Elddis Transport has taken delivery of a new Mercedes-Benz truck dedicated to the memory of Siddle C Cook, one of the pioneers of UK road transport, who would have been 100 this week.
Siddle C Cook, grandfather of the current Elddis Transport MD Nigel Cook, ran one of the largest Heavy Haulage businesses in the UK until its sale in the 1960s. He was then a founder of Elddis Transport which is still a thriving family firm, acting as chairman from its start in 1971 until his death in 1993.
Elddis MD Nigel Cook has had the new truck painted in his grandfather's old livery to honour both his achievements and the history of the UK road transport industry. He says "I have a deep personal respect for my grandfather, but I also think we need to pay tribute to the great history of the UK road transport industry. Since the invention of the motor vehicle it has contributed hugely to the social and economic progress of this country and still does. Men like Siddle C Cook helped make that happen. It is a fact worth remembering".
The liveried truck will be a surprise to the rest of the Cook family who did not know that Elddis was planning a tribute to their grandfather. Nigel Cook says "Siddle C Cook believed in values that Elddis Transport still embodies today; innovation, customer service and progress. I like to think he would be proud of how the company has matured".
The vehicle is a Mercedes Benz 2544 Megaspace Actros, designed to operate at the maximum 44 tonne weight. It has been fitted with a specially adapted aerodynamic roof spoiler to improve efficiency when pulling trailers up to 4.7m high. The vehicle will cover around 1 million kilometres over the next 5 years.