Find out more about the faces behind Smith Bros…

I started in the transport industry from when I was born, through my family transport company which specialised in heavy haulage.

I then worked for the family business once I left school, helping run the company, purchase and sell trucks which were all Scania’s.

A few years later I parted ways with the company and started as a driver in specialist work moving machinery and plant.

While I was driving I also had a lot of involvement in buying and selling trucks for mutual friends – as being on the road and having many contacts it gave me the opportunity to serve friends and customers. This gave me plenty of experience in sales, which I enjoy.

In January 2023, I got the opportunity to join the Smith Bros team. Dealing with all types of customers and contacts, giving me the chance to use my passion for trucks, as well as enjoy meeting the customers’ requirements and seeing the end result!

Smith Bros Services was established over forty years ago by myself and my brother, with trucks having always played a huge part in my life.

One of my earliest memories is watching my two uncles who set up their own haulage companies back in the 1950s. Witnessing the success of one of them dealing in trucks, it was this that inspired me to have a career working in the industry, with that my mind was made up at the age of 15 that I was hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Prior to setting up the business in my early twenties, I had a successful spell as an owner driver as well as selling new trucks for Garlick Burrell and Edwards, who at the time were the main Bedford dealers for the Merseyside area.

As I went on to establish Smith Brothers in the mid 80s, the business has gone from strength to strength and has developed to where it is today.

After getting my Ladybird Book of Trucks at around 10 years of age (which I still have!) and my dad winning Lorry Driver Of The Year in 1973 – it was almost certain I would end up with a career in the truck industry.

I left school and Joined Manchester Garages Ford truck dealership at 16. This being the era of the Transcon and the “D” series eventually became Cargo and Iveco, taking my class one HGV and joining the sales team there.

In total, I spent 10 very happy years there and did another 10 year stint with an independent dealer in Trafford Park selling all makes of trucks, vans and even a Piper Aztec twin engine plane.

I then moved to MAN and worked directly for the manufacturer whose UK Head Office is in Swindon, responsible for the North West region and spending 4 enjoyable years there – before running the Enza Truckworld operation in Cheshire.

I then moved to a North West Scania main agent with whom I had dealt with for some time, eventually ending up with Steve Smith at the Smith Brothers operation.

I have known Steve for a number of years now but I have been blown away by this unique operation and the quality partners, providing what I believe to be the very best used vehicles on the market.

With the forward thinking and vision that this dealership has the future for all connected with Smith’s operation. It’s very exciting indeed.

Being born into a family with a transport business I suppose I was destined to do something within the industry and selling vans and trucks is all I have ever done. I started my career in 2002 at the tender age of 18 as a Trainee Salesman with Sherwood Truck and Van in Sheffield managing a very small area. I was given more responsibility when the incumbent salesman for South Yorkshire left the company by around 2006/7 I had won the International Sales Pro Award and was confirmed as one of the Top five “Retail” salesmen in the UK at a National Sales Awards at the Hammersmith Apollo.

In 2009 on another Sales trip to Sardinia the Manufacturer approached me and asked me to work for them. I started with Iveco directly in late 2009. Initially working as a Dealer and District Sales Manager ensuring standards and targets were met before becoming the National Key Account Manager for the Rental & Leasing Sector. This last role for Iveco gave me an in depth view of the Total Cost of Ownership and is one of the reasons I have joined Smith Bros as the Scania product in particular is renowned for its Reliability, Efficiency and Unparalleled Residual Value.

I started from a very young age in the industry, as all my family have always been involved in haulage in one way or another. I was fortunate enough to be able to go away with my father doing mainly heavy haulage. I started washing trucks at 12 years old and once leaving school at 16 became a fully qualified HGV fitter in a local heavy haulage firm. This gave me knowledge of trucks from another aspect, of how to respect them and get the best out of a vehicle.

 I knew I wanted to drive once I turned 21, I passed my test and set off on my own journey, for the past 9 years I have been mainly driving heavy haulage moving anything from trains to ships, cranes, big vessels and many more. This gave me many contacts in the industry and lifelong friends.

 This led me to Smiths Bros, I know about the quality of the Scania product and the growth Smith Bros has had over the past few years so I am looking forward to the future.