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.
Gallery
Check Out Our Instagram
Team Ciceley, training hard ready to retain our Truck Pull champions status! #truckpull #trueathletes #strongmen #truckfest #manbeaststrongmanevents
Something feels different when you cross the border…
#scottishpatter #truck #truckfest #scotland #banter
If you know you know 👀 #mercedesbenz #showroom #rave #teamwork #safetyfirst
DID YOU KNOW WE NOW SELL CARS!? 👀 #mercedesbenz #usedcarsales #EQA #EQB #GLC
Thruxton was thrilling! 🤩
A huge congratulations to Dan on a fantastic third-place finish! 🥉👏
And to top it all off… we even had a member of Ciceley on the podium too! 👀🙌 #btcc #touringcar #thruxton #platoracing #catacleanuk
Guess who’s back 👀 #welcomeback #vansales #newvan #mercedesbenz #guesswhosback
The countdown is on! ⏳
The Ciceley Commercials team will be exhibiting at Truckfest next week, and we`d love to see you there!
Come and explore the latest Mercedes-Benz Trucks, meet our knowledgeable team, and chat with us about how we can support your business with new and used trucks, aftersales, servicing and genuine parts.
Got a fleet operating in Scotland? Be sure to stop by and find out all about our brand-new Eurocentral dealership, opening later this year. We`ll be on hand to talk through our exciting expansion, the services we`ll be offering, and how we`ll be supporting customers across Central Scotland.
Whether you`re looking to grow your fleet, keep your vehicles on the road, or simply want to say hello, make sure you visit us!
Drive Your Business Forward for Just £414* + VAT Per Month! ⚡
Looking for a reliable, fully electric van that delivers on performance, practicality and low running costs?
The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is now available from just £414* + VAT per month! 🚐⚡
✅ Up to 273 miles* electric range
✅ Zero tailpipe emissions
✅ Spacious load area and impressive payload
✅ Advanced safety and driver assistance technology
✅ Lower running and maintenance costs
Whether you’re making city deliveries or travelling between jobs, the eSprinter is built to keep your business moving.
📍 Available now at Ciceley Commercials. Full T&Cs available on our website!
#eSprinter #mercedesbenz #specialoffer #vans #ciceleycommercials
Mini Series - Day In The Life: Episode 1 - Logistics #mercedesbenz #logistics #truck #van #mercedesbenztrucks
From a plain white chassis to this… WOW! Fran our truck sales lady for the north was DELIGHTED to see the finish on the truck! Happy 60th Birthday McGawn Bros! #truck #livery #handpainted #mcgawnbros #mercedes_benz
We`re proud to be supporting a fantastic charity initiative in partnership with Daimler Truck UK, helping to raise awareness and vital funds for @gch_charity
Created in partnership with @daimlertruck and inspired by a cause close to our Aftersales Manager, Calum Aitken`s heart, this special demonstrator will be travelling across Scotland as customers trial the vehicle.
Read the full story here 👉 https://www.ciceley.com/driving-support-for-glasgow-childrens-hospital-charity/
#DrivingChange #GlasgowChildrensHospitalCharity #TruckDemo #MakingADifference
World Cup fever has hit Ciceley Commercials! COME ON ENGLAND! #worldcup2026 #england #argentina #semifinal #team
-
Call Ciceley Commercials on 0333 014 6181
-
We're here to help. You can reach us via phone, email or our online form.
-
Find your local Mercedes-Benz dealer here.
-
Find out more information about your preferred model.