Why Transport is the new Rock ‘n’ Roll
Hilary Devey is founder of the Pall-Ex Group – a haulage company based in the East Midlands. She is also a fully-fledged star. Since appearing on Dragon’s Den, Hilary has won an army of fans and you just have to turn on your computer, TV or open a magazine and you will see Hilary being featured or interviewed somewhere.
But Hilary Devey’s rise to stardom is just one instance of how the transport industry has taken the media by storm. Once the strong-hold of talent competitions and Big Brother, transport is the new secret ingredient to create a television ratings winner.
You can chart this upsurge in the popularity of transport on TV to one particular show which premiered on the History Channel in 2007: Ice Road Truckers. The format is a familiar fly-on-the-wall style documentary and the premise is simple:
“A job only a few would dare…to haul critical supplies across 350 miles of frozen lake. The challenge: to transport 10,000 loads in 60 days—before the road disappears. The rewards are great; the risks even greater. These are the men who make their living on thin ice”.
It is the mix of danger, excitement and some fantastic characters that has led to Ice Road Truckers – now in its fifth series – being watched by millions worldwide. It has also made rock stars of its cast with magazine interviews and public appearances throughout the globe – notably the TruckFest franchise in the UK.
Speaking of TruckFest, this celebration of all things HGV tours five locations throughout the UK, attracting huge crowds of truck enthusiasts along the way. TruckFest is yet further proof that transport is the new Rock ‘n’ Roll; move over Glastonbury – the 18-wheelers are in town!
The success of Ice Road Truckers has paved the way for other transport related TV hits such as Channel 5’s Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers. And the transport industry has also infiltrated established mainstream shows such as Isuzu’s Nikki King starring in Undercover Boss in 2011, Hilary Devey’s appearance on Secret Millionaire in 2008 and her prime time seat in the Dragon’s Den she is now best known for.
So, what next for transport’s rise to fame? “Truck Stop” – a new sitcom written by and starring Ricky Gervais? Or perhaps “VOSA! The Musical” – written by Ben Elton featuring the music of Coldplay?!
Who knows! But at Alltruck plc, we’re just enjoying being part of the most Rock ‘n’ Roll industry around.
[...] If transport is the new rock ‘n’ roll (see our previous blog post on why we think it is here) then these guys are trucking’s equivalent of Madonna and Elvis! Wherever Lisa and Alex went, the [...]