BRS weren’t popular with most hauliers because they nationalised some of their fleet and took some of the best work off the rest.They were a government run haulage concern and didn’t have the same problems regarding payments and making maximum profit etc.
But from a drivers point of view,they provided better pay and working conditions which made the other hauliers get their hand in their pocket.
Cheers Dave.
Got to agree with that:
I only worked for BRS for a few years but have to admit that, compared to the majority of “spiv” and corner-cutting local operators, BRS was certainly better to work for, whether as a driver, fitter or traffic clerk. It had the opportunity to be the most efficient haulier in the country with it’s vast network of depots. Unfortunately, the possibilities of Trunk & Shunt on a national scale were not exploited as much as they could have been, probably due to the Decision-Makers in Whitehall knowing absolutely zero about transport in general and road transport in particular. Coupled with local management protecting it’s own outdated practices, the thing was doomed to failure and spent the next fifty years being propped up by the tax payer.
Always nice to see the BRS pic’s.Tidderson still a part of our transport heritage whether you love or hate them.
And always a very interesting point of debate thats worth listening too,lets have more 
Retired Old ■■■■:
Got to agree with that:
I only worked for BRS for a few years but have to admit that, compared to the majority of “spiv” and corner-cutting local operators, BRS was certainly better to work for, whether as a driver, fitter or traffic clerk. It had the opportunity to be the most efficient haulier in the country with it’s vast network of depots. Unfortunately, the possibilities of Trunk & Shunt on a national scale were not exploited as much as they could have been, probably due to the Decision-Makers in Whitehall knowing absolutely zero about transport in general and road transport in particular. Coupled with local management protecting it’s own outdated practices, the thing was doomed to failure and spent the next fifty years being propped up by the tax payer.
Well I must be the lucky one, I never worked for BRS, & I never worked for Spivs, But I must say there was plenty of them about, I worked for family run haulage firms including my late great uncle Isaac Smiles, (Smiles for Miles) & earned good money & had the privlage of being able to take my wagon home, Which of course you all know wasn’t allowed on the BRS, Also one of the firms I drove for had drivers with over 30 years service in, So give me private enterprize anytime, IMO, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Retired Old ■■■■:
Got to agree with that:
I only worked for BRS for a few years but have to admit that, compared to the majority of “spiv” and corner-cutting local operators, BRS was certainly better to work for, whether as a driver, fitter or traffic clerk. It had the opportunity to be the most efficient haulier in the country with it’s vast network of depots. Unfortunately, the possibilities of Trunk & Shunt on a national scale were not exploited as much as they could have been, probably due to the Decision-Makers in Whitehall knowing absolutely zero about transport in general and road transport in particular. Coupled with local management protecting it’s own outdated practices, the thing was doomed to failure and spent the next fifty years being propped up by the tax payer.Well I must be the lucky one, I never worked for BRS, & I never worked for Spivs, But I must say there was plenty of them about, I worked for family run haulage firms including my late great uncle Isaac Smiles, (Smiles for Miles) & earned good money & had the privlage of being able to take my wagon home, Which of course you all know wasn’t allowed on the BRS, Also one of the firms I drove for had drivers with over 30 years service in, So give me private enterprize anytime, IMO, Regards Larry.
Right on the money Larry !! 
Cheers Dennis.
Dennis I did drive a BRS Motor, But it was Baxters Road Services Ltd Quayside Newcastle upon Tyne A family run company who allways asked their drivers to do a job , Never told them, Now in my book that counted for something, & the pay was good, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Dennis I did drive a BRS Motor, But it was Baxters Road Services Ltd Quayside Newcastle upon Tyne A family run company who allways asked their drivers to do a job , Never told them, Now in my book that counted for something, & the pay was good, Regards Larry.
Aye Larry,thats where a lot of firms went wrong by “telling” a driver what he “had” to do!We never asked a driver to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves.The times that me or our Transport manager(first driver) would explain to one of the lads what a particular problem/deadline was,you know the kind of thing,“it’s not off the machine until 10pm” “so if we get it loaded and ready to go,could you manage to have it on the doorstep in London by 7am ?” The answer was always,“leave it with me boss,it’ll be there on the doorstep at 7 am” We had a load of lads that would do whatever was sensibly asked of them (and more at times!) but when they asked for a favour,say "could I be home Friday night for a “Do” or similar we always sorted them,even if we had to organise a change over to get them home handy like !! Great days,great bunch of drivers Cheers dennis.
