The Zandbergen company specializes in transporting all kinds of commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery, for which they use a fleet of dedicated, full-size carriers. Two of them posed at a September 2025 truck show, both loaded with brand spanking new, heavy Scanias. These must have come straight from the Zwolle plant in the Netherlands.
Here’s a 2021 Scania R540 6×2 tractor with a baby pusher axle, towing a GS Meppel tridem-axle semi-trailer from the same year.
The semi carries a duo of chassis-cabs, a 6×2*4 (the one with the white cab) and a V8-powered 6×4.
The other combination, a 2025 Volvo FH 6×2 truck -also with a baby pusher axle- forming a couple with a 2017 GS Meppel center-tri-axle trailer.
The load consists of two heavy-duty 6×4 tractors with a 16.4 liter V8 and the 4×2 tractor at the back is a 500S, powered by the 12.7 liter, DC13 ‘Super’ inline-six (the Traton Group’s world engine, also used by MAN and International).
This is how the Volvo and GS Meppel trailer make a connection.
I assume the coasting time is over for these newcomers by now, more than three months after their weekend outing.
Now about that telescopic boom in the background, here’s the lower part of the machine, a 2019 MAN TGS 8×4 chassis-cab with a Liebherr crane.
Great to see that Scania is still producing high quality heavy duty trucks.
So appreciative of the synergy between Mack and Scania in the 20th century. Both produced ground breaking products in their respective regions.
And to think that Volvo wanted to take over Scania entirely, 26 years ago, after they sold the car division to Ford. Didn’t happen (because EU and Investor, Scania’s main shareholder). Instead, Volvo Trucks bought Renault’s heavy vehicles division later on, thus becoming the new owner of Mack too.
I’m assuming too tall for US style piggy-back delivery?
‘Piggy-back delivery’ has never existed here, regardless the heigth of the vehicles to be transported. Have a look at Zandbergen’s photo collection (of days gone by):
https://zandbergen-high-and-heavy-b-v.jimdosite.com/history-pictures/
I don’t recall that you do writeups of engines but if you ever decided to the Scania 12.7 liter, DC13 ‘Super’ inline-six would be a great choice. It is a monster.
The very short story, in essence it’s a Scania design, introduced in their trucks in 2021. The current Traton Group designations: ‘Super’ for Scania, ‘D30 PowerLion’ for MAN, and ‘S13’ for International. Available up to 560 DIN-hp in the Scania, which means the 530 DIN-hp V8 will be phased out; so 590 DIN-hp it is for the least powerful 16.4 liter V8.
They always look so nice when new. So I assume Europe doesn’t use any conventionals? I tried to make it my business when looking for a truck driving job, never step on the steer tire to get in a truck. Not to say I never drove cabovers, maybe half a dozen and disliked everyone.You could always tell a driver unfamiliar with cabovers, as the right side wheels would be on the shoulder. Cabovers had some advantages, some drivers loved them, others would quit if they had to drive one. I drove what the boss told me to. We did have some nice cabovers, however, the KW Aerodyne, some IH Transtar Eagles, the GMC Astro, even the White “Road Commode”( Commander) wasn’t a bad truck, the worst truck I ever drove, was a FL setback axle, very similar to these. It’s a testament to my driving skill I never ran over anyone with that truck. Luckily, the conventional eventually won out. One thing is clear, the cabover has come a long ways since the GMC “Crackerbox” or the Ford “2 Story Falcon”( H series).
Since this appears to be a portal to the European trucking scene, I wonder if Europe is currently experiencing the problems faced with US truckers and our country, that literally runs on trucks? Illegal drivers, over-regulation, poor pay, and general lack of interest, is a very serious concern facing the US today. Thanks for the pics.
That’s right Howard, no conventionals in Europe anymore. Which also applies to many other regions in the world, like South-America (all Euro-cabovers there now in the heavy-duty segment).
Some independent companies do cabover-to-conventional conversions though, many examples here:
https://www.vlastuin-truckopbouw.nl/scania-torpedo/scania-torpedo-next-gen/
These days, top model cabovers come with air suspension on all axles, air-suspended seats, an air-suspended cab, a flat cab floor (as in no doghouse), a substantially raised roof (basically you get a ‘walk-around cab’), and perfect soundproofing.
Since we’re talking Scania, their top model (cab-wise) is the S-series Highline, like that white 4×2 tractor on the trailer. I caught another one at the same show, a box truck. See below, quite a climb, since the whole cab floor is on top of the engine.
There’s a serious shortage of professional truck drivers here, which will only get worse because of (near-) future retirements. Better give your drivers a comfortable, recent/new set of wheels to keep them.
The old truck salesman always appreciates your contributions. Thanks.
Thanks Tom.