Can anyone please tell me when Stobarts actually started i dont seem to remember them in the 60s or 70s but i do in the 80s.
I used to deliver to Barrow in Furness in the early 80s and i remember seeing there lorries parked in a yard on the way into Barrow
in a thread i read on here someone wrote he has been going for 40 years but as hard as i try i cant remember them 40years ago.
I can remember Bewicks, Geoff Bell,Bradys.Browns ,Daysons but not Stobarts any earlier than the 80s,
Wikipedia is often a good source for dates, and this quote may help because I am a bit like you. I used to deliver to Dumfries every day for over 8 months and don’t remember them.
By 1970, the company consisted of three main parts: Fertilizer, Haulage and the Farm shop. The various parts were eventually split up between the family members, with Edward having haulage and the name, Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Move to Carlisle
In 1976 Edward and the fleet of eight lorries moved to Carlisle to be closer to the M6 motorway. One of Eddie’s quaint habits was to name his lorry cabins with female names, continued to this day.
Phil,November 1970 was when the company was started by Eddie Stobart with one truck lime spreading.
Started in Hesket Newmarket in ■■■■■■■■
Thanks jase the company may have been going for 40 years but like Wheelnut i cant for the life of me remember them in the 70s their fleet has always been pristine and memorable like i said in my initial post Bewick,Brady,Browns all had nice lorries but i just dont remember Stobarts .
If you do a search for Hunter Davies Phil, he wrote a biography on Stobarts.
Yeah,giving it away free at Haydock.
Making room for the new book thats coming out Oct/Nov to celebrate the 40th anniversary.
At one time Stobs was making more money out of his fan club than he was out of haulage &that was not saying much.
I remember reading a copy of Roadway in the mid 80s that had a Sobart 2800 Daf on the front page, it had IIRC a Boalloy tautliner with gold curtains behind it, I think it was something to do with the celebration of 50years of Boalloy and they’d given Stobart the trailer as he had the cleanest fleet of Boalloy Tautliners on the road, so this would mean they were around for some time before that, so late 70s would be my guess 
Stobarts, Stobarts, Stobarts! What is the obsession so many people, on here, have with friggin’ Stobarts!
Oh well, each to their own.
ANDY1961:
Stobarts, Stobarts, Stobarts! What is the obsession so many people, on here, have with friggin’ Stobarts!Oh well, each to their own.
Now you know they will undercut anything and anyone just to get the work - surely 
Why do you think they changed the livery to ESH 
An undercut exercise
ANDY1961:
Stobarts, Stobarts, Stobarts! What is the obsession so many people, on here, have with friggin’ Stobarts!Oh well, each to their own.
The title said " The birth of the Stobart legend"
Why would anyone who isn’t interested read the article and then comment on it?
To me Stobarts is one of the most iconic brands on the motorways of the UK and Europe, yes there are dozens of DHL & Wincanton trucks, but do they stand out? even if they are bright yellow!
On 24th starting at 8pm on channel 5 is a 6part programme about Stobarts filmed at depots & with some drivers. Its called Stobarts Trucks & trailers. This might give you some help.
Wheel Nut:
ANDY1961:
Stobarts, Stobarts, Stobarts! What is the obsession so many people, on here, have with friggin’ Stobarts!Oh well, each to their own.
The title said " The birth of the Stobart legend"
Why would anyone who isn’t interested read the article and then comment on it?
To me Stobarts is one of the most iconic brands on the motorways of the UK and Europe, yes there are dozens of DHL & Wincanton trucks, but do they stand out? even if they are bright yellow!
I agree, Love them or Hate them they are an Iconic brand in Haulage, one of the few that is instantly reconised by the General Public.
As for the way they operate I’ve worked for companies who’ve lost contracts to other large logistics companies because they undercut rates, probably to make it up on the warehousing, so it’s not just Stobarts, but the way the industry works infact it’s the way business works. It’s hard out there for small traders, just ask you local shop keepers.
Searching the internet about the history of Stobarts apparantly they started off much earlier than previously thought as i found this…
The “horsepower” had a sign hung round her neck with the name Leila apparantly
Cruise Control:
Searching the internet about the history of Stobarts apparantly they started off much earlier than previously thought as i found this…
The “horsepower” had a sign hung round her neck with the name Leila apparantly
Nice one i wonder if he owned the horse and cart or was it leased.
Mr. Tinkler has played a blinder I reckon, create a them and us society against the company then watch people argue it out on a public forum. Three live Stobart threads on one page with a forum membership of almost 18000
I seem to recollect seeing 2 ford d series flatbed trucks with eddies name on them based at the bp truck stop many yrs ago,late 70s early 80s?correct me if im wrong.
regards dave.
8 trucks in the 70’s , sounds about right to me, used to see them whenever I was running to Bathgate or Linwood.