We have a few of these laid up locally quite regularly waiting to tip.
Saviem:
Evening all,Sitting here with my second Bollinger of the night…(totally forbidden by my medicine lady)…but forbidden fruits are certainly the best…
And before this thread vanishes into the “ether”, I thought, (if it would not bore you all), important to just outline a few facts about this operation, and the individual, (who I know rather well), behind it. For it is a tale of some endeavour, some gigantic conflict, and perhaps a very uncertain future!
L` Enfant Terrible Dentressangle!
Back in `74, I met Georges Dentressangle, a small operator, in Saint Vallier in the Rhone Valley. He had a son, Norbert, who had left business school with rather high grades, (oh how I am sad at the true lack of business education in the United Kingdom…truly the depravation of a whole generations potential)), and who wished to develop his family business
And develop it he did!For the Rhone Valley was an ideal Geographic situation for any Hire and Reward Haulier, in France, and International.
By `78 the Dentressangle operation encompassed 25 separate operations, involved in Volume, Bulk, and local, and International Road Transport.
The first major deal that “we”, as RVI did was with Norbert, 300 units, Tractor, and Drawbar, including a number of extending draw bar trailers manufactured by Joel Soulard`s SAMRO, Fontenay Le Comte, (surely a man as innovative and possessing the same genius as our own Gerald Broadbent, the man who created the tensioned curtain side trailer). 300 units, 36 months contract, and a residual value guarantee. The first, but by no means the last such deal.
By `85, Dentressangle S A, Avenue Quebec Saint Vallier, was rated 31st largest in France, with Norbert at its head, his father Georges, as Director General, Norberts delightful wife Marie-Therese as Personel Director, and the dynamic Daniel Letard driving forward sales In particular concentrating on the UK business potential.
87, Dentressangle invested heavily in day cab tractor units, fitted with cab top “pavilion” sleepers by SAMRO, and aluminium framed 13.5 metre tilt trailers, (33 pallets), for UK traffic. The idea being that despite the gvw disparity between France and the UK, then a similar payload to that carried on French domestic transport could be accommodated.
A UK office had been opened in Lytham St Annes, (and as Bewick relates, a super guy worked for Norbert, and like Bewick I cannot remember his name…Ray, Roy)■■? But tasked with acquiring UK operations for Dentressangle Group. The first being Aston Clinton Haulage, followed by the Sheddick families operation in Wales.
`88 Dentressangle was rated as the 28th largest operator in France, Groupe Giraud at 25…mark this name well, for the battle that was to ensue between the two Groupes was to affect the domestic French, and International road haulage industry with dramatic, and devastating effect!
`89, Dentressangle were operating 100 cross English Channel movements
And our beloved Paul Channon was celebrated for securing derogation from increased lorry weights until 1999!!!..Plonker!!!
1990 Dentressangleoperated 1509 lorries, and employed 1710 people.
Then in 1991 the battle for market supremeacy with Groupe Giraud began!!!
Perhaps a little of the background to Groupe Giraud would help to understand the great rivalry that was to ensue.
Leon Giraud was a wine merchant back in 1934.
1954 his first “Pinadier”, (wine tanker, a Somua JL was acquired.
In the UK we probably best remember Giraud for their wine red Scania L110 bonneted tanker combinations, by `86 they ran 650 units, and were the French market leader in liquid transport.
The second generation joined the business, Michel, Andre, and their Brother in Law, Alain Fauquer. and did they drive the business forward…(And introduce me to the delights of Mdme Bollinger…for which I am forever indebited to them)!
`91 came the first battle…costly and bloody…over the ex Onatra companies Extrans, Samat, and Charles Andre…Giraud won!
Then Norbert acquired Dax, a favoured haulier to the Renault Group, and UKs Salvesens Darfueille, and biggest of all, the entire Savam, home delivery, and volume transport Group. A French institution, previously owned by the UK s United (BET), Group, and sold to Rentokill, then Norbert, reputedly the largest “volume” operator in Europe, with over 600 120 cu m plus outfits on the road.
94 Norbert acquires the first TDG company, Translitterol of Bolougne Sur Mer,..............then fridge haulier Pivoin, (complete with the UK livery including the juggler on the air deflectors of its Scanias.1995 Giraud operated 2800 vehicles, and employed over 4000 staff.
But Norbert was giving over 25% return on capital employed in the business. But profitability had “peaked”.
2000, Giraud Groupe began to" shed", its road haulage operations, concentrating on warehousing and logistic provision to its main clients.
2000 in the UK Norbert, and his UK MD, Petar Cvetkovic faced a series of major hours and records offence in the UK.
