The team includes Alan Bowe who, with ten and half years service under his belt, is Shepley's longest standing driver, 'Diddy' Dave Clarbour, who has completed over eight years service, Andy 'Ark Royal' Gill, Barry Cope, Phil Gilson, Mick Worthington, Alan Woods and relatively new boys, Steve Omerod, Gaz Turner and Kev Barber.

With their own dedicated delivery runs the drivers are responsible for ensuring the prompt and satisfactory delivery of Shepley's products. With each driver averaging around 1400 miles every week, their responsibilities account for far more than distribution. They also provide the opportunity to build up good relationships with their own customers by helping to unload the goods, making sure that customers are satisfied with the delivery and, if they can, they will also deal with any queries that there might be.

Paul Maxwell, Shepley's transport manager, and the team of drivers are well aware that their role goes further than merely delivering the goods, as he explained, "Each of the drivers are aware that they are the 'face of Shepley' as far as our customers are concerned. They have earned themselves an enviable reputation for being efficient, helpful and knowledgeable, and as the survey result underlines, they are very highly regarded."

All ten drivers are well qualified, as well as holding Class 1 licences, they are extensively trained so that they have a broad knowledge of Shepley products, allowing them to answer queries when required. Paul Maxwell continued:

"Each driver has been issued with a mobile phone and can be contacted at anytime during the day by customers to confirm the exact time of their arrival or if they want to check the contents of their delivery."

Another impressive fact is that although the team has grown, Shepley has never had to replace a single member. Alan Bowe, Shepley's longest standing driver, commented, "It is a very enjoyable and satisfying job that is helped by two main factors. The first is that the Shepley operation is efficient, so we don't encounter too many problems. Secondly, and most importantly, our customers are all good people and it is always a pleasure to work with them. Diddy Dave agreed and added, "It has been interesting watching the success of the business. As Shepley has grown, then so has the need for drivers, and that success can be measured when you consider that ten years ago it was just Alan and now there are ten of us! I believe that our job is more than just about dropping off a truck load of frames - it's about getting on with customers and seeing what we can do to help them."

The drivers have even more to be proud of as Shepley have recently invested in a new fleet of vehicles that are now travelling up and down the country's motorway network, come rain, snow or petrol strikes!