Truck & Driver August 2019^79
that it had tipping gear and was
way cheaper than the main
brands made it an easy decision.
“A variety of work ensued,
including container work for
Martin Ryan and moving floor
work for Harte Peat. Apart from
reconditioning the gearbox, the
Iveco Stralis gave six years of
sterling service, surprising many
with its pulling power.”
On the subject of pulling
power, how does Kenneth rate
the 570 compared with the 500?
“It’s funny you know, the 500
would spin wheels when pulling
away whereas the 570 puts the
power down differently. It doesn’t
surge away from a standing start,
but it will dig in more on the hills.
The power is certainly there
when you need it.”
The 42-year-old from
Ballinalee, County Longford has
been with his partner Louise for
20 years and they’ve had two
girls together, Leah, 7 and Aoife,- For the moment, Kenneth’s
business is going well and his
main line of work is traction for
Gwynedd Shipping, which sees
him spending most week nights
away from home.
“Lads say I’m mad when they
see me polishing the lorry when
I’m waiting to tip somewhere. But
I enjoy it and actually find it
almost therapeutic, if that doesn’t
sound too strange! People see
the truck first, then the driver,” he
adds. “I think both should be
clean and presentable; that’s just
how we were reared, I suppose.”
Rarity factor
The immaculately presented
Stralis oozes class and really has
that rarity factor. It’s a fitting
tribute to Ned Ledwith, who is
immortalised on the rear of the
cab. If he were to look down from
above, there’s no doubt he’d
proudly approve of the vehicle
carrying forward his legacy.Mercedes-Benz Actros 3243
arrived new in 2004 complete
with hub reduction plus a flat
body and crane for block work. It
was registered 04-LD-84.
“We’ve always had
personalised registrations
whenever possible, the 84
denoting 8x4 on many of our
trucks. However, when the price
of a personalised plate
increased from €100 to €1500
for a while, we decided it was too
expensive. I think it’s back at
about €500 now, but you have to
wait until that number comes up.”
By 2006 Kenneth was driving
a Daf CF430 tipper, while M&N
(Mick & Nuala) Ledwith, the
family business, had reached
double figures with 10 trucks.
The effects of a construction
crash resulted in the yard being
cleared of all trucks by 2010.Feel the love
“My brother, Damien, had gone
out on his own in 2005 and is
still driving the R620 he bought
new in 2009,” he says.
“The same year he
bought a 6x4 Stralis for
timber work, which I
drove for him. She had a
manual ’box and I kind
of fell in love with Ivecos
from then on. Besides
the fact it had both great
comfort and space,
nobody else liked it,
which kind of endeared it
to me even more.”
Nights out became
common-place after a
changeover to traction for
Norfolk Line on UK work.
When Kenneth decided to
strike out on his own in 2012 as
the economy picked up, there
was only ever going to be one
make of truck for him.
“I found a 2009 Stralis 500
Active Space for sale at Walker
Movements in England. The factwere once a
familiar sight, so it’s
pleasing to hear that
one remains in
preservation.
“Daddy bought another
new 144 460 in 2001 and still
has it to this day.”
Encouraged by the
construction boom, more trucks
joined the expanding fleet. “In
2003 we bought three Hino FY
380 eight-wheel tippers.”
Once the backbone of
domestic haulage in Ireland,Kenneth sings their praises: “I
loved those Hinos – you just
couldn’t break them!”
However, the trusty Hino must
have seemed quite raw
compared with the next truck
Kenneth drove. A V6-powered“Lads say I’m mad when they see me polishing
the lorry when I’m waiting to tip somewhere.
But I enjoy it and actually find it almost
therapeutic, if that doesn’t sound too strange!
People see the truck first, then the driver”
IVECO STRALIS 570 XP HI-WAY