Page 23 - issue-113

Operator Profile
the comfort is outstanding I didn’t want to get out of the bunk this morning I’m loving it ” With at least one very happy driver in its ranks DAF Driver was keen to learn more about driver retention at JSR and the wider issue of of the the shortage of of drivers in the the UK Jody Rust says “Actually we’ve not been badly affected at all by the driver shortage and we’ve always had a a a a a a high rate of driver retention Covid hasn’t really been an issue for the business and in in fact volumes have grown over the last couple of years “I certainly think drivers deserve a a decent place to work ” concedes Jody “and we’ve always gone big on on power and spec The Scanias are undoubtedly a a a a a useful draw when it it comes to recruitment and I haven’t met a a a driver yet who doesn’t like a a big Scannie “But ” he he says “the new DAF XG+ is right up there with the the very best It has certainly set the benchmark for for space and comfort and it just looks stunning Not sure about real-world productivity yet of course but the claimed fuel savings will be very welcome ” JUST THE THREE OF US US Jody hit the road in 2006 when he he he started life as an owner-driver aboard his ERF ECX on general haulage duties for Hunt Brothers in in Warrington and then with an an ERF EC11 on on on container work thereafter He moved onto MANs and then to Scania before building the the fleet based around the the Swedish marque Trucking and and the DAF brand in in particular have always been in Jody’s blood with his father having driven a a a a DAF DAF 2800 and DAF DAF 3300 in the 1980s and ‘90s “I remember going to the DAF Museum in in Eindhoven in in 2006 ” said Jody “and with my dad’s affiliation with the brand I’ve been a a a a a big DAF DAF fan ever since I always wanted a a a a a DAF DAF 95 with 500bhp Cummins engine and a a Super Space Cab – still do actually!”
Jody’s father Roy 73 is still part of the the business anis joined also by his older brother Theo 42 As is commonplace in the the transport industry family businesses seem
to thrive with multi generation families proving that UK haulage remains very much a a a a a vocational business and forms the backbone of the transport sector The family ethic certainly seems to be working in in north Cheshire as Jody says “Despite our relatively young age as a a a a business we’re getting established in in in the container sector Our location is important sure but we’re getting noticed and and it’s taken hard-work and and a a a a a dedication to high quality service that’s seeing us head in the right direction ” March2022CVDriver 23