Chris Bourdel was taking a final coffee break before arriving home after a week away in his Mercedes-Benz Actros Gigaspace 530, when Paul O’Callaghan met him at the Aire de Canepetiere service area – on the A83 Autoroute between Niort and Nantes in the northwest of France.

The Brittany native has been an owner- driver for 20 years and loves his Actros after a succession of DAFs, citing comfort and build-quality as his favourite aspects.

At the business end, his attractive French-built Lamberet trailer advertises his local region as he travels the roads of Europe. Regular loads include vegetables, such as cauliflower, although Chris will haul anything if the rate is right. The father of two likes to spend his free time riding his Harley Davidson or shooting (but not at the same time), and he had recently returned from a shooting holiday in Connemara in the West of Ireland.

His favourite aspect of the job is “la liberté” – which should require no translating.