Bewick:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Dennis I did drive a BRS Motor, But it was Baxters Road Services Ltd Quayside Newcastle upon Tyne A family run company who allways asked their drivers to do a job , Never told them, Now in my book that counted for something, & the pay was good, Regards Larry.Aye Larry,thats where a lot of firms went wrong by “telling” a driver what he “had” to do!We never asked a driver to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves.The times that me or our Transport manager(first driver) would explain to one of the lads what a particular problem/deadline was,you know the kind of thing,“it’s not off the machine until 10pm” “so if we get it loaded and ready to go,could you manage to have it on the doorstep in London by 7am ?” The answer was always,“leave it with me boss,it’ll be there on the doorstep at 7 am” We had a load of lads that would do whatever was sensibly asked of them (and more at times!) but when they asked for a favour,say "could I be home Friday night for a “Do” or similar we always sorted thems,even if we had to organise a change over to get them home handy like !! Great days,great bunch of drivers
Aye Dennisthey were the days when a driver would anything when asked rather than told, Speaking for myself I worked for some great gaffers who allways said well done Larry Allong with some of my mates who are now long gone RIP, I worked with the best drivers in my learning days as a 21 yr old novice, & Im still here enjoying my younger days with the old blokes that learnt me the ropes, I drink their health & wish their famileys well Regards Larry.
I must admit i enjoyed my time working for the Oxford depot .
i only did a short spell for brs contracts , the depot manager was a cracking bloke , old time driver who knew the ropes , but the contract was run by idiots who though that if it was written down on paper it was bound to be ok . the system was breaking down by the early 70s , a lot of the other contract depots didn’t want to let us draw fuel or provide assistance as it spoilt their bookkeeping . within a short time of me leaving the contract folded and they were left with a fleet of specialised trailers that were no use to them .on the other hand , the company i worked for for 20 years looked after us well . we worked hard , but were paid well , and if we did well we got a thank you from them in the pay packet . we were treated like a big family and if anyone had problems they would do what they could to help out . cheers , dave
TIDDERSON:
I wish I hadn’t put the photos on now!!
Please dont get downhearted Tidderson mate, grumpy wasn,t just a drwarf i have just seen those pics and they are great i worked for BRS barnsley for a short time you have done me proud son keep it up >Ray 
No Tidderson , keep thos Brs photos coming . have you any 1980s shots please ? , Leyland Roadtrains etc would be great .
Oh, Jakey, you’ve let yourself down badly. Don’t you know that there was no “proper” BRS in the '80s?
ha ha buddy , they were still named BRS ! , They still had a few general haulage motors but were going over to contract .
Here is one of the last Midland livered Buffalos , Fred was on the Oxford to Birmingham day trunk with car parts but here its seen carrying a large bridge .
Was there a BRS office/yard inside the Cowley works?
ROF there was no Brs office in the Cowley works in my days but theydid have the contract before I got there to supply Wagons and drivers and they use to park them at transport way Cowley on the site of the works .Wincanton took over both of the above and Later on we did shunt goods from Sandey lane down to the works. Chris (adr) on this site was a Cowley driver and he dad was a BRS tramper at the Oxford depot before my days . I started on the youth training scheme yts in the middle 80s as a fitter then after 5 years in the workshops went driving for them .
Retired Old ■■■■:
Was there a BRS office/yard inside the Cowley works?
When i was at BRS Mayfield road ,there was a BRS office in Pressed Steel in the days of Prestcold before they moved to Theale ,Several Morris Saurers with Carrimore tail lift trailers would deliver the’high st shops etc and General done the most of the other deliveries.
toshboy:
Retired Old ■■■■:
Was there a BRS office/yard inside the Cowley works?When i was at BRS Mayfield road ,there was a BRS office in Pressed Steel in the days of Prestcold before they moved to Theale ,Several Morris Saurers with Carrimore tail lift trailers would deliver the’high st shops etc and General done the most of the other deliveries.
Perhaps that’s what I was thinking of. Ain’t it peculiar how you can remember some things like they happened yesterday, but other memories are blurred or forgotten altogether? Must be “Old Drivers’ Disease”!