A Washington-based haulier is “over the moon” with the first two of six new Next Generation Scania tractor units.

Hawthorns Logistics director Chris Kilsby said the operator chose the V8 S-series Scanias because of their promising residual value.

“They’re considerably more expensive, but we’ve gone down the route with the V8 models because of residual value,” he told CommercialMotor.com.

He added that the company had switched to running Scania from another manufacturer, because the Swedish manufacturer offered more reliable support services and has a dealership a mile down the road from its site.

Feedback on the two Scanias, which are already out on the road, has been strong so far.

Kilsby said: “The drivers love them. They’ve got the leather packing and Microlise, fridge freezers, reclining swivel passenger seats. The drivers can’t stop polishing them!”

“They’ve been completely revamped. The interior is completely different to the old R-series, and more streamlined. We’re over the moon with them. Time will tell on the residual values, but we’re hopeful.”

The remaining four vehicles will be delivered between September and November, and the additions will be used in either a one-truck-one-driver operation or 24-hour trunking.

Kilsby said Hawthorns intends to use trucks on the former for five years, and the vehicles working around the clock for around three.

The new tractor units are pictured here with specially designed trailers in Great North Air Ambulance liveries, which the operator has supported for 12 months.

“Around three years ago one of our vehicles was involved in a road traffic incident when a car driver took a funny turn and collided with one of our trucks. We believe the air ambulance that attended the scene saved that man’s life,” Kilsby told CM.

The livery is available to buy on a model of one of Hawthorn’s previous Scania trucks, with all proceeds going to the Great North Air Ambulance.

We have commissioned a model truck to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA), which has been limited to 105 pieces. They are available from the GNAA shop online or direct from ourselves with all proceeds being donated to the GNAA.

The helicopters of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) rarely leave the region but will nevertheless become a common sight throughout the UK after a haulier decorated trailers in support of the charity.

Chris Kilsby of Hawthorns Logistics approached the Darlington-based charity about using his long-distance vehicles to promote its life-saving work.

Mr Kilsby said one of his drivers had a close encounter with GNAAS in 2013 which left its mark on everyone at the Castleside firm.

“One of our lads was on the A1 near Belmont when a motorist lost control of his car and crashed into him”, he said.

“Being on the roads a lot, we are obviously aware of the work of the air ambulance, but when you see it up close you realise just what an important job it does”.

Hawthorns Logistics will support GNAAS by decorating three of its trailers with the message, “Be part of our mission”.

The trailers will be used to transport goods around the UK and Grahame Pickering MBE, chief executive of GNAAS, said he hoped it would help raise the profile of the charity.

“It’s a tremendous gesture by Chris and the team at Hawthorns Logistics for thinking of us and for arranging for this to be done, at no little expense”.

“As a charity, we are reliant on the support of the public to continue to exist, so promotion like this is incredibly valuable to us. We hope people will see the trailers and consider supporting us in some way, perhaps by donating, maybe by volunteering”.

Mr Kilsby prepared the trailers in time for National Air Ambulance Week, which runs from 19th to 25th September.

The annual event aims to increase awareness and support of UK air ambulances.

To donate or volunteer for GNAAS, please visit the Great North Air Ambulance website.

Customised promotional model vehicle specialists, Search Impex, are please to announce the release of a 1:43 scale Scania 143 (4×2) with refrigerated trailer, customised in the livery of Hawthorns Logistics and the Great North Air Ambulance.

Based in Consett, Co Durham, Hawthorns Logistics is a family run Company. The owners of today’s business originally had a history of involvement in the haulage and parcel industry but, in 1988, they opted to relocate from the Birmingham area and move up to the North East, where they planned to progress into chilled distribution. After more than 20 years of working in and for other companies, the bold step was taken to set up their own business and so, in 2009, with just one employee and a truck hired in from Scania Truck Rental, Hawthorns Logistics was born.

Some seven years on, through a combination of hard work, determination and dedication to customer service, Hawthorns Logistics now runs a fleet of about 30 trucks (a mix of Scania and Mercedes) with refrigerated trailers and undertakes distribution of food products throughout the UK, delivering to supermarket RDC’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Always keen to support a charitable cause, it seemed a fitting choice for Hawthorns Logistics to support the Great North Air Ambulance following an accident involving one of its trucks and a car. The emergency services attending the accident (which was not the fault of the Hawthorns Logistics’ driver) called for the assistance of the air ambulance in order to get the car driver to hospital as quickly as possible. Thankfully, as a result of the fast transfer to hospital and subsequent medical attention, the driver survived.

As part of its support for the air ambulance, Hawthorns Logistics has undertaken a good deal of promotional work to raise awareness of the charity.

Part of the publicity has centred on a having a beautifully restored 20 year old Scania 143 coupled up with a fully liveried refrigerated trailer advertising the existence of the Great North Air Ambulance – an eye catching combination by anyone’s standards!

Models are available from Hawthorns Logistics and proceeds from the sale will go to the Great North Air Ambulance charity. For details of price and availability of models, collectors should email chris@hawthornslogistics.com

Our fleet has recently been updated to include 4 new Euro 6 Scania V8s. We have also recently updated our refrigerated trailer fleet to include modern twin evaporator trailers. They have all been fitted with lightbars supplied from “Lights Bars and Accessories Limited”.