Rhys Sheppard - the Ethic of Work

In-depth

11 Feb

Young Rhys is learning his trucking craft from Grandad, John, travelling with him through the week doing the dog and chains. He also makes a nice little earner on weekends polishing chrome. It is Rhys who is responsible for the shine on John’s 1995 Kenworth E cab. The weekend polishing is growing exponentially with more of the family’s friends dropping in their rides for the once over by 17 year old Rhys.

**Granddad’s gleaming E cab - all thanks to Rhys**

It is obvious the esteem in which he holds his Grandfather, and vice versa. When I mention what a nice job he does, the pride in his eyes shines brighter than his chrome work and he is very appreciative.

“I owe it all to Grandad. That’s how I started, on his trucks with a rag. Now I’ve got my own business running it out of his shed on the weekends after working with him through the week. It’s what you have to do if you want to get anywhere.” It’s obvious that Rhys has a great work ethic.

Rhys brings up a photo of a Mack R700 owned by John and tells me, “This is a rare version. From what I can discover it came out of the factory in 1975 with an English Cummins in it and the starter motor on the right-hand side of the block instead of the left. It’s got a 15 speed Road Ranger behind it and a Mack rear end. It’s a pretty unique truck.

“It was originally one of Wettenhall’s trucks and originally a day cab. Since then a bunk’s been added. There were only ever four of these with English Cummins in, and from what I can gather at the moment there are only two left. The truck needs a bit of work.”

“We have a bit of work to do on it,” adds John. “We have another cab to put on it. Mechanically it’s perfect and runs like a dream but there’s a bit of skin cancer from the top of the doors up. I have another completely stripped cab and I just might get someone to cut around the top and pop that on. It’s a massive job to lift one cab off and sit beside a bare cabin and swap everything across. Much easier to chop the top, run a welder around it and Bob’s your uncle.”

Hats off to you Rhys. With your work ethic you are going to be a success in whatever you do. We trust Grandpa will keep the Kenny and the Mack in the family for you to continue the tradition. Good on ya mate.