“I would get more excited seeing a Scania truck driving down the road than I would be a Ferrari car”

This month, we celebrate National Lorry Week – a campaign to champion the industry and showcase the businesses and individuals who work tirelessly to keep our nation moving.

For one man, shining light on the sector and its vehicles forms a huge part of his everyday life and passions.

David Mackay, from Falkirk, has had an interest in trucks for as long as he can remember. Diagnosed with autism when he was younger, he has used photography as an outlet, often venturing out before work most days as well as across the weekend to capture the vehicles in action.

Now 27, David has begun to share his work across social media under the name ‘The Autistic Lorry Photographer’, as a way to both showcase his unique finds and raise awareness around autism.

We caught up with David ahead of National lorry Week to talk all things lorries, photography and his goals of pursuing a career in the industry.

Could you tell us a little more about yourself?

I’ve been an HGV enthusiast since I was young, even back then I could even tell the different manufacturers apart from behind by the shape of the wing mirrors. As I grew up, even though my life took me down a different path, my love of trucks and the haulage industry never waned.

My first real foray into spotting trucks was when I became a Junior Stobart spotter, which was something Eddie Stobart ran when I was younger. Every time I saw a Stobart truck, I would write down the name on the front and see how many different ones I could spot.

When did you start photographing lorries?

When I was really little, I would always be given a disposable camera when we went to shows like Truckfest and the Royal Highland Show, and I’d walk around snapping lorries all day until the camera ran out of film.

Of course, not all the photos were winners, but it started the love with lorry photography.

As a child I would get more excited seeing a Scania truck driving down the road than I would be a Ferrari car, so I suppose it was just organic that my interest would lie in photographing trucks as opposed to anything else.

I guess another part of it was wanting to keep photos of the trucks I was seeing, it’s great seeing these amazing vehicles in the flesh but photos are something you can go back to time and again as you may only see some of these trucks once in your life.

How long have you been doing this as a hobby?

I’ve been photographing on and off since about 2004-05, however it wasn’t until around six months ago when I started to share my work. I’d always kept it to myself as I wasn’t sure my photos were up to a shareable standard.

It wasn’t until I shared some photos on a Facebook group and received a really positive reaction that I became confident enough to share my photos which led to the creation of The Autistic Lorry Photographer Twitter account.

I wanted to highlight my autism as proof that it’s maybe not the condition that people think it is and hopefully spread some awareness in the process.

Where do you go to photograph them?

My local area is a really great truck spotting area. In Grangemouth, there are three Malcolm Group facilities and a simply colossal Asda distribution centre, so I’m spoilt for choice when it comes to spots around Falkirk and Grangemouth.

If I’m feeling more adventurous, then I’ll head to the motorway bridges and take photos of passing lorries on the M9.

One of my favourite things about where I go to spot is you can usually get some interaction with the drivers, sometimes just a wave but other times a flash of the lights or even a blast of the horn from time to time.

How often do you photograph lorries?

I try and get out photographing trucks five days a week.

Sometimes it’s just for an hour before work, but on a day off I’ll be out there for 3-4 hours in different spots – assuming my phone battery lasts that long! It’s definitely the way I go about relaxing and clearing my mind when I’m not working.

What is about lorries that you find exciting?

I just love the sheer size and power of them and the presence of them on the road. It doesn’t matter if it’s a basic fleet spec truck or a top of line airbrushed show truck, to me they impose themselves on the road in the same way.

Also, you cannot match the sound of a lorry going past at full tilt, especially if it’s a Scania V8!

Do you have a favourite type of Lorry?

I am a sucker for classic Swedish trucks, like the 3 Series Scania and the Volvo F16, but if I had to pick one of those, it would have to be the Scania, specifically the 143M 500.

In terms of modern trucks, I’d lean towards Scania again, with the S Series and R Series, though I always have to make a special mention of the Volvo FH, Mercedes Benz Actros and the new DAF XG/XG+.

Also, you cannot beat the look and style of an American truck, like a Kenworth W900 or a Peterbilt 379!

Do you have any favourite photographs?

Yes! They vary between some I have taken at truck shows and others taken while spotting.

One of my favourites was a photo I took of a Scania 770S V8 belonging to McFadyens Transport. I snapped it both on the stand at Truckfest and on the road leaving the show; the picture on the stand came out so well I was thrilled by it.

Another is of a Holridge Transport’s S650, a photo of which I shared on my Twitter account and Scania asked for permission to use it!

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

Ultimately my aim would be to have a career in the logistics and transport industry.

I’m currently in the process of learning to drive and once I have my Driver’s Licence; I will look at getting my HGV licence as soon as it is possible!

What is your dream?

To one day own and operate my own truck – that’s my long-term dream. Short term, transferring from my current career into a job within the transport industry.

Take a look at some of David’s photos below.