30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Leading independent Scania distributor Keltruck Limited is celebrating thirty years in business this April 2013.

This remarkable thirty years in business dates back to humble beginnings when Keltruck’s founder, Chris Kelly – working alongside Mike Kelly, now Fleet Sales Director – were involved in the sale of used trucks. This business was based in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands, known as the Black Country.

This microsite takes a look back at some of the highlights of those 30 years as well as talking to customers and employees of Keltruck.

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

HOW IT ALL STARTED

There are probably a few versions of how Keltruck came to be, but the truth is that I was with Mike, selling used trucks out of Willenhall and Wolverhampton. We started to rent out high spec’d new DAFs. I saw the light and bought some new Scanias and had a phone call one day from Scania GB out of the blue, asking would I like to meet various folk from Scania, eventually their MD Anders Siewertz. Anders asked if I wanted become a dealer for Scania.

It wasn’t something I’d considered – and certainly not something I was expecting – and needed masses of capital that was tied up in used trucks. However, cut a long story short, we sold the used trucks (and everything else we could) – and the rest, as they say, is history!

I remember the first new Scania that we sold as a ‘distributor’, as were called back then, and, turning to Mike, I said “If we can’t make more than this, we won’t be doing this for very long.” We sell new trucks often for much less today! They were, as they say, ‘the good old days’ and the business is very different now, with new vehicle sales a loss leader. The emphasis now, though, is very much around service and operational efficiencies – but there’s fortunately still a bit left for the entrepreneurial approach with elements such as used trucks and recycling (the latter is even fashionable these days, too).

For me, though, the industry has always been about the people, and there have been plenty of characters along the way – and these hold the fondest of memories. Amongst those who have departed this life are Don Taylor, of Taylors of Martley, and my old and dear friend, Alan Murrall of Bomwur Haulage. His premature loss was a waste of such incredible talent. Both were dear friends.

Whilst I enjoy my retirement playing with more old cars and motorbikes than I can shake a stick at, my advice to the team remains that ‘it’s all about people’. There are so many nice people to deal with that, if you find you are dealing with someone totally unreasonable, then move on and find another lovely person to spend your valuable time with. There are lots of really nice folk out there; go find them!

I’d also just like to say thank you for the business over the years – but most of all thanks for the memories. It has been a challenge at times, but great fun, too.

Chris Kelly
Founder & owner
keltruck.com/chriskelly

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

INTRODUCTION

A warm welcome to what is a very special edition of Kelnews, celebrating 30 years in business as the Scania franchised dealer serving the Midlands and the South Wales region. While I might still be classed as ‘the new boy’ having been here just six years, I’ve known Chris and been involved with Keltruck since 1994; so not quite so new really.

I’ve watched the company grow, try new ideas, and admired some of the achievements over the years, and I guess now I can say I’m proud to be at the helm; a responsibility I take very seriously with Chris having completely retired and entrusting me and my fellow directors with the company he’s put so much into over the years.

In this edition of Kelnews we’re taking the opportunity to take a look back in time, some comparisons with today and some of the major milestones in the company’s history. While it might be hard to describe us as a family business these days with over 450 staff and the sheer geography that we cover, we still believe we’re all about the people.

We trade with around 3,000 customers on account on a monthly basis; each one of those customers will have a relationship with their Keltruck contact, be it via the parts front counter or our one and only Mike Kelly. These relationships are all important to us and it’s what makes us different – The Keltruck Person: One that wants to do a good job to the best of their ability. I hope you enjoy this edition and a big thank you to all of our customers, new and old, for all of the business over the past 30 years, and here’s to the next 30…

Andrew Jamieson
Managing Director & Dealer Principal

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

SILURIAN SCANIA

Keltruck acquired South Wales dealership Silurian Scania in January 2011 welcoming four more branches to the network, including Cardiff, Cross Hands, Caldicot and Ross-on-Wye. The move joined Keltruck’s existing area which ‘just made geographical sense’, giving Keltruck 21 locations and a further spread of branches to provide assistance to Scania operators.

