This quarter we had the pleasure of sitting down with Bill Simons, Director at JD Express. We talked about how the business grew from a single van operating out of the family home, into a trusted national logistics partner with a modern, MAN-dominated fleet maintained by WG Davies, who they see as a partner in their company’s ongoing success.
From One Van to a Trusted Logistics Partner
We were keen to know how JD Express came to be. Bill told us, “The business was founded in 1995 by my late father-in-law, John Durkan. He began with a single Ford Escort van and a simple ambition: to work for himself. For the first six months, he operated entirely on his own, running the business from home.”
As demand grew, John purchased a second vehicle, this time a Ford Fiesta van. He persuaded his youngest daughter, Jessica (now Bill’s wife), to join the company. “I believe there was something of an ultimatum,” Bill shares. “He told her that if she wanted to continue living at home she needed to be productive!” And with that, Jessica began working alongside her father, embarking on a journey that would see her guiding the family business through a period of significant growth. She was appointed a Director in 2002 and, after earning her International CPC in 2009, took on the role of Transport Manager.
JD Express’s very first customer was Stevens & George Print Group, who remain their largest customer to this day and who are also their landlords. Bill clearly values the relationship, “Over the years, Stevens & George have supported us through some challenging times, such as offering flexible payment terms when the cash flow was tight. It’s a relationship built on trust and mutual respect, so much so that we think of ourselves as their in-house transport department.”
That is an insight into how JD Express conduct their business relationships. “We’ve always believed in partnerships rather than transactional supplier-customer relationships,” Bill told us. “None of our customers or suppliers are anonymous to us - they’re people we know, trust and enjoy working with. This approach has served us well, we don’t lose many customers.”
The Fleet Today
From that original one van, JD Express now operates a fleet of 11 trucks ranging from 7.5 tonnes to 44-tonne artics, nine of which are MANs and the specifications of those vehicles are enviable. “We reinvest our profits back into the fleet wherever possible,” Bill explained. “We focus on fuel efficiency, driver comfort and environmental responsibility. Each replacement vehicle is specified to be an improvement on the last, with features such as fridges, microwaves, TVs and electric beds. This is supported by another long-standing relationship, this one with Stuart Beamand, MAN Sales Executive, from whom we have acquired seventeen vehicles over the last ten years.”
Why Did JD Express Choose MAN and WG Davies?
Of course, we wanted to understand how JD Express came to choose MAN as the primary brand in their fleet. “When it comes to purchasing trucks, my decisions are based on what happens after the sale,” Bill explained. “In today’s market, most manufacturers build good trucks; what matters most to us is the aftersales support. WG Davies is the reason why MAN dominates our fleet; they are a key partner in our business.” Bill is realistic, “Vehicles will have issues; it’s how those issues are handled that makes the difference. Sales might have sold us the first truck but it was the aftersales support from WG Davies which secured the second and the third purchase. With WG Davies we see a genuine willingness to work with us to resolve problems quickly and, crucially, to prevent them recurring in the future.”
JD Express have been using WG Davies for a while and over the past 12 months they have moved all of their maintenance contracts to us, so it is great to hear Bill say, “WG Davies consistently make us feel valued. It is less like a supplier relationship and more like a partnership - something that aligns perfectly with how we run JD 2 Express. We can’t justify running an in-house maintenance facility and we don’t need to because we think of WG Davies in exactly those terms.”
What JD Express Does Today
Alongside the original contract with Stevens & George Print Group, JD Express support a wide range of customers across manufacturing and construction. These include steel door manufacturers, fire suppression system suppliers, office furniture makers and automotive manufacturers with time-sensitive deliveries nationwide. Bill explains, “Our strength lies in reliability, visibility and responsiveness. If something goes wrong, our customers will hear about it from us first, along with our plan to put things right. Whenever someone calls they will get through to someone who can give them an answer; that openness is central to our service.” Alongside this, they have established several mutually supportive arrangements that work well in practice. “For example, a strategic partner from the North East might have a vehicle travelling down on a Sunday and they can use our parking facilities before we assist with reloading the truck the following day,” Bill explains. “We’re not the Ritz but we can offer secure parking with 24-hour access to toilets and showers. This collaborative approach is part of our response to the shortage of driver facilities in the UK and it means that whenever one of our trucks is away from base, we know there is reciprocal support for us if we need it.”
A True Family Business
Today JD Express is a true family business, headed by Jessica after her father’s sudden passing and with Bill joining the business in 2014 to support his wife. “Jessica, working with her late sister Gail, wanted to continue her father’s legacy but it was hard because we had a young family. I was running a successful logistics business and we agreed something had to change. It was Gail who suggested I join the business and we did this on a trial basis. No one has sat me down and said I’ve passed my probationary period yet but I think I've got a full-time position now!”
JD Express is now embracing the third-generation of family into the business with Jessica and Bill’s son, Ellis, becoming a part of Today JD Express’s fleet is dominated by MAN the operation. “He has been with us for seven years after starting as a driver and then moving into the office,” Bill recalls. “His background is in vehicle maintenance, so he manages fleet maintenance and works closely with WG Davies and, of course, he is very much part of our succession planning.” So, although Bill has known Roger for some time he believes the ongoing relationship between JD Express and WG Davies is one for Ellis to develop. Bill asserts, “I am stepping back to let Ellis forge his own relationships and, with WG Davies, that is working really well - we really do feel like we are in this together.”
Looking Ahead
And what about the future for JD Express? Bill told us, “The business continues to grow organically year on year, supported by a committed workforce and strong partnerships. Ellis will be the one to consider alternative fuels in the future but for now our focus remains on running a reliable operation and continuing to do exactly what we say we’re going to do. My philosophy is simple: you reap what you sow. Treat people well, build partnerships and, when challenges come - and they always do - you’ll face them together.”
Thank you Bill, we have loved hearing JD Express’s story and understanding how your values align so perfectly with ours. At WG Davies, we’re excited to be working alongside you as the third generation of the family takes the reins. We look forward to continuing to grow our long-standing partnership and playing our part in supporting your success for many years to come.