 comes with air suspension on both axles, low profile tires, and a 12.7 liter turbodiesel. ‘Low-ri-der don’t use no gas now, low-ri-der don’t drive too fast’.
The Schmitz Cargobull company from Germany made the high-cube curtainsider. As long as the combination stays in the Netherlands, its gross weight rating is 46.5 tonnes (102,515 lbs). When crossing borders -which it frequently does- that rating drops to a rather modest 40 tonnes (88,185 lbs).
The Terberg truck-mounted forklift completes the picture(s). The trucking company has a whole battalion of them.
Here’s another Swede, teaming up with another German. More specifically, a Volvo FH tractor, towing a Krone curtainsider. The semi is very similar to the Scania and Schmitz Cargobull couple. The Leverink driver carefully observes a UFO, while operating a Terberg Kinglifter.
Naturally, the world of curtainsiders doesn’t stand still. Schmitz Cargobull also offers them with variable height double decks, power curtains (for transporting unpalletized goods, like tires) and speed curtains.
Well, let’s pick up some speed then. By the way, the concept is not really ‘New!’ anymore, as this factory video was posted on YouTube 11 years ago.
Related article, previous generation Scania R500 included, albeit with a V8:
How common are regular 53 foot long “van” trailers over in Europe? You know rigid sides, one door on the back. You NEVER see these curtain side trailers here in the states. Both seem to kinda do the same thing
53′ long, standard semi-trailers don’t exist here, they’re too long. However, double deckers are available, often combined with independent wheel suspension, so no axles between the wheels. See Van Eck semi-trailer below.
‘Van’ trailers -with or without temperature control- are only used to transport perishables (flowers and plants included) and expensive goods, like furniture and motorcycles.
Anything else (especially palletized, of course) goes straight into a curtainsider. And as mentioned in the article, these are also offered with variable height double decks.
Produce industry standard here is air suspension. Linehaul or farm to coolstore thats it, Ive done both, and will be doing it again soon.
Trailers and semi-trailers with independent wheel suspension are always air suspended. The lower, bottom floor can sink all the way to ground level.
Love this Scania, I never hide my love for swedish trucks. I find it quite similar on the front to the DAF XF.
Along with the Volvo FH they are my favorite european trucks (Scania, Volvo and DAF).
Low profile tires on a big rig, that’s a new one for me but maybe the jokes on me. Normally I don’t believe in UFOs but after seeing that mini container complete with solar panel and what appears to be a video camera in the lower left part I just might.
Is that goofy UFO container just for giggles like this flatbed carrying a Tonka Truck or does it actually have a purpose? CC Conspiracy theorists must get to the bottom of it.
The UFO does what’s written on its side, a ‘Unit For Observation’. A 24/7 security system, connected to an alarm center, infrared cameras, the whole shebang. You can place it on a big terrain, like a construction site.
Here’s another one (Kooi Camera Surveillance):
Always thought it was strange that Europeans had smaller cars, but the trucks and buses were full size.
One item dictates truck size around the planet. The Shipping Container, ship, road, rail all carry them everywhere.
Nice, not enough axles to go full weight here though thats the only real difference, NZ loading laws seem to favour 8 leg prime movers and quad semi trailers or just 8 wheeler rigid truck with curtain sider and a 5 axle drawbar trailer get the right permits you can gross 60 Tonne, Usually at full weight you’ll not see many 500 hp Scanias now, 44T is really their limit, never mind what the spec sheet says they are speed limited so none of the clever hill mode stuff kicks in on the top 3 gears by the time it does momentum is gone and the herky jerky transmission cant shift fast enough to keep it all going,
we had 500s on garbage pulling quad walking floor semi trailers only one hill to climb to the south bound landfill and its not steep, so its ok, going north however is a struggle, yes its a motorway no its not flat,
that pair of Scanias were manual trans 500hp turbo charged V8s, 2014 models, not completely worn out dungas,but SCAN plan expired the dealer swapped brands altogether, trucks that run 24/7 have to be reliable, both Scanias 1 Sterling & the surviving CAT 630 became the fleet to pull 1 Leachate tanker
Lo rider dont ride like that Johannes, You know that as soon as the ignition turns the prime mover will rise to ride height, it has onboard scales built in.
Alright Bryce, that’s it, you asked for it!
Impressive trucks. I assume the “UFO” container is headed for Harlington-Straker Film Studios in the UK….
Anything SF-related is completely lost on me Jim. With the exception of Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs.
Just when I thought I had seen everything. Very clever.