Since then Keltruck has developed the branches, investing in staff training and upgrading the locations with repaints, IT equipment, new heating systems and security upgrades. Keltruck’s Cardiff branch has undergone major refurbishments of the workshop, moved and upgraded the offices together with a new side gate, wash bay screens and upgraded tooling, in addition the parts and service departments have now been merged creating an enhanced experience for customers visiting the branch. Keltruck’s Cross Hands branch improvements include a third bay in the workshop, additional site lighting, a new security system, a perimeter fence and a new hard standing area to modernise the facility which in 2012 opened as Keltruck’s second used sales forecourt.

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

RUSS WARNER

Russ Warner has worked at Keltruck since 1987 starting as an apprentice on a YTS Scheme and has since worked in many different managerial roles throughout the company. While doing this he also attended Scania Business School and passed the courses after several years of study and in September 2009 Russ was promoted to Aftersales Director.

“Keltruck’s ability to diversify and adapt to an ever-changing market and climate puts us at the forefront of our industry, making us the number one independent Scania dealer in the network. I would say the amount of branches and sheer area we cover at Keltruck has to show the biggest change by far, starting with only five locations in the West Midlands and now reaching as far as Cross Hands to Worksop.

“For me the most exciting thing about working at Keltruck has to be the many friends I have made, both at Keltruck and externally within the motor trade. I am very proud to have been given the opportunity to work for and progress through the ranks at Keltruck and I wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of Chris Kelly.”

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

RECENT CHARITY SUCCESS

The Keltruck Nottingham Branch warmed our hearts with their efforts in fundraising for the Olivia Appeal in 2011 when all the staff at the branch joined together to support the cause. Geraldine Page, General Administrator for the branch, initiated the charity work which involved help from every member of staff, and even included the local Sutton, Groby and Worksop Keltruck branches and their families.

Olivia Francis, granddaughter of Keltruck Nottingham’s customer, Adrian Francis, owner of ALF Transport, was born on Christmas Day 2009 with a combination of two conditions – optic nerve Hypoplasia/Atrophy causing Olivia to be completely blind and an underdeveloped pituitary gland. Olivia was granted stem cell treatment in China in the hope that it will give her sight that she has never had, however, stem cell treatment comes with a hefty price tag and is only possible with the kind generosity and much needed help from other people; thus The Olivia Appeal was founded by Olivia’s family.

On 29th October, Keltruck Nottingham held a ‘Halloween Family Open Day’ at the branch all in aid of raising money for Olivia’s treatment and since then, Gemma Lacey, Olivia’s mother, has confirmed that the fund now stands in excess of £32,000 giving Gemma the green light to begin to register Olivia for her treatment. The treatment is said to take up to 12 months to show any signs of success, but the achievements that have been made so far to even make this possible for Olivia are outstanding. Graham Page, Nottingham Branch Manager commented:

“The Olivia Appeal was a great success, raising just over £5,000 through help from friends, family, colleagues, customers and beyond, and the icing on the cake was the donation of £10,000 from our very own Chris Kelly.”

Since then, and because of the success, Nottingham have decided to get involved in raising money for another cause, linked with the Tour de Branch venture involving Paul Green’s charity, ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’. The main reason for this is to sponsor two terminally ill children on their dream trip to Lapland to visit Father Christmas.

“Our target for this year is to raise £2,000 by November and if we can reach this then we can send two children on their trip of a lifetime, and if we raise any more then that would be excellent. We have previously had a raffle for a model concrete mixer kindly donated by Keltruck which totalled to just over £204 and we are currently planning another event for the summer.

“As to why do we do it, well it is important we help anyone we can especially children, after all they are our future generation.”

