Trucking capitals
Page 2
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
There must be something in the water in Plain City, Utah — quite possibly diesel! Despite its grand name, this place is tiny and has a population of just 3,500 people. Yet somehow this town spawned four of the biggest trucking companies in the US.
In a brief potted history, Maude Knight married Chester England almost 100 years ago. They founded CR England Trucking, which today operates just under 4,000 trucks. One of its drivers, Carl Moyes, left the firm to set up B&C Truck Leasing, which would Later become Swift Transportation. It now has a fleet of 16,000 trucks. Local boys Kevin and Keith Knight (related to Maude) were working for Swift when they set up Knight Transportation (4,000 trucks) along with cousins Randy and Gary. Meanwhile Jeff England, who was the grandson of Chester, founded Pride Transport (more than 400 trucks). So between them that's about 25,000 trucks.
So why am I telling you this? Because I was reminded of it on a recent trip to Stanton, Suffolk, where I was visiting BJ&C Carberry Haulage (page 28). I was shocked to discover that 10 hauliers call this village home.
OK, so they aren't huge firms — but it's impressive nonetheless, especially when you consider that Stanton has a population of 2,683. If my rudimentary maths skills are right, that's one haulier for every 268 people. Is this some sort of a record? We want to know where the UK's trucking epicentre is, so if you can think of anothervillage, town or city with a higher haulier-to-resident ratio then, please, let us know.
Will Shiers