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MIKE NEWMAN
Page 38
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East Anglian owner-driver and STGO specialist Mike Newman has put two used trucks on the road in recent years, both Volvos. After years spent on Continental work and specialist low-loader haulage, Newman was determined not to get tied into servicing large debt repayments on a truck purchase while trying to get his fledgling business on its feet.
Newman "doesn't do new" and "doesn't do easy" partly down to financial prudence, but also because he's a bit of a showman. His first tractor unit was (and still is) a smart 6x4 FH12.460 Volvo plated at 65 tonnes. "I saw the motor for £28,000," says Newman, "I didn't want to mortgage the house so put down a £5,000 deposit and borrowed the rest. It took two years to get the truck nght," (an eye-catching mixture of customising and murals) "but I did it as I earned the money."
Fortunately, Newman's main customer undertakes public infrastructure projects, insulating him from the downturn sufficiently to realise a personal dream. His second Volvo a VN 660 imported from the US cost "around £50,000, paid for as we went along," says Newman. "It won't depreciate and I've been offered £70,000 to sell." The STGO artic may even fast the rest of his driving career.
didn't want a new one, I'm not fan of new trucks," enthuses Newman. "This is a vehicle you have to drive: