Although Colin Brown lives in Thornton-Cleveleys, close to the base of his employer, Ascroft Transport of Preston, the tartan pattern on his cab curtains gave Paul O‘Callaghan an indication of the heavy haulage driver‘s Scottish heritage.
The 46-year-old, originally from close to Stranraer on Scotland‘s southwest coast, joined the British army at 17 years of age, just so he could drive trucks! After 10 years hauling tanks for the army, he left for the world of heavy haulage, something he would not change for the world. “During the recession I went on the fridges for a few years, driving for McCulla Transport of Lisburn, Ireland, purely for the money. But I really love the heavy haulage work.”

The pair got chatting at Keele services on the busy M6 motorway in Staffordshire as Colin refuelled his Scania R730, which was moving a crusher from the Powerscreen yard at Milton Keynes, up to Preston under escort supervision. “There is also a sister truck to this one, plus we have four R580s.”
Colin‘s favourite part of his job is the pleasure he gets from driving his 730, which was grossing 110 tonnes with its Broshuis trailer. “Both my Dad and my uncle are truck drivers so it‘s all I‘ve ever wanted to do.”
Spending time away from home is the hardest part for him, adding that “you need a good woman behind you!” Asked if he prefers Nike or Adidas, a resounding “three stripes all the way” was the response.

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