Su, Are You?

They are pivotal to the mechanics. Ever present and yet unnoticed. Suzie Lines. They tie the command centre, the driver’s seat, to the precious cargo to be hauled cross-country; be it Oxford to Carlisle, Cardiff to Norwich or Preston to Blackburn.

There is, however, a mystery to these heroic wires, a question unanswered by history. That question: Who on earth is Suzie? The intrigue underlying the name “Suzie Lines” is quite frankly, palpable. What did she do that was so monumental, that this essential piece of kit was named after her? Did she invent them? Did she find a bizarre use for them? Who knows?

Backhouse Jones know. We feel it’s about time that the clamoring for answers was muted.

The Suzie Lines are a set of electric wires that run from the back of the driver’s carriage on a truck, to the platform at the back, upon which the load to be hauled is placed. They hang in the gap that exists between these two sections of the vehicle, often being overlooked by the innocent lay person.

They also feature on planes and airlines, carrying out the similar function of offering passage for electricity to travel from one area of the vehicle to another across a space.

None can deny that the purpose they serve is practical and essential, but neither can anyone tell you why these wires are called ‘Suzie Lines’.

The answer is rather simple. Suzie Lines are SUSPENDED in midair across gaps. Consequently, operators everywhere have taken the first three letters of the word ‘suspended’ and morphed them to sound out “Suzie”. Simple yet elegant.