Billy was in a highly paid executive position with Cable & Wireless as Head of Learning Technology, a position he had held for seven years, with six years before that as Head of the New Technology team at the Open University in Newcastle,  where he spent his time devising ways of delivering a wide range of training courses via the internet.  But as he was approaching the age of 49 he felt it was time to follow his heart, and that meant biking, for Billy’s passion is motorbikes.  

Not just riding bikes, or even racing bikes, his dream was adventure biking.  In particular Billy was interested in how adventure biking could be made more accessible.  So in June 2007 he took voluntary redundancy and set up biketruck.com.  He takes the boring bit from adventure biking tours in North Africa and Eastern Europe,  by delivering motorbikes to the start of the tour, leaving the rider to fly in to start the adventure rested and refreshed.

“To made this idea work I needed to understand the trucking business,” said Billy  “and who better to learn from than Van Hee Training.   They have been in the transport business for forty years and were one of the first UK companies to handle deliveries into the Middle East, so they had plenty to teach me.”

“We train our candidates on modern, top weight vehicles, identical to those they will drive on the road for a living” said Van Hee Managing Director  John Charlton.  “So there are no surprises for our trainees when they go to work out on the road.  They get one-to-one instruction from experienced and qualified instructors and have a series of specialist theory classes.  Billy was the fastest trainee we have ever had, in more ways than one.   He was very motivated to get going and complete his training.”

Biketruck’s trips have been exciting, but the biggest adventure by far, for Billy, will be competing in the forthcoming Heroes Legend Paris – Dakar Rally.  Starting on  8th March in France, Billy will race his Desert KTM bike through France, Spain, and then across to North Africa ending in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Biketruck will be running a truck to this event and Billy explained that without the training and firsthand support from Van Hee, he couldn’t have managed the logistics required   “To be successful in logistics, especially internationally, you need quality training, information and support, and that’s exactly what Van Hee have supplied” concluded Billy.  

Van Hee instructor, Jack Wilkin said: “Billy’s second course was one of the intensive  courses we run.  As well as obtaining his licence to drive 44 tonne trucks, he also achieved his ADR* licence for the carriage of dangerous goods.  Billy also trained for the International  CPC course(Certificate of Professional Competence).  The course is for individuals working across Europe who need to understand the industry outsde of the UK and have an objective to attain a fleet Operators license.   Biketruck’s adventures through Europe and beyond certainly require this level of professional training.”  

Van Hee are one of the largest providers of logistics training in the North East of England, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector for around 200 customers.     Functions covered include, fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, and logistics management. In the past 40 years they have trained over 23,000 people.     

“I’m really enjoying running my own business”  concludes Billy.  “Van Hee’s training and support has opened up an exciting new world for me.  Motorbikes, trucks and exotic travel, what more could I ask for!”

For more information www.vanhee.co.uk or www.biketruck.com