World Records on the Roads

 by Norman Dulwich

 Everybody dreams of holding a world record, and those working in the haulage industry are no exception to this rule. Whether it's the greatest number of years spent on the road, the greatest number of returnloads completed in 24 hours, or perhaps even the highest number of burgers you can get through in a lunch stop, it's always worth having a goal to aim for.  We take a look at some of the most impressive records held within the haulage industry.  

The World's Fastest Truck

Former racing-truck driver Boije Ovebrink, currently holds the world record for the fastest standing kilometre in a heavy truck.  Under the supervision of the Swedish Motor Sport Council, Boije made his record attempt at the Vasteras Airfield in Sweden.  Ovebrink set the record in 2001, managing to reach a speed of 96.77 miles per hour in the short space of a kilometre.  And with his new attempt he has smashed that record.  This truck is undeniably the fastest in the world, though it might not be the most successful where deliveries and returnloads are concerned.  

Most Fuel-Efficient Truck

In May 2008, a Guinness World Records adjudicator headed to Nardo in Italy to watch the record attempt for the most fuel-efficient truck.  On the Nardo Technical Centre's track, the German Daimler AG Truck division began a week-long record attempt, during which a fully-loaded truck drove around the track for twenty-four hours each day.  Driving was only interrupted for driver changes, refuelling, and to change the direction in which people were driving.  Nearly 8,000 miles later, the average fuel consumption of the lorry was recorded at 6.8 gallons for every 100 miles, making this the most fuel-efficient truck in the world. So, if you're looking for a lorry that will allow you to make as many returnloads as you like without worrying about your fuel consumption, this might well be the answer you were looking for.      

The Most People to Polish a Vehicle Simultaneously

Now we all want to make sure our cabs are looking spick and span as we hit the roads with our returnloads, but I doubt many of us had realised that we could draft in other people to help.  Turns out, if there's a world record in it, you can get as many hands on deck as you like!  In January 2010, an adjudicator attended an event to see just how many people could polish a vehicle simultaneously for one minute.  The answer? 63.  This would certainly make polishing your cab a great deal more fun; after all, many hands make light work.  

Largest Gathering of Female Truck Drivers

If you tend to see time on the road as some peace and quiet away from your better half, then this world record would be one to avoid.  In 2004, a record of 416 was set by an all women's convoy of lorries in the Netherlands. This year there is to be an attempt to beat this record, with women coming from all over America to form one giant convoy.  Between those already registered, there are 3,097 collective years of experience within the trucking industry, so it seems that these women are not to be argued with.  Whether or not they manage to beat the current world record, you can bet that the women in trucking will continue to make their deliveries and returnloads until the next opportunity to break a record arises.

So, as you drive along the motorway with your returnloads, get your imagination going and think about which world record you'd like to aim for.  There are some really bizarre ones about, so don't be afraid to get creative.



Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for haulage companies to buy and sell  returnloads , road transport and freight exchange in the domestic and international markets.

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