In Stan’s early life he worked for various local haulage companies. At the age of 30 Stan decided that enough was enough, and he was not going to work for anyone except himself. The year was 1970 and he had the opportunity to purchase a used lorry; a Commer 4 wheeler and the “Stan Robinson story” began.
After parking his lorry in the back garden of his home for a few years, Stan decided he wanted to expand and create his own haulage business. So he rented Colwich Station Yard, he then came off the road and began to run the vehicles from the premises. As the business grew Stan acquired a local haulage company called Davies Transport, they ran the Evode delivery contract (now known as Bostik). This is how our working relationship with Bostik started and continues to this day.
In 1979 the business out grew the premises at Colwich. Stan had the opportunity to buy a three acre site complete with office, garage and warehouse at Seighford. He purchased the site and over the years purchased more of the surrounding land. This was then developed into the Ladford Fields that we see today.
Stan wanted a depot in Scotland. So in 1989 he acquired a haulage company in Glasgow complete with vehicles, premises and a customer base. This enabled him to start the trunking system between the two depots and was also the start of our working relationship with Tunnock Biscuits.
After the success of this depot and with the forward momentum of the business, Stan decided that we needed a depot in Devon as we were serving the south of the country every day. We then purchased the Willand site and have continued to develop it over the years.
To enable us to serve the North East of England, Stan initially acquired a company in Ferryhill in 1998; before then moving to our present Darlington site a few years later.
It was Stan’s ultimate dream to win the prestigious award of “Haulier of the Year”. He achieved this in 1999. It was a very proud occasion for Stan, his family and employees.
Stan sadly passed away in April 2012. The business is still owned and managed by the Robinson family after 44 years of business. Stan’s legacy will continue as the Robinson family work hard to maintain the same core business values that Stan insisted on from the beginning, to provide a quality service for a fair price.
