Darran Clark has, it would be fair to say, been around lorries, and the haulage industry, since the day he was born, a little over 52 years ago. His father and his grandfather were both drivers, and living as he does in rural North Lincolnshire, Darran himself drove lorries on farmyard work from pretty-much the moment he could reach the pedals. This was the early-mid 1980s, and the lorries entrusted to young Darran’s loving care back then included Atkinson Borderers and DAF 2800/3300s.
On leaving school, it was no surprise to anyone when Darran started work in the haulage industry. His first job was in the workshops at C R Hansard, a local general haulier who were one of the first in Britain to offer self-load crane lorries, and who are still very much in business today. About a year into this employment, Darran was dispatched to Direct Commercials of Brigg, who at the time were the local Seddon Atkinson franchised dealer, to pick up some parts. While there, he bumped into proprietor Nev Jenney who asked him if he knew of anyone of his age-group who was looking for a job. Impressed by what he saw and by the prospect of working for a main dealer, Darran gave a two-word reply: “Yes. Me.”
