Truck & Driver Summer 2019^71
Today, the tridem is a popular
choice for feed and aggregate
work. While there’s still a place
for a tough-built eight-legger on
steel suspension, its smaller 6x4
brother is now all but obsolete
thanks to the tridem chassis.
Solway Agriculture has just
put this Scania G500 on the
road. It’s the operator’s third
Tridem and it’s the first next-gen
model of its type in the UK.
Solway runs a mix of trucks on
agricultural feed work; the oldest
is a 52-plate Foden Alpha six-
wheeler ‘spare’, which can be put
into service at peak times. The
company will keep a truck for the
whole of its working life, with over
10 years of service expected.Higher spec
The G500 marks an increase in
specification from the previous
two. There’s the top power output
of 500hp, which is sure to make
the truck feel as if it’s barely
loaded, even at the 32-tonne gross
weight. Plus, a number of extras
are fitted, including laser lights,
air horns, satnav, climate control
and Alcoa wheels. A day cab
was specified because the trucks
never do nights away from base
and it helps maximise the payload.
The company is run by
husband-and-wife team Ian and
Jane Thompson. Jane’s brother
Stevie runs a welding and
fabrication business at the
Lockerbie site. Stevie specced
the new truck and made
some custom additions
for the body.SCANIA G500
Mapped out Old tech: OS maps came with Graham’s previous truck
Graham is one of a rare breed of
drivers: he uses old-school paper
maps to navigate his way to the many
farms he delivers to. “I’ve marked up
on the maps where places are. The
maps came with the old lorry as the
driver had retired – they’re a brilliant
thing to have. As much as I’ve been
enjoying all the new comfort and
technology in the new Scania, I’ve
never used the satnav once!”No satnav displayed here!White chassis looks fantastic