Welch's Transport have 12 Lorries on the road. Some drivers are conscripted into military service; some contracts lost, and some lorries are requisitioned for military use.
Gordon receives his call up papers to join the army.
Gordon is given six months leave to sort the business out. With the build-up of the war effort, transport becomes an essential service, but the army does not release Gordon until the war is virtually over.
Welch's fleet is looking tatty. Replacements are not readily available, so Welch’s buy some ex-military Bedford’s and Dodge’s. Most ex-military vehicles have petrol engines and Welch’s convert them to diesel using a Perkins P6 unit.
This later becomes the WTL Truck and Van Centre
Nationalisation
Welch’s Transport becomes part of the Eastern Region of British Road Services based in Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge. Gordon is appointed manager.
Within a short period, the brothers acquire a fleet of over 200 vehicles, with depots in Norfolk, Hereford, Bedfordshire, Essex, London, and Yorkshire, plus a new depot at Stapleford. The next few years are hectic.
A fleet buying pattern is established
Using Bedfords for the lighter vehicles and Atkinsons with Gardner engines for the 'heavies'. Tractor units are now taking over most of the fleet, using Scammell and York trailers.
Big household names come knocking.
BHS contract sold to Christian Salvesen the number of depots reduced to three: Stapleford (Cambridge), Henlow (Bedfordshire), and Witham (Essex).
Gordon's son Roger takes his place on the board.
The 'boom' years of the 80s keep the transport fleet very busy and the truck services expand across the UK.
This included dry powder tanks still working on our original customer back in 1934, now named ‘Rugby Cement”.
A 100-vehicle plus 140 trailer haulage business, three garages holding various car franchises, plus a crane hire business operating 19 mobile cranes.
Cradle and handle mobile phones are introduced to some vehicles to help with vehicle and driver tracking.
Welch’s join the Hazchem Network
Due to customer demand for ADR movements, Welch’s acquired an existing member of the Hazchem member ‘Dodd’s Brown’ and become part of the Hazchem network.
Welch’s take up a franchise opportunity with Renault for vehicle servicing and repairs.
Duxford site purchased
Welch’s move to purchasing DAF lorries - closest thing to a British-built lorry available.
Welch’s join the Palletline Network.
‘Lorries literally left the old Stapleford site in the morning and arrived at the new one in Duxford in the evening.’
WTL servicing centre also moves to the Duxford site.
Chris Welch joins the business.
Chris becomes a director
After 4 years working around the business, driving the routes and working alongside the team, Chris is made Commercial Director. He is put in charge of the Henlow depot, (now Bedford) and starts restructuring the transport operation to what it is today
Welch’s open in Bedford near Cardington A great location between the A1 and the M1.
Welch’s lead the way towards Net Zero
First all-electric 19-tonne HGV purchased and put into use from the new Urban Consolidation Centre in Duxford and Qargo TMS introduced.
The Welch Group rebrand
David is promoted to Director and Chris becomes MD.
