Stan's Plan

Unmistakable in their blue and red livery, Stan Robinson trucks have been a part of the West Midlands transport scene for over 40 years – and despite diversifying, the firm is still working to its founder’s original mission statement.

- Kieron Fennelly

Like many in the haulage business, the Robinsons were from farming stock. But watching the trucks on the busy A51 nearby, the young Stan Robinson decided he preferred lorries to cows and started driving a delivery truck for the local corn merchants.

A man with a strongly independent streak, in 1970 aged 30 he bought his own truck, a second-hand Commer, and established himself as a subcontractor. He rented space at nearby Colwich railway yard and, with a second truck, effectively established his transport business.

The acquisition of another local haulage company brought with it a contract with Evode, today known as Bostik, and 40 years on warehousing and shipping of Bostik products remains an important part of the company’s activity.

After a decade in business, Stan bought the freehold to a three-acre site at Seighford, four miles west of Stafford and conveniently placed for the M6. As his turnover grew, he adapted the business, buying up Glasgow haulier Peter Laing in 1988, which provided not only a Scottish base and fleet, but brought with it more contracts and the opportunity to run trunkers between Scotland and the Midlands. Depots in Cullompton, north of Exeter and the North East followed.

Today’s managing director is Mark Robinson, who assumed the role when his father died suddenly in 2012. Stan Robinson (Stafford) Ltd remains a family-owned affair: Mark’s sister Pauline is financial director, and another brother, Ian, is a driver, living on-site in the house Stan built himself. Between them they have half-a-dozen children working in the firm, and in total Stan Robinson comprises 350 people including staff at Glasgow.