Taupo’s Northern Linehaul Limited seems to have few qualms about switching allegiances between DC and Marvel when it comes to selecting superhero names for its trucks.

But truck brand loyalty is another thing altogether and the Scania marque – in particular those big power V8 examples –  is a clear preference.

Northern Linehaul owners Leon Edge and Julie Jackson both work in the business together, along with their daughter Poppy Edge who combines dispatch and driving duties.

The company operates a fleet of 20 general freight and forestry trucks from its Taupo base. There are two Kenworth stems trucks out in the forest and a flat-deck for highway work while the other 17 are from the Swedish marque.

This seems to be armchair driving on another level. As most readers know I like to describe the top-of-the-line European trucks as armchairs, a reference to the comfortable ride the driver enjoys in the latest Euro models.

With this Scania S 730 XT 6x4 off-highway logging double it feels even more like I’m driving an armchair around, a feeling exaggerated by just sitting back and letting the truck do the hard work of moving the 160 tonne weight (GCM).

I had first seen this truck when it was getting its livery applied at Caulfield Signs in Rotorua. When I learned it was going into the off-highway network doing doubles work, I knew we had to get in and test it. Using a European truck with an automatic gearbox for heavy off-highway work is not the norm.

We catch up with Northern Linehaul’s Leon Edge and regular double shifting drivers Anthony Smith and Karl Chambers in Taupo ahead of a day out in the forest.