Torquing Trucks

Will Shiers sits down with Vertellus MD Rhian Burrell to discuss contract hire, electrification and how operators are managing risk in an uncertain market

Recorded at RTX Northern Ireland 2026 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, this episode brings together eight leading truck and van manufacturers for a quick-fire catch-up on their latest products and the state of the market. Featuring voices from Volvo Trucks, DAF, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Trucks, Scania, Iveco and the Electric Van Company.

In 2023, Heiko Selzam openly admitted that Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK had let customers down. Parts availability was poor, trucks were off the road, and the dealer network lacked consistency.Now he’s back! In this follow-up episode, we revisit those issues and ask what has actually improved, and what hasn’t.

In this episode of Torquing Trucks, Will Shiers meets RHA managing director Richard Smith at the Junction 23 Truck Stop diner for a Grilled in the Cafe interview.Over a J23 Big Breakfast, Smith answers tough questions submitted by Commercial Motor readers. The conversation covers the challenges facing UK haulage, how the RHA works with government, and what membership really delivers for operators.

In this episode of Torquing Trucks, Will Shiers visits Midlands Truck & Van to speak with managing director Michael Carolan and e-truck consultant Martin Kelly. The dealer group has become the first Mercedes-Benz Trucks franchise in the UK to achieve full eReady status across its eight-site network. They explain what that means in practice, the investment required, why the eActros 600 is generating interest, and why diesel still remains central to most operators’ fleets.

Haulage runs in the family. Stuart Wring looks back on 30 years of Wrings Transport, from a £1,500 restart of a family name to a mid-60-truck operation built on steady growth

Leyland Trucks MD Phil Jones explains why the UK remains central to DAF’s global production. We discuss flexibility, people, electrification and what it takes to build trucks at scale in Lancashire

Will Shiers is joined by Jan Kohlmeier, MD of MAN Truck & Bus UK, for a Grilled in the Cafe interview recorded over breakfast at Chippenham Pitstop. Located just off the M4 and popular with drivers, Chippenham Pitstop provides the setting as Kohlmeier answers questions submitted by CM readers during a working breakfast, having arrived at the venue in the driver’s seat of an MAN eTGX electric artic.

 Will Shiers is joined by Louis Jones, EV and connected services director at DAF Trucks UK, for an in-depth discussion on the current state of electric trucks in the UK and how operator attitudes are evolving.

 Will is joined by one of the joint founders of TRUCK Magazine and International Truck of the Year, past and present IToY chairmen, and DAF Trucks president Harald Seidel 

In its attempt to alleviate the driver shortage, the government relaxed the HGV driving test requirements. But has this decision driven down standards? 

To celebrate the FH’s 30th birthday, Volvo let us drive four different versions, including an FH Electric, and the very first FH off the line.

It’s not every day that a truck designer gets a completely clean sheet of paper – but that’s what happened to HVS’s head of design Pete Clarke

The Renault boss calls for government assistance to help boost the demand for zero-tailpipe-emission trucks in the UK

We’re joined in the cab by T&J Haulage’s transport and compliance manager Steph Crack, for a live demonstration of KKS

Guy Heywood, vice president of sales, marketing and business strategy at Hankook Tire Europe, gives us a fascinating insight into this rapidly evolving industry.

With the UK transport industry’s help, Transaid saves countless lives in Africa. Find out what you can do to help. 

Bal Singh tells us about his four decades of repairing and selling Iveco trucks 

Cambridgeshire-based family-run Welch’s Transport has recently put a Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide 4x2 curtainsider on the road

Find out what you can do to help tackle the road transport industry’s skills shortage.

The Mercedes-Benz Trucks boss gives some honest answers to some tough questions, with topics including parts supply, the dealer network and MirrorCam

Brothers Des and Dennis Evans have strong views on the UK government’s mission to decarbonise road transport

Daniel Ashville Louisy tells us how he got into the industry, discusses a brand new venture, and reveals his exciting plans for the future

Scania's Phil Rootham and Volvo Trucks' Martin Tomlinson discuss the future of the diesel engine in front of a live audience at RTX

FUSO’s latest zero-tailpipe-emission eCanter is available from 4.25 to 8.55 tonnes GVW, and has a range of up to 200km

From holiday rep to MD - Freightlink Europe MD Lesley O’Brien OBE reveals how she accidentally got into the road haulage industry

John Fletcher says there’s life left in derv, and explains how Dawsongroup truck and trailer will be “doing diesel better” to save customers money and slash emissions

Mitchells of Mansfield has put the UK’s first Renault E-Tech D Wide 18-tonne curtainsider of the road. MD Richard Montgomery is delighted with it, and reckons other hauliers should be following his lead

FairFuelUK founder Howard Cox is on a quest to save you money at the pumps. He also has some strong opinions on cyclists, ULEZs and the demonisation of combustion-engined vehicles

DP World’s UK CEO Ernst Schulze and commercial and supply chain directorJohn Trenchard explain why the port boasts fast turnaround times for visiting trucks, 

Renault Trucks commercial director James Charnock talks us about the EV Roadshow, and we ask a couple of operators why they attended 

How did Truckfest start, why is it moving from Peterborough to Lincoln in 2024, and who have been the show's most popular celebrities? 

Ben Garner, Tarmac’s senior manager logistics development, reveals the trials and tribulations of developing and operating the UK’s first zero-tailpipe-emission concrete mixer

With 165,000 trucks visiting its 60 sites each week, it's no wonder we had plenty of reader questions for Moto Hospitality CEO Ken McMeikan

Harry Campey, commercial and operations director at Campeys of Selby, explains why this family haulier's fleet is no longer exclusively Scania

Vertellus and RH Commercial Vehicle MD Nigel Baxter talks about the UK’s newest contract rental company’s unique approach to helping customers make the transition from diesel to electric

Scania UK's new boss gets the Commercial Motor Grilled in the Cafe treatment, answering some tricky reader questions over breakfast at the Junction 23 Truckstop

Road Transport Expo organisers Vic Bunby and Emma Tyrer explain why the 2023 event will be even bigger and better than last year's show

Test yourself on some of the key moments for the UK road transport industry in 2022

Truck aficionado Bob Beech gets back behind the wheel of an AEC Mercury after a 40-plus-year gap. It's also the perfect opportunity to take a look back at the UK truck industry, and wonder how it all went so wrong. 

Jamie Fretwell, Mercedes-Benz Trucks PR & Corporate Communications Manager talks about the latest Actros L, and the revised MirrorCam system 

We join Inspector Rik Wenham from the Met's Commercial Vehicle Unit behind the wheel of an unmarked DAF CF. 

On the day that Renault Trucks revealed the first details of its electric T and C models, we caught up with its head of electromobility Andrew Scott

Shane Brereton reveals the highlights of his truck racing career, and gives us a glimpse into life at Tor Trucks and Tor Tanker Rentals

Fox Group CEO Paul Fox gives me an insight into the pros and cons of running electric trucks

DAF's Marketing Manager Phil Moon gives us the lowdown on the CF replacement

Scania Product Experience Specialist Andy Hatter talks me through the P-series PHEV before I take it for a spin

Terberg's Ben Hurdman explains why switching from a diesel to an electric yard shunter could save you money

Volvo Trucks UK Head of Media and Truck Demonstration Martin Tomlinson reveals why a Volvo FH 460 is the most fuel efficient truck to ever tackle Commercial Motor's tough road test route.