Pictured above: left to right - Philip Stead, Mandy Rees(nee Stead) and Nick Stead

A small family business is competing against heavyweights for the top prize in the 'Oscars' of the motor transport world.

Steads Haulage of Arnold, Nottingham, is one of four finalists in contention for the title of Haulier of the Year in the Motor Transport Awards.

Described as the most coveted award in the industry, entrants had to show not only strong financial results, but also commitment to professionalism, customer care, safety and training. 

Steads was started in Nottingham in 1926 by Charles Henry Stead using a horse and cart to move coal, woods, bricks and furniture.

After the Second World War the firm converted ex-military vehicles for use before buying its first new ones in the early 1950s.

In 1993 the company bought a site at Lime Lane, Dorket Head, in Arnold and decided to concentrate solely on road haulage.

Today it has 24 vehicles, ranging from a van to tractor and trailer units that can operate at a combined weight of 44 tonnes, the maximum allowed on British roads.

The company collects and delivers anywhere in the UK and also Germany, France, Spain and Italy. The main products it carries are pre-cast concrete, furniture, and hazardous goods.

It serves more than 100 customers, among them Derby trainmaker Bombardier, specialist civil and structural engineering company Roger Bullivant of Burton, Redcliffe International(Shipping) from Somercotes, Birlea Furniture of Castle Donington, and Trent Concrete of Colwick.

The company has an annual turnover of £2.4m and, including family directors, employs 30 people - in stark contrast to one finalist, part-owned by a major international player which has 600 vehicles and employs 2,300 staff. Another finalist was joint winner last year.

Director Philip Stead, grandson of the founder, said the company  - described by judges as a small, traditional haulier punching above its weight - was delighted to make the finals of the prestigious competition, regarded as the 'Oscars' of the industry.

"The other finalists are much bigger by far, one of them being part of a worldwide company," said Philip. "We feel a little like David versus Goliath which adds extra spice to the competition.

"As a family-run firm we are not only pleased for our own efforts but those of our hard-working and loyal employees."

The company used Nottingham Trent University business school to review its approach to staff and internal processes which led a customer to award an extra £500,000 work a year.

"This helped us interact with our employees to make the company operate more efficiently," said Philip.

Justin Stanton, editor of Motor Transport magazine, said that making the shortlist was itself a victory as there were 199 high quality entries for the awards, which will be announced in London on July 1.