Shell helps TRUCKINGBY to keep rock stars on the road

2025 marks a major milestone for Brian Yeardley Continental (BYC), as the renowned transport and logistics company turns 50. With an annual turnover exceeding £18 million, it has established two rock solid brands: CARGOBY, its European General Cargo arm, and TRUCKINGBY, its Event Trucking Division.

The company has been a loyal Shell customer for decades and is known for delivering reliable, highly secure, and specialised General Haulage Services across the UK and Europe.

CARGOBY’s customers span a wide range of industries including IT and telecoms, sports clothing, chemicals, automotive parts, white goods, high-end office furniture, and ammunition.

TRUCKINGBY has provided event support for the past decade for global music acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florence and the Machine, and country star Morgan Wallen, as well as global entertainment brands including WWE.

It’s a dream job for Kevin and Sarah Hopper, a husband and-wife team who have been in charge for 12 years. Kevin started in the business 46 years ago as a 21-year old driver, a job he loved and still gets to do when he wants to.

Soon, Kevin was asked by potential clients in the music industry about supply work: transporting lights, audio and rigging equipment. TRUCKINGBY’s brand new Mercedes trucks and bold logos stood out against competitors’ trucks, turning heads in the marketplace and gaining their business.

Before long, TRUCKINGBY was supporting big American bands’ European tours, with Red Hot Chili Peppers being being the first of many.

Building a business on family values

The Hoppers and their team have built CARGOBY and TRUCKINGBY on a foundation of strong family values. People are paramount, and the 150 staff are like family, explains Kevin. These include the 20 “double drivers” who share the driving with zero downtime for multi-day journeys required by European music tours.

TRUCKINGBY runs a fleet of over 60 secure trucks and 80 trailers, all satellite tracked 24/7 for security. The business refreshes its modern, state-of-the-art fleet of trucks and trailers every five years to keep them up to date.

TRUCKINGBY began in response to a client request, when one of CARGOBY’s biggest clients in the chemical industry asked Kevin to provide transportation for a UK roadshow. This led to corporate work for many household corporate brands.

Shell doesn’t always have the lowest fuel price on the road, but going on price alone is a mistake, says Kevin. “When you have 50,000 fans sitting in a stadium at the other end of a drive waiting for us to turn up, I’m not go ing to save myself two pence a litre on fuel and jeopardise that delivery. We once switched to another supplier over price, and it caused a lot of problems.”

Consistent service through partnership with Shell

TRUCKINGBY now accounts for the majority of the business’s operations, running vehicles for eight or nine months of the year. CARGOBY carries the company through the quieter months. Trucks travel down to Greece, up to the Arctic Circle, and out to the Kurdistan border. However, European General Cargo is a tough industry to be in, particularly post-Brexit, says Kevin. This is where partnering with Shell makes all the difference.

“For me, coverage and quality of fuel are all important,” says Kevin. “Shell’s consistent global service means our trucks can get refilled with high-quality fuel whether they’re in Greece, Malta or Serbia. We have the best equipment money can buy, so why not have the best fuel as well?"

How Shell is assisting with carbon neutrality

Shell has also helped the business to progress its decarbonisation strategy: to become carbon neutral as soon as possible. For example, the company has worked with Shell over the last three years to carbon offset the fuel it purchases for its vehicles.

In addition, both business units ship as much as possible via Eurotunnel, which is 100% electric. And all trucks have the most environmentally friendly engine tech nology to date: Euro VI emission-controlled engines. This gives them unrestricted access to major towns and cities throughout the UK and EU.

Lastly, the business is working towards gaining Carbon Neutrality through PAS2060, ISO14064 –1 and ISO14083 environmental standards.

Card and facilities that drivers love

The partnership with Shell also benefits the drivers, says Kevin. “Branded Shell sites always have good rest facili ties, well-lit forecourts and secure parking wherever they are in the UK or Europe.”

The truck drivers like the freebies they get with their Shell Card, says Kevin. The minimum fuel capacity they carry is 1200 litres, so when they’re refilling several times a day, on big double drives, the points and rewards can translate into a good amount of food and drinks.

Kevin adds that Shell has “football field” capacity to park and refuel dozens of trucks arriving together, which frequently happens with TRUCKINGBY, and marks Shell out from other competitors.

A long term relationship built on trust

CARGOBY has been a Shell customer since almost day one. Kevin says this long-term partnership is important be cause it’s based on trust and a personal relationship with an account manager like Mike, and now Lorraine.

During the pandemic, the business faced closure as everything ground to a halt. In the entertainment industry, business closed down overnight with no money coming and trucks, trailers and drivers stranded all over Europe. Shell agreed to freeze the company’s debt. Meanwhile, its vehicle supplier gave it an 18-month holiday on vehicle financing, and its ferry partner showed leniency.

Kevin says, “It all comes back to people. Shell didn’t have to do that. But Mike took it to somebody in Shell who decided they were going to give us a lifeline, and I can’t thank him enough for that and without Shell’s support we would not be sat here talking today, and that’s a fact.”

He adds, “I’m a bit old school and I like to deal with people. When you buy something, it’s not all about the product you’re buying but the people you buy it off. I want my customers to trust me, and I’ve got to trust my suppliers. Mike was absolutely brilliant, and I was looking for another Mike. Now, I’ve got Lorraine looking after us and she’s fantastic.”