Family owned businesses have long been at the very core of the specialist transport industry. Many of the leading companies in both the UK and further afield can trace their roots to fledgling operations started by previous generations. Family members are invariably involved in the present-day business and have taken the operation in new directions and built substantial companies.

Another defining characteristic of many of these companies, is that they very often started out as farmers or in an associated trade involved in agriculture. The move into transport came about as a result of having a truck on the farm and branching out into hire and reward transport was a means for additional family members to earn a living without putting undue strain upon the finances of the farm. Farmers invariably have to be multi-skilled, turning their hands to all types of tasks, having to be mechanic, builder, plumber, electrician and vet all in the same day. If something needs doing and there’s nobody else around you just have to get on with it.