David Andrew worked for several years as
a class 1 driver but having grown up in a family associated with
lorries it was probably not surprising that he eventually decided to
try the haulage business on his own. So in February 1984 he started
‘David Andrew Light Haulage’ with one 3.5 ton Mercedes 307D truck. His
experience as a driver proved very valuable in the early years of the
business. We have proved many times since that the only way to learn a
job properly is through hands-on experience.
| The initial idea was
that David would operate as an owner-driver, with wife Bev to help
with the accounts whilst carrying on her own full-time career.
After a very short time however, that first vehicle was joined by
a second, a 7.5 ton curtain-sider and the first employee. |

The first lorry |
Before long, more vehicles and staff
arrived and the parking space became too small, so the business had to
move from the kitchen at home in Donington, to a rented yard in
Swineshead. A portacabin office was put on site and the possibility
for real expansion could be seen.
In 1991 the family (yes, two sons had
arrived in the last 3 years) moved to a house on the Swineshead site,
purchased the yard and, with an ever increasing customer base, David
Andrew Haulage was becoming well established. (The term ‘Light
Haulage’ had to be dropped due to the increased size of vehicles). The
business was also gaining a reputation locally for reliability and
quality service and a transport manager was employed to help David in
his now permanent office role. It is also significant that around this
time, the first fridge box was purchased, enabling refrigerated
deliveries, and marking the beginning of what is now the mainstay of
the business. |