GEORGE’S LORRY STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 1.7 MILLION MILES

A reliable ERF tractor unit, which has delivered tanker containers across the UK and Europe, is still going strong for a Welsh border haulage contractor, after clocking up nearly 1.7 million miles – the equivalent of 52 trips around the earth’s equator.

George Starkey, 52, of B. G. Starkey Haulage, Overton-on-Dee, has owned the tractor unit for 14 years, taking it on when it was five years old and after it had clocked up more than 600,000 miles on triple shifts for BP.

Throughout his ownership, he has opted to use Morris Lubricants oils in the engine, which was made by Perkins in Shrewsbury, to keep it in tip-top condition and it has been trouble free. He initially used XHD 15W-50 and evolved to Ring Free MXC 15W-40, which he now swears by.

His devotion to Morris Lubricants’ products does not stop there, as he also uses the company’s antifreeze and other oils from its extensive range in his car and Grey Ferguson T20 tractor. He even makes deliveries to the company’s headquarters in Shrewsbury.

“She was one of the last engines to come out of the Perkins factory in Shrewsbury, has been running on Morris Lubricants’ oil from Shrewsbury and has been kept on the North Shropshire border for the last 14 years,” said George.

“Morris oils have always been a firm favourite because they are excellent quality and local to Shropshire. It was always drummed into me from an early age that it Morris oil was the best.

“The man who looks after my tractor unit, Dave Huxley, worked for Rolls Royce in Shrewsbury for nearly 40 years and has always recommended Morris oil. I have never had any trouble with the engine.

“Most haulage companies get rid of their vehicles when they have done 500,000 miles, but I plan to go on driving mine and have no intention of selling her when she’s working fine. A new vehicle wouldn’t do the job any better.

“The first trip I did in her was to Poland and she has also been to France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland. I do about 80,000 miles a year, so she’s got a lot of history.”

His love for driving seems to run in his genes. He caught the bug by travelling with his late dad, Sam, in the cab of his animal feed company lorry, two uncles were lorry drivers and his grandfather, George, drove a tank in the First World War.

Starting work in a garage when he left school, George became a lorry driver at the age of 21 and ventured out on his own 16 years ago. He loves life on the road, although he has noticed a marked decline in driving manners in recent years.

“People are always in a hurry and have no respect for other road users,” he said. “Some lorry drivers are no better than car drivers. I’ve even been cut up by lorry drivers as we are approaching deliveries.”

Andrew Goddard, Morris Lubricants’ managing director, said he was delighted that George’s ERF tractor unit was still going strong after 1.7 million miles, underlining the excellent performance of the company’s oil products.

Morris Lubricants manufactures anextensive range of lubricants formulated and developed for the modern mixed fleet. The latest emissions legislation is the main driver behind engine and transmission hardware developments and the company is committed to providing the fleet operator with the essential lubricants to ensure their correct operation.

The company has added new generation lubricants to meet the demands of exhaust after-treatment devices and transmission innovation, which requires more responsive fluids to operate under longer and more arduous operating regimes.