The opportunity arose to absorb the entire “rump” of TDG, (a long admired operating company). But now of questionable profitability…
2015.Dentressangle operate over 45000 units, (including 690 Rumanian registered, and 767 Polish)
Gentlemen , there you have a “potted” history. I can fill in copious details, companies, personalities, but Norbert and Therese are friends, and private people, and that I respect…But what an achievement…what an empire…and what a story. …Dentressangle/Giraud…
But the Bollinger wins…
Cheerio for now,
Saviem at his best, I never tire of reading his posts.
So at the end of the day, Does C/Salveson own Norbets or what, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
So at the end of the day, Does C/Salveson own Norbets or what, Regards Larry.
Hi Larry,
Norbert’s bought Salvesons then American firm XPO have bought out Norbert’s,
pete smith:
Lawrence Dunbar:
So at the end of the day, Does C/Salveson own Norbets or what, Regards Larry.Hi Larry,
Norbert’s bought Salvesons then American firm XPO have bought out Norbert’s,
Thanks Pete, Im getting older by the day & more confused by night, This getting old is OK,But understanding it is the real Problem, Day or Night, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
pete smith:
Lawrence Dunbar:
So at the end of the day, Does C/Salveson own Norbets or what, Regards Larry.Hi Larry,
Norbert’s bought Salvesons then American firm XPO have bought out Norbert’s,Thanks Pete, Im getting older by the day & more confused by night, This getting old is OK,But understanding it is the real Problem, Day or Night, Regards Larry.
Larry,
I’m posting boz eyed thanks to Mr Stella Artois and a few glasses of Singleton malt, spoilt myself this evening with the latter!
pete smith:
Lawrence Dunbar:
pete smith:
Lawrence Dunbar:
So at the end of the day, Does C/Salveson own Norbets or what, Regards Larry.Hi Larry,
Norbert’s bought Salvesons then American firm XPO have bought out Norbert’s,Thanks Pete, Im getting older by the day & more confused by night, This getting old is OK,But understanding it is the real Problem, Day or Night, Regards Larry.
Larry,
I’m posting boz eyed thanks to Mr Stella Artois and a few glasses of Singleton malt, spoilt myself this evening with the latter!
Well good for you my friend Im just having a top up of Glenlivet Single Malt just to finish off a real nice day with my good lady (The Gaffa) Ha Ha, & Getting into gear to wake up in the morning ready to rock & roll once again, 
Regards Larry. HIC HIC. Or ■■■■■■■ Blurp Eh.
Larry,
Ive just been ordered upstairs, either my lucks in or there is a spider in the bathroom,probably the latter!!
Snap So Have I, Im getting worried now What the ■■■■ does she want from me, I think it will be to tell me to set the ■■■■■■■ alarm clock in the morning, I feel so let down, I do almost everything to keep her happy, So where in the ■■■■ have done wrong I ask you. I think I should ne naughty & go & have a good time with someone who needs a good seeing too ■■?Reagrds Larry.
HI Pat. XPO Logistics probably own ND here too.
XPO recently bought CON-WAY Freight, previously Express here in the States. A national LTL (less than truckload) carrier, who themselves bought a truckload carrier a few years back for way to much money. That company name escapes me, perhaps you can remember them out of Missouri red Kenworths.
XPO paid $3 billion for Con-Way and $3.5 billion for ND.
From what Iv’e read XPO was a broker/agent/clearing house previously. It will be interesting to see how they get on running trucks! They have access to money, but for how long?
Regards Paul.
Just remembered the name of the Truck load carrier, Contract Freighters from Joplin Missouri. Renamed Conway Truckload.
As I say it will be interesting to see how this works out!
A lot of mucky money around. 
Fergie47:
shirtbox2003:
Were abouts in Brittany are you fergie? we lived there from 95 -2010. near Dinan.Near Quimper…about 2-5 hrs West of Dinan. Are you back in the UK ?
Yes unfortunately,due to the wifes illness.
Pat Hasler:
So a US company bought them ? They still use the old livery here LOL.0
didn’t know xpo run in this livery… great stuff
For all of you who read French, here’s an interesting page:
fluvial19-ndentressangle.skyroc … rises.html
Froggy55:
For all of you who read French, here’s an interesting page:
fluvial19-ndentressangle.skyroc … rises.html
I found reading off a red background tiresome. Mais, voyons…
Interesting indeed. As in most enterprises it seems necessary to push the (legal) limits a touch to succeed! I think we might all have done that at some time, no?
Froggy55:
For all of you who read French, here’s an interesting page:
fluvial19-ndentressangle.skyroc … rises.html
Translation (I hope):
Who hasn’t come across a red vehicle stamped with the “Norbert Dentressangle” logo?
