30 Years Old ! ! !
Thursday 29 May 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERWOOD East Midland dealership celebrates after three decades at the forefront of the truck industry.... Champagne corks are popping across the east Midlands, as one of the largest and most successful truck dealerships in the country reaches the grand old age of 30 this month. And what a story it is. From humble beginnings, Sherwood Truck and Van has grown and grown, providing a fascinating journey for everyone involved. It was on May 1st 1978 that Sherwood was born, when current chairman Terry Waterfall established a DAF dealership at a small site in Underwood, Nottinghamshire. “Back then it was a division of a PLC,” explains Terry. “We had seven members of staff, plus myself, and I can still remember the first vehicle we sold – a DAF 2000 grey tractor unit, which went to an operator in Newark. I think the value was £15,000. I can remember celebrating with the staff, too, with a glass of champagne. In fact, every time we sold a truck we went to the pub and celebrated!” It was a huge achievement at the time; DAF was a relatively unknown brand in the UK. But it was a sign of things to come. “In our first year I believe we sold 30 vehicles, whereas today we’ll sell over 1,000 a year.Watching Sherwood grow as a business has been very satisfying, but sometimes worrying too...” In 1984, the company was acquired via a management buyout by Terry and his business partner Frank Holmes. Under their guidance, Sherwood experienced rapid growth throughout the late Eighties, and in the wake of the Leyland DAF merger it became the franchised Leyland DAF dealer for Nottinghamshire. It was during this time that Sherwood acquired Kirby Trucks of Sheffield – the Leyland DAF dealer for south Yorkshire. But drama was to follow. In February 1993, following the much published financial collapse of the Leyland DAF organisation, the Board of Directors pursued an opportunity with another leading truck manufacturer. And after successful negotiations with Iveco Ford Truck Ltd – now IVECO – the Sherwood Group, as it had become, was awarded main franchise status for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and south Yorkshire. Five years later, Sherwood completed its fourth acquisition with the purchase of Chatfields of Stoke, covering Staffordshire and south Cheshire. And they did so as one of the leading players in the UK market, having not long scooped a prestigious award in one of the company’s proudest moments. “After we changed manufacturer from DAF to Iveco, we went on to win Truck Dealer of the Year in 1997,” explains Terry, proudly. “The award was presented to me by Jill Dando at The Grosvenor Hotel in London.” As the company grew, of course, so did the product. Over the last three decades, there have been some amazing changes in the industry, not least with the vehicles themselves. “Thirty years ago, a truck driver would have had a strenuous manual task to shift the gears and operate the heavy and not-too-efficient brakes,” Terry recalls. “He’d be lucky if he had a heated cab, while sleeper cabs were just beginning to come on the market with the provision of a fold-down bunk. “These days a modern truck driver has the benefit of heating and air conditioning – even when the engine isn’t running – well-insulated cabs, automatic transmission, a comfortable bunk bed area with curtains, a high-quality stereo radio and, in some cases, tv, and of course, phone and satellite navigation. “Computer technology also plays a major role in how a modern truck operates. Back then you’d listen to an engine through a stethoscope or down the blade of a screwdriver to try and diagnose problems. Now, modern vehicles are hooked up to a computer which provides the diagnosis.” Like all businesses, Sherwood has had its share of ups and downs over the years, but it remains the market leader for truck sales and service in the region, and boasts an impeccable reputation. So what’s the secret to Sherwood’s longevity? “My background was as a service manager in a large commercial vehicle workshop and then as fleet engineer for a commercial vehicle fleet,” Terry reveals. “Also, I was brought up in transport. My father had been in the industry all his life, so I was aware of the demands of an operator. This helped me base the company’s philosophy on a high level of service to the operator, with absolute priority of minimum downtime for the vehicle. “Paul Hemp, our Managing Director, came from a parts supply background, and he soon fitted into this regime of getting parts quickly, getting them fitted and getting the vehicle back on the road as soon as possible. It’s a philosophy that’s been fundamental to Sherwood from day one, and I believe it’s paramount to our overall success.” ENDS For further information contact: About Sherwood Truck & Van Ltd Sherwood Truck & Van is one of the UK’s leading independent dealer groups and the best-known name for trucks and vans throughout the East Midlands and beyond.When it comes to after-sales, Sherwood is equally well placed to deliver the goods. Our management team comes from a truck-operational background.We know the day-to-day worries of operating trucks; we understand the pressures and we know the urgencies. With 30 years’ experience, we know how to get it right – first time, every time.
Helen Waterfall Sherwood Truck & Van Ltd Tel: 01773 863311 Web: www.sherwoodtruckandvan.com