The policy of inscribing the names on the front of the cab helped to attract a 15,000-strong fan club of Stobart-spotters who log truck sightings on the club website, along with registration number, fleet number and girl's name. Eddie’s son Edward – who died in March 2011 aged 56 after suffering heart problems – continued the tradition, with more recent vehicles being named after Ffion Hague, Paris Hilton, Trinny and Susannah and Fiona Phillips. The first four owned by Eddie Stobart senior were named after model Twiggy and singers Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton and Suzi Quatro. However, it is the tradition of giving Eddie Stobart's trucks female names that made the company enter every-day life. In 1979, Edward’s younger brother, William, joined the young company and the scene was set for the thriving family firm to embark on a period of significant growth and expansion throughout the UK during the 1980s, making Eddie Stobart one of the country’s best known, and loved brands. When “Steady” Eddie Stobart registered Eddie Stobart Limited on 23rd November 1970 in the small Lake District village of Hesket Newmarket, a life in the spotlight was beyond imagination. In 1976, Eddie’s 21-year-old son, Edward, joined the business and drove its transition from agricultural contracting into a more comprehensive offering of road transport and warehousing, and in doing so slowly built a reputation for excellent customer service across North West England. But, how come a humble transport company has turned into a pop idol?
It has been named “British Superbrand” for the past six years running and even has its own TV series. It is safe to say that Eddie Stobart is the only trucking company that cannot only bank on a loyal customer base, but also its own fan club, counting 15,000 members who worship the red, green and white colour scheme. In fact, Eddie Stobart is one of the most recognised brands in Britain, best known for its iconic trucks that usually feature a striking red and white striped bumper. "It's like a spy in every cab - like Big Brother.".Operating from over 40 sites across the UK and Europe, the Stobart Group is one of the UK’s front-runners in multimodal logistics and warehousing. At the core of the Group’s offering is Eddie Stobart, a transport company that acquired almost legendary status in popular culture.
"Some drivers don't like the GPS," Mo admits. Tensions rise when Gary spots Mo breaking the rules, and proceeds to offer him some unwanted advice. The team of planners back at base is now privy to every break taken by drivers - as well as every instance of bad driving. Attention to detail is key to keeping profits high, and as a result GPS tracking devices have been fitted to each truck to monitor each driver's every move. It is no easy task, and one false move from Andy could lead to devastation.Įlsewhere this week, planner Gary Fox demonstrates one of the key pieces of technology that has kept the Eddie Stobart company leagues ahead of the competition. Crane pilot Andy Kujawiak is racing against time, at a height of 60 feet in the air, to strip 30 containers from a freight train onto a fleet of waiting lorries. At the heart of the company's port operations are massive gantry cranes, which are capable of transferring cargo to the trucks in record time. Over at Eddie Stobart's Widnes port, near Liverpool, 800 containers a day arrive to be offloaded. It looks as if Mo is about to commit the cardinal sin of trucking - failing to deliver his load on time. He takes great pride in his reputation for getting deliveries made in time, but his planners have failed to take into account a blockage on the M25 that forces him onto London's notorious North Circular. Mo Goulding has been a Stobart trucker for 34 years, and he is a company man through and through.
The firm employs more than 5,000 people, who work around the clock to make a delivery every 4.6 seconds, as well as running two ports, two airports and countless freight trains.
Every single day, Eddie Stobart drivers cover the equivalent of the distance to the moon and back three times over. The distinctive Eddie Stobart brand makes the company one of the most recognisable haulage firms in the world.