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

TOUR DE BRANCH

On Saturday 22nd June 2013 Paul Green, Group Warranty Manager for Keltruck, will undertake a gruelling 220-mile charity cycle ride starting at Keltruck’s Cross Hands Branch in South Wales and finishing at Keltruck Worksop in Nottinghamshire. The route takes Paul and the other riders from their start in South Wales over the Brecon Beacons, through Hereford and Worcester and into Droitwich to finish off day one. Day two (Sunday 23 June) starts in Droitwich heading north through Bromsgrove, West Bromwich, Burton, Derby and onto their final destination of Worksop.

The event, cleverly named “Tour de Branch”, has the objective to raise as much money for charity as possible as Paul comments: “If I’m going to get saddle sore I would like to raise as much money for charity as possible. The charity I have chosen is ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’. It is a locally based charity which grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 and 16 with a life threatening or terminal illness. As a father of two young children this charity is one that is close to my heart.”

What makes this event even more poignant for Paul is that in May 2011 he was diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After several months of chemotherapy treatment Paul was given the news in December 2011 that his treatment had been successful. Paul comments: “Following recovery from illness I wanted to get myself back into shape. I bought a bike and a pair of lycra shorts and as they say… went for it! It was while Bradley Wiggins was powering to Tour de France glory that a couple of work colleagues set down a challenge. So the chance to ride pedal powered between Keltruck’s most distanced depots of Cross Hands in south Wales to Worksop in north Nottinghamshire was created.”

Paul, 43, has worked at Keltruck for 26 years commencing as a YTS apprentice in 1986 at the West Bromwich branch. Having passed his City & Guilds Levels 1, 2 & 3 he continued to work as a technician until 1996 when he was offered the position of service advisor at the West Bromwich depot which he undertook. In 1997 Paul was promoted to manage the Esso & KwikSave VMUs before moving onto Droitwich in 1998 as Branch Manager. In 2000 Paul was offered the role of Group Warranty Manager which he accepted and still performs today.

If you would like to contribute to this truly special event please visit whenyouwishuponastar. org.uk and justgiving.com/Paul-Green12 to show your support for Tour De Branch.

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

PAM YOUNG

Pam Young started working for Chris Kelly in 1978 when he acquired Cartwright Transport European Ltd in Wolverhampton, which he renamed as West Mid European Ltd. Upon the formation of Keltruck in 1983, Pam moved over to West Bromwich where she has been involved in all parts of the business, even becoming PA to Chris Kelly and Mike Kelly. In May 2009 Pam was promoted to the position of General Manager – New & Used Sales Administration responsible for the day-to-day running of the office and overseeing all vehicle files for both new and used trucks.

“The biggest change in Keltruck over the years is obviously the size. When I started here we all worked on the first floor of the West Bromwich branch, everybody knew each other and it was very much a family business. 30 years on and it is so nice to see that there are so many people still here that started with the company and the achievements they have made, from apprentices to managers and directors.

“My highlight is definitely the friends I have made and the characters I have met, from employees to customers and even my partner, Tony.”

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years

LONG-STANDING CUSTOMER – Spiers & Hartwell

Spiers & Hartwell Ltd is the leading fruit and vegetable distributor in Evesham, originating in 1954. The company, now run by Chris Hartwell, operates a full Scania fl eet of over 50 trucks to destinations all over the UK. Keltruck are proud to say they have been dealing with Spiers & Hartwell since 1983 and continue to keep this working relationship 30 years on with great friendships made along the way.

“On behalf of Spiers & Hartwell Ltd we wish to congratulate Keltruck on their 30 years in business. We have enjoyed the service and Scania products they have provided since their inception in 1983. Our fi rst Scania purchase was a 110 model registered DAB 566N (pictured), an intrepid vehicle journeying back and forth to the Middle East in the 70s, reliability being of paramount importance. Scania has long been recognised for its low overall costs and reliability, but on the rare occasion we have encountered diffi culties, Keltruck have dealt with them impeccably, understanding our needs and resulting in a mutually strong trading relationship over 30 years. We would recommend Keltruck and Scania to all transport operators and wish them every success for the future.” Chris Hartwell, Owner of Spiers & Hartwell Ltd.

Keltruck Celebrates 30 Years in Business | 30 Years