From Farm to Fleet: The Mason Bros Story

01 / 13

The company have recently added the MAN TGX 540 6X2 to their already impressive fleet. Transport Planner, Dan Clay says 'We've had DAFs for many years now and liked the look of the MAN. The new trucks came at the right time as we were due to replace 6 of the current 20 plate XF trucks due to them starting to show their age'.

'The new trucks will be put on a mixture of work, bulkers, containers, curtains so plenty of variety to really put them through their paces.'

The first week was a busy one for the first MAN truck on the fleet. Being put straight on the road it completed 5 drops in Scotland finishing at Inverness. It was then reloaded at Inverness for Stoke and once tipped in Stoke reloaded at Buxton for Norwich before a final reload back to Boston, coming out at 9 mpg for the round trip.

Mason Bros pride themselves on treating every member of staff like one of the family too. A close knit team where each and every one is valued as an individual and not just a number. Every Christmas the directors ensure they personally sign a card for each of the 40 members of staff, a small but meaningful gesture that has become a tradition spanning over 6 decades.

Born in 1935, Gerald A Mason played one of the most significant roles in the 65-year story of Mason Bros Transport Ltd. Not just as its founder, but as the heart of the family business, one built on hard work, opportunity and determination.

Gerald and his wife Beryl raised their four children; Christopher, Richard, Jonathan and Sarah at Fairfield Farm. The farm was not only their family home, but the beating heart of the family business. What began as a modest smallholding has now grown into a 125,000-square-foot operational hub, evolving steadily while staying true to its roots.

Gerald's journey into transport began in the early 1960s as a shareholder, but it was the purchase of the farm that truly set events in motion for him. When he agreed to the deal two Bedford livestock trucks were included, and with livestock markets thriving across Lincolnshire, Gerald spotted an opportunity. When calls started coming in for cattle transport he recognised demand and seized it, laying the foundations for the family haulage business. The farms original telephone number still remains the same today 820236

Over time all three of Gerald's sons were working alongside him raising, herding and transporting cattle across the county and beyond. What began as farming soon evolved into a full-scale transport operation, built on early starts, long days, and a shared family commitment. Livestock may have been hard work, but it was where the brothers’ passion truly lay. Chris, Jonathan and Richard grew up immersed in farming life and the unmistakable realities of cattle transport.

To this day if you mention livestock to any of the brothers their eyes light up. The stories are endless and full of, humour.

By the early 1970s, the business had diversified again, this time into potatoes and onions. Two purpose-built potato bulkers were commissioned to serve the growing number of food factories across the UK.

It was in 1979 that the company was incorporated as Mason Bros Transport Ltd. The brothers became increasingly involved in the day-to-day running of the business, gradually taking over the reins as Gerald stepped back. This also coincided with a decline in livestock farming across Lincolnshire and with that bulk potato and onion transport became the main focus of the company, something which is still very much part of the company today, alongside general haulage.

Sadly Gerald passed away in 1996, but he has certainly left a lasting legacy within the business. Even today, drivers who began their careers with him in the 60s and ’70s fondly remember stories of his leadership and character. His values, fairness, pride and family remain embedded in the daily running of the business. I am sure he would be incredibly proud to see the striking traditional Mason Bros livery still rolling confidently along Britain’s highways.

Today, Mason Bros Transport is a highly capable modern operation. Each week, the business grades and handles around 2,000 tonnes of potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions. On peak days, up to 50 refrigerated containers arrive, delivering sweet potatoes from Egypt and South America, evidence of the company’s role within an increasingly global supply chain.