The leading independent kitchen, bedroom and bathroom manufacturer J and J Ormerod (JJO) has invested £250,000 in four new tractor units.

The vehicles are an excellent addition to the Rossendale family business and have been praised by drivers.

One driver, with more than 20 years service told his bosses his night in the cab was the “best night’s sleep” he had had since starting at the company.

Managing director Stephen Greenhalgh said: “As part of our policy of replacing our fleet every five years, we have just invested in four brand new state-of-the-art DAF tractor units.

“As we deliver to customers around the country and the drivers can be away for two to three nights, it is important that the cab and its accommodation is right.

“Part of our service to customers if that we only use our drivers to deliver our products and the customers appreciate the relationship that builds up with the drivers and that they are flexible to meet their needs.”

He said it was essential for the company to have good, reliable and efficient transport stock.

Transport manager Brian Croisdale started at JJO in 1998 as a warehouseman and worked his way up from forklift driver to shunt driver, Class 2 driver to Class 1, and assistant transport manager to department manager.

He said: “We have 27 delivery vehicles, articulated tractor units, rigid lorries and vans. On Tuesday we will have a lorry in Peterhead in Scotland and another in Cornwall so we go the length of the country.

“In a week we complete around 1,000 deliveries and clock up on average 20,000 miles a week.

“As we became an Employee Ownership Trust last year, we all have a vested interest in purchases being good value for money, and this was my first opportunity to bring new vehicles into the fleet and I managed to make savings.

“No one wants to have vehicles that break down or need lots of repairs and maintenance.

“This was also an opportunity for our lead driver Chris Fitton, who has been with JJO for more than 30 years, to help with the specification of the vehicles.

“The first journey out for the new vehicles was to Scotland and the feedback we had has been superb. The drivers report they are really comfortable.”

Mr Greenhalgh added: “Brian has a legitimate interest in saving the company money and by going the extra mile as it will benefit all the employees.”

Last year, ownership of the Bacup-based 155-year-old family-run manufacturer was transferred to an Employee Ownership Trust.

In March this year, the first payment bonuses were received by staff.

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