Six trucks in 1979, 4,500 vehicles, 5,700 trailers and 2,100,000 m2 of storage area today… In Passion Rouge, published in 2004 at Cherche-Midi, the Drôme entrepreneur delivers the keys to a spectacular growth and astonishing success in the thankless and underappreciated sector of road transport.
Transports Georges Dentressangle was a craft business, whose premises were one with the family home. Even today, I see myself spending hours watching, without ever getting tired, the comings and goings of the trucks, the life of the company. I still remember the precise gesture of the mechanic lapping the valves and piston rings, or relining the engines. I remember the many kilometers traveled with my father, whom I accompanied on many of his journeys. I also watched for visits from customers, I heard my parents’ discussions with their drivers, their suppliers and their bankers, the latter often stormy. One of them arrived at the wheel of his convertible Alfa Romeo to harass my parents and collect the drafts to discount them…
“At just ten years old, I acquired a maturity in the business world that was probably unusual for a child of my age. My destiny appears to be mapped out: one day, I will take the direction of Transports Dentressangle. »
I am curious about everything and my parents are happy to share their moments of enthusiasm or depression with me. At barely ten years old, I acquired a maturity in the world of business and transport that was probably unusual for a child of my age. Without even realizing it, I have imbued myself with a wealth of knowledge and behaviors that will serve me as a reference later… even if it means setting myself apart. My destiny appears to be mapped out: one day, I too will take the direction of Transports Dentressangle.
Passion rouge Article published in the magazine Histoire d’entreprises
The five or six trucks of the Georges Dentressangle company are part of the multitude of family carriers that criss-cross the region. Coal coke being of fairly low density, my father innovated in his own way by buying skips with a larger volumetric capacity, which caused him some setbacks. Thus, when it passes under the railway bridges on the way to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, it leaves petroleum coke in the metal structures; when a train passes, it falls on the cars below!
The relative remoteness of Vocance from the Rhone Valley penalizes small businesses. My parents, my mother in particular, nurture dreams of promotion, social advancement, development. Both understand that it is necessary to seek a more favorable location. They open up to those around them and to their vehicle supplier, Noël Faure. The latter is based in Saint-Vallier, a small town on the banks of the Rhône crossed by the royal Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean axis, with the railway and the main national 7. At that time, obviously, the motorway did not does not exist.
In 1964, he made them an offer: – “A plot adjoining mine is available. It is an ideal location, on the edge of the national. Count on me, I will do everything to facilitate your installation. Our two businesses will be close and can develop together…”
Leaving the Ardèche is not easy and my parents discuss it at length. This means giving up our family ties, our friends, leaving the beautiful house we live in at Vocance with our grandparents right next door. It’s leaving a town where everyone has known us for generations to cross the Rhône, settle in the Drôme, another country, geographically close to the Ardèche, but different, more cosmopolitan, with a strong tradition. of transit and travel, with the presence of a working class in ceramics, stationery and textiles.
Passion rouge Article published in the magazine Histoire d’entreprises
This uprooting, the courageous decision that it implies on the part of my parents will mark the whole family. The step was taken in 1966. We moved to 33, avenue du Québec, Saint-Vallier, at the northern exit of the city. My parents decide to invest almost all of their resources in work tools: trucks, a fuel supply center, a maintenance workshop and offices. Housing is not a priority. We occupy the apartment of the foreman and caretaker which adjoins the depot. This temporary installation, supposed not to exceed a few months, will in fact last several years!
The success that my parents expect from the move is not quite there. Our vehicle fleet increases to a dozen trucks, but hardly goes beyond that. Traffic in coke and coal, our traditional market, is declining. The “bennier” that is my father is trying to find other markets. It is developing the transport of fruit and vegetables on international routes and of petroleum products, entrusted to it by transport intermediaries. This again represents significant investments and also involves a game with the company’s transport licenses. Transport outside the borders is then tightly regulated and licenses granted in dribs and drabs, one for each truck. My parents take risks, carry out missions once or twice without having all the necessary qualifications, which earns them heavy fines.
The only comment I can add is “perfect”!
I went trough your translation from the fisrt to the last word, and the only thing I could say is that skip is probably not the appropriate word for benne. My Harrap’s prefers tipping body. A skip is something that can be laid on the ground, when Norbert refers to tipping semi-trailers.
This Berliet TLM 10 M in blue livery was part of Georges Dentressangle’s fleet (picture from Norbert’s webpage)
Here’s another Dentressangle truck that survived at least up to the arrival of Covid in a fun fair. 1964 registrated Berliet TLM 10 M2.
ND trucks were such a big company that I was very surprised It didn’t remain French, and was sold to the Americans. But probably Norbert didn’t find anyone in France able to pay for it.