An Actros transports precious cargo: live fish
Conor has been a trucker for 13 years. Driver Conor transport live fish in his Actros throughout Scotland.
Conor McKenna spends his days transporting unusual cargo: live fish. The job requires specially designed trucks to ensure the fish reach their destination alive and well.
Conor has been a trucker for 13 years. Previously serving in the army, he started his career on the road driving all types of trucks for various industries including bulkers, tankers, livestock, timber and curtains. He now drives for Solway Transport based in Corpach, Scotland – specialist carriers of live fish and he says it’s been his favourite company to work for.
Conor McKenna“I much prefer the Actros to other trucks; everything in the cab is set up perfectly within reach. The seats are comfortable and heated, there’s lots of room to move and the bed is just perfect with loads of storage space. They’re a very easy set up.”
Transporting thousands of live fish can at first seem a tricky task, but Conor explains that it’s all in the technology: “The trailers are specially made. You usually have five tanks of 5m³ of water, but that can vary depending on the site.”
Most of the fish are collected from hatcheries and placed in tanks with water collected from the site to ensure they adapt quickly. The water has to be a particular temperature and added oxygen is provided by the trucks. “We’ve got oxygen stones in each tank and a compressor which blows out bubbles to break up any CO2build up from the fish,” says Conor.
The fish are taken from the hatcheries to fresh water sites, for example in the Scottish Highlands, where they can grow and develop. After 2-3 months they make their journey to the sea.
A variety of fish species are transported by Solway Transport. Conor usually deals with Scottish salmon and trout as well as cleaner fish which are affectionately nicknamed ‘lumpies’.“There’s a proper name for them but we call them ‘lumpies’. You put them in the tanks with salmon and they eat all the bacteria. They look like spikey broccoli but are lovely colours like greeny blue.”
On a rare occasion, the company is tasked with moving sharks, something Conor hasn’t done and doesn’t plan to do in the future!
The journeys can be long, with distances stretching across the UK, Southern Ireland and even Europe, but these days Conor is mostly based in the Highlands, which suits him.
“You can’t just put your foot down, they’re live fish. You have to think of their welfare and make sure they’re not in distress.”
It’s not all plain sailing when you’re dealing with live fish. Conor must always drive carefully, often slower than the speed limit and keep it steady when travelling down the single track roads leading to hatcheries.
Another concern is oxygen. The tanks need to stay oxygenated at all times which requires careful monitoring by the driver. Probes in each tank are connected to the cab, however sometimes they can stop working or there can be a problem with the valves.
“There’s maybe 6,000 fish in these tanks. If the oxygen drops too low they start to panic and need more oxygen so the levels drop rapidly.”
In this situation Conor has to pull up, check his trailer and tinker around with the control box to get it going again as quickly as possible. The job is also weather dependent. If it’s too warm he can’t move fish, if it’s too cold he can’t move fish and if it’s too windy, the boats which take the fish out to sea can’t sail. All in all it’s a delicate balance of technology, driver awareness and fair weather.
An Actros makes the job easier. Conor is a big fan of his Actros which helps him get through the day with no issues and provides plenty of comfort.
Conor loves life on the open road and cites the scenery as a big perk of his job. A keen photographer, he always packs his camera to capture his truck in the beautiful landscapes. “There’s some stunning scenery up here like Glenfinnan. There’s usually no one around too, so it’s lovely.”
The vast spaces provide escapism: “It’s a good job, no stress, no phone calls,”and Conor certainly has it all under control.
Want to know more about the Mercedes-Benz Actros can help you are your business? Contact us today to find out more.
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Our Prep Centre and Darwen Service teams were out on Friday and Saturday supporting @eastlancshospice by helping with their Christmas tree collection across Lancashire 🎄💚
Over the course of the collection, our teams travelled a combined 163.2 miles, completing 149 tree pick-ups across Lancashire. Every donation from the collections goes directly to East Lancs Hospice, supporting the vital care they provide to local families.
As our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice is incredibly important to us, and we’re proud to support initiatives like this that make a real difference in our communities.
Dave McGinnes, Darwen Service Manager, commented:
“It’s brilliant to be able to support the hospice and the communities we serve by allowing our teams to volunteer and providing vehicles and resources. This was a real team effort across both sites, and it’s great to see the positive impact we can have by working together for such a worthwhile cause.”
Important Update: Plug-in Truck Grant Enhanced 🚛
The UK Government has announced increased funding for zero-emission trucks, with grants now available up to £120,000 for eligible vehicles.
These enhanced Plug-in Truck Grant rates are available now and apply to zero-emission trucks across Great Britain, but funding is time-limited and first-come, first-served.
Read more on our website.
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Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🎉
As we welcome the New Year, we’d like to thank our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout the past year. It’s been another busy and successful year across all our sites, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.
✨ That’s a wrap on 2025! ✨
As we count down to the New Year, we’re looking back at some of our favourite moments from across Ciceley Commercials this year. From exciting vehicle handovers and industry events to site developments and team achievements, it’s been another busy and rewarding year for us all.
A huge thank you to our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout 2025. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🥂🚛🎆
We’ve received some lovely feedback from a customer who recently visited our Blackburn site.
A big thank you to Amy and Laura for delivering great service and making the visit so positive.🌟
Merry Christmas from everyone at Ciceley Commercials 🎄
Wishing our customers, partners and colleagues a very happy Christmas and thank you for your continued support throughout the year. 🎁✨
🎅🚐 Even Santa needs a little help sometimes…
Our 24-hour Roadside Assistance team is on hand throughout Christmas to keep you moving when the unexpected happens. Whether it’s festive deliveries or essential journeys, we’re here day and night, even over the Christmas period.
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Christmas Jumper Day at Ciceley Commercials 🧶🎄
We’ve had a fab time across our sites getting into the festive spirit and raising money for @eastlancshospice 💙
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated and wore their best (and boldest!) Christmas jumpers — all in support of an incredible local charity that does such important work in our community.
Well done team, and thank you for spreading a little Christmas cheer 🎅✨
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 continues to demonstrate what zero-emission transport can achieve, having successfully completed the legendary John O’Groats to Land’s End route in just over 24 hours — the first electric HGV to do so.
Travelling 1,378 km with only three charging stops, the journey showcased the practicality of electric power for long-distance haulage. Running solely on renewable electricity, the 39.5-tonne eActros 600 delivered a range exceeding 500 km per charge, achieved an average efficiency of 1.175 km/kWh, and prevented more than one tonne of CO₂ emissions compared to a diesel equivalent.
This achievement reinforces that electric heavy goods vehicles are already capable of meeting the demands of modern transport operations.
The challenge also supported Globe Truckers UK, helping shine a light on the wellbeing of the drivers who keep our industry moving.
To explore how electric trucks could work for your fleet, speak to the team at Ciceley Commercials today.
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