Driving Through The Decades

Developments in commercial vehicle design have come a long way in the last seven decades and this mechanical progress was apparent when I drove into D&J Sibbald's long established West Lothian premises. Parked side by side in the middle of the yard was their 1936 Albion KL127 four wheeler, which was dwarfed by its neighbour, the latest Scania R420 Highline tractor unit to join the fleet.

The wee Scots lorry looked more like a model, but nevertheless this restored classic has been owned by the Bathgate firm since it was new and Russell Sibbald assured me he still had the original bill for it!

It was back in 1933 brothers John and David Siddald started off a transport business in Whitburn. Both siblings had been brought up on a farm, so logically the first cargoes shifted were livestock alongside agricultural products and supplies.

The surrounding area had its fair share of collieries too, so when things were quieter on the farm front, many tons of coal would be moved and this was tough work as everything then was shovelled by hand.

The Albion was one of three similar motors that joined the fleet in 1936, purchased when David Sibbald received an insurance compensation payout of £1,570 after being involved in an accident with a brewery horse in Edinburgh.

This Scots built trio delivered excellent service for a number of years and during the Second World War one of the lorries was commandeered for military use in the conflict, despite the best efforts of the Sibbald brothers. Word had previously reached this pair's ears that the War Department had the Albion in their sights, so the four wheeler was hidden at various local farms overnight.

Despite the efforts to conceal said lorry, the ministry got their motor and it was last seen by Scottish troops evacuating Dunkirk beach, still in its two tone blue sign written livery, but semi submerged in seawater!

With the fleet complement up to around 20 vehicles by 1948, a move from Whitburn to the current premises at the west end of Hardhill Road took place. Long distance work started in this era too, when products from the local Atlas Foundry required shifting to all parts of Britain.

The opening of the nearby BMC plant offered supply opportunities, with flywheels and gearboxes being the usual inward traffic and I also learnt during my visit, that the first Mastiff model to leave the factory floor came home to the family farm too.

For many years the Sibbald lorries have carried fleet names on tartan backgrounds with the 'Hardhill' prefix and the general consensus at Bathgate is that this practice must have begun shortly after the flitting.

The first 32 ton truck to join the fleet arrived in August 1965 and was a Park Royal cabbed AEC Mandator named Hardhill Tribesman. In those days Sibbalds literally worked a truck until the end of its usable life and this particular tractor unit is still parked up in a corner of the yard, but it's condition has suffered somewhat with the ravages of time!

John Sibbald's son, Russell joined the family business straight from school in 1966. After initially helping out in the workshop and doing local driving work on a car licence, he then spent two years on the road proper after gaining his valuable HGV ticket.

Russell's introduction to full time office life was necessitated by his father going into hospital for some time at the beginning of the '70s.

John's younger son Ralph, initially opted for a different career course and served his time as an apprentice HGV mechanic with Central Garage in Blackburn Road.

In those days this key dealership looked after Guys, Leylands, and Scammells or in fact any other motor related to the BL consortium.

Ralph always called at the Sibbald workshops every night on his way home and by 1972 he too joined his father and uncle's operation after, in his own words; 'I'd been grabbed by the throat often enough and encouraged heavily to come on board!'

Keeping with the family tradition, David Sibbald's son, also named Russell (or cousin Russell as he's usually referred to) followed a similar path behind the wheel and then behind a desk in the administrative headquarters, which consisted of a large wooden shed! All three of the second generation agree that they've got on well over the years, as they are a close family.

Russell Sibbald notes that in day to day operations they were fortunate; 'My father and uncle really let us get on with the work and we enjoyed a free reign. Of course we could always approach them to discuss a problem, but they never hindered us.'

Both founding members have now sadly passed on, as John died in 1986 and David in 1990. Although cousin Russell retired eight years ago, he still turns up every day and was present during my visit, as he is a veritable font of knowledge on the company's history. When he's not reminiscing facts to journalists, he now delivers the required care and attention to the family's cattle, which graze the farm's surrounding fields.

The D&J Sibbald fleet has hovered around the 20 vehicle mark for many years and today is made up of 17 Scanias (15 tractors and two rigids) two 7.5 tonners (a DAF and a Mercedes) and a solitary 17 ton rigid Volvo. Over the years, the family have always tried various makes of trucks, such as DAF, ERF and MAN but only a few marques have made it to the mainstay status.

AEC Mandators once ruled the roost, with Ralph commenting; 'they were a working man's motor. We were always working on them, after virtually every trip!' When well known contact and AEC salesman Hugh Buggie moved to Scania to sell the then new LB110 models, the Sibbald brothers folowed him and thus began a long association with the Swedish make.

Russell notes that he has an unofficial standing order with Jim Kerr at Scania Edinburgh which usually sees a new example displayed on Scania's Truckfest Scotland stand every year. Sibbald's classic Scottish traditional livery is applied by Alan Dougan of Auchterarder and the finish still includes proper signwriting.

The trailer fleet numbers around 40 which consists of a variety of carrying types. A majority presence of curtainsiders is backed up by flats, extendables and a single triaxle fridge van. Industry developments have seen the firm's trusted Fruehauf and Boalloy brand names disappear and the two latest arrivals here are courtesy of SDC.

In addition to his ever strict vehicle regulation and VOSA legislation responsibilities, Ralph Sibbald still considers the workshop his home and is ably assisted by two full time mechanics. In addition to the regular safety checks, services and MOT preparations, the larger tasks do not faze the garage team here with trailer and tractor unit refurbishments readily embarked upon. For tyres, this operator relies exclusively on Michelin and ATS Euromaster are entrusted for roadside service, which here is rated as excellent.

Ralph sticks to a 30,000 mile service routine and oils and lubricants from Castrol are the trusted product. Having viewed the tidy and extensively equipped workshop on my arrival, it comes as no surprise to hear that the superb restoration of their classic Albion, SX4918 was also carried out on the premises.

Operationally this West Lothian has never opted for continental work as there's always been plenty within our shores to keep them busy. A long standing presence in the Derbyshire area has resulted in Sibbalds holding an operating centre licence there for many years and currently this authority covers four vehicles and eight trailers.

The firm's longest serving driver, Maurice Giraffa is based at this southerly location and has an impressive 27 years employment under his belt. Other staff with notable staying power are a good percentage of the 18 full time drivers, who received a positive mention for their excellent teamwork and company accountant, Robert Murray.

During our conversations Russell quips that; 'Robert is a local man and was brought into the office on a temporary basis 51 years ago!'

Family firms usually seem to have a slight advantage in retaining clients overlong periods, simply by building up levels of trust through years and realising the importance of face to face contact and direct communication. This is an area where D&J Sibbald obviously excel as Russell mentions a few of his valued customers who he's served over a long period of time.

The Terex manufacturing plant at Newhouse keeps this fleet busy with component supply and another trademark load for the firm's platform trailers is cast iron pipes from Saint-Gobain pipelines. Well known names such as Thornton's Chocolates, Balfour Beatty, Railtrack, Wyman Gordon, Norboard, Cohen Metals Glasgow and PD Edenhall and Castle Masonry, all feature regularly in a normal week's work.

The content of my long and extensive chat with Russell, Ralph and cousin Russell in Sibbald's traditional traffic office could have easily filled a dozen pages, as there is literally so much to report over their last 75 years of operation. I think it would be fair to say that the two brothers enjoy their work immensely as it's also their family's way of life.

This pair approach business with a friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable manner and to me they typify why Scottish road haulage in general and in particular firms like D&J Sibbald enjoy such longevity, whilst continuing to accrue such a fine reputation across the United Kingdom and beyond.