Send for the Bill

With over 40 years on the road, Billy Ford has seen huge changes in the transport industry and he’s adapted his business to suit

- Dougie Rankine

Billy was 17 years old when he went to work with his Dad Ron, who was an owner-driver specialising in livestock.

He had a Leyland Super Comet rigid, and worked across a number of farms and markets all within 50 miles of his home base.

“He only ever had the old Class 3 licence,” recalls Billy, “although he was eligible for Class 1 automatically on grandfather rights, but he never needed it, so never bothered.”

It was a different time; there were livestock markets running six days a week, and so many small businesses. It was possible to stay close to home. Billy got his HGV licence aged 21 and his first truck was a Bedford TK, “There must be hundreds of hauliers who started off with one of those” he smiles, “Dad would only ever buy British – he’d never look at anything else.”

A Leyland Bison six-wheeler followed, along with A-frame drawbar trailers. “Not these things you see nowadays with the three axles in the middle – they’re easy – the old set up had the steering front axle, that would sort out the men from the boys.

‘Even with all the experience in the world, you’d go to a place one day and back it in there first time, next day you’d be there for half an hour” Billy says with a smile. “Have you ever tried reversing one?” Thankfully not!