Our Class 1 Artic Takes Centre Stage at Braehead Arena
When UK’s Strongest Man 2026 came to Scotland for the first time in the competition’s history, PPS was right there in the thick of it. Not just as a proud sponsor, but with one of our own Class 1 artics taking centre stage in one of the weekend’s most spectacular disciplines.
A historic first for Scotland
UK’s Strongest Man 2026 kicked off at Planet Ice in Milton Keynes on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August before heading north for the main event: the semi-finals and Grand Final at Braehead Arena in Glasgow on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August. It marked the first time in the show’s history that the competition has been staged on Scottish soil, with the final broadcast live on Channel 5.
For a Scottish haulage business built on strength, graft and reliability, sponsoring an event like this felt like a natural fit. And we didn’t just put our name on it. We put our truck on the line too.
The PPS Truck Dash and Pull
Following the main competition on the Saturday evening, spectators gathered on the banks of the River Clyde for the PPS Truck Dash and Pull. Armed with nothing more than a harness and a rope, the Grand Finalists took on one of the most demanding and iconic tests in strength sport: hauling a 20-tonne truck across the course through sheer power, determination and grit.
And that 20-tonne truck? One of our very own PPS Class 1 artics, straight off the fleet.
Ian Muir back behind the wheel
Behind the wheel for the event was a familiar face: Ian Muir, our former Transport Manager, who came out of retirement for the event to make sure the truck was exactly where it needed to be. Ian was a mainstay of the PPS operation before handing the reins to Lee Paxton, so it was only fitting that he was the man trusted with the keys for a night like this.
Alongside Ian throughout the day was Mark Cunningham, Transport and Compliance Manager at our Kilmarnock depot, handling everything needed behind the scenes and making sure the truck looked the part on national television. Between Milton Keynes and Braehead, Mark and Ian put in the hours to make sure PPS was represented properly.
For Ian, it was a fitting way to cap an illustrious driving career.
This was the highlight. To have the honour of being the driver during the truck pull was my 15 minutes of fame. The fact this is a family business I helped start and be a part of makes it a very proud moment. Thanks to the best son ever… I’m kidding, a bit.
The best son in question being our Managing Director, Andrew Muir.
A champion crowned
After two weekends of jaw-dropping strength challenges, Andrew Flynn successfully defended his crown, winning UK’s Strongest Man for the second year running in front of a packed Braehead Arena.
Congratulations to Andrew and to every athlete who took on the PPS Truck Dash and Pull. Moving a fully loaded artic is our drivers’ day job. Moving one with nothing but a rope and a harness is something else entirely.
Proud to play our part
Events like this don’t happen without a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work. Special mention goes to our own Lesley Ewing, who coordinated all the transport across both weekends. Moving trucks, kit and people between Kilmarnock, Milton Keynes and Glasgow on a live event schedule with television deadlines is no small job, and Lesley pulled it all together while keeping the day-to-day operation running.
We would also like to thank our friends across the Palletways network who helped make it happen: Anthony Tattersall at Darcica Logistics, Steven McBride at Montgomery Transport Group, and Stuart Nicol at Stuart Nicol Transport. We pulled on the strength of the Palletways network to get the haulage done for this event, and that is exactly what the network is all about.
We’re proud that PPS could contribute a truck, a driver and a bit of Ayrshire muscle to a historic weekend for strength sport in Scotland.
