Reversing speed control was one of the main attractions of the Isuzu 7.5 tonne Forward truck which Scottish-based Contraflow Ltd have just bought.

The vehicle will be part of its 60-strong motorway traffic management fleet and will be used to distribute and collect traffic cones and for that it needs to match ' in reverse ' the variable walking pace of workers collecting cones.


'By law, when we collect traffic cones from roadworks that are completed, our vehicles are not allowed to drive in the opposite direction to the ongoing traffic,' said Jim Gardner, transport manager at Contraflow Ltd.

'As a result, much of this vehicle's operation is spent reversing along the carriageway. We found that the Isuzu is the perfect vehicle for matching the different speeds of the traffic cone collectors as it travels in reverse, which makes it so much easier for the driver to work in unison with the collectors'


Currently working out of Contraflow's depot in Hillington, Glasgow, the new Isuzu Forward N75.190 (E) has an Easyshift automatic gearbox and a purpose-built traffic management body built by LVB in Bathgate, Lothian. In addition to Chapter 8 beacons and illuminated arrows on the back of the body, there are four-fold flashing lights and a curtain to cover the rear panel when not in use.

The dropside body also has nearside and offside sidesteps from which operators can place cones on the road while the vehicle is slowly moving forwards when setting up of a traffic management scheme.


'As well as its reversing abilities, we were suitably impressed by the build quality of our first Isuzu 7.5 tonner,' said Jim Gardner.

'The drivers are really impressed by how well it performs and it is now out working overnight, seven nights a week providing support for road working teams'


Launched in 1987, Contraflow are specialists in local authority and trunk road contracting and traffic management. The company employs 93 staff at depots in Cumbernauld, Hillington and Perth and recently opened a fourth depot in the north of Scotland at Forres on the Moray coast.