Friendly, reliable, and dedicated
Abby explains more about the development of this family-run business from its beginnings in 2003 with just a single baby tanker: “My parents, Ben More and Debbie More, started Moorland Fuels back in 2003 in a building shared with another business named Southern Lubricants. They also shared a tanker driver with them as they only needed a part-time driver.
“Everything was handwritten back then, including tickets, orders, and invoices! After a year of trading, they were able to take on a full-time driver. Two years later, the first office staff joined, and the company steadily grew for 15 more years.
“The first major milestone for us was moving all operations into our own buildings in 2014. We then opened our Plymouth Depot, in 2015, and placed two full-time tankers there.
“In December 2020, we became a part of Craggs Energy and, with further investment from them, we have gone from strength to strength. Joining Craggs Energy and becoming a 100% employee-owned business in March of 2022 has really taken the business to the next level.
“We have recently purchased the 8th vehicle in the fleet, which will be on the road shortly, and, of course, celebrating our 20th anniversary is a huge achievement!”
We really do put our customers first
Based in Okehampton, Moorland Fuels covers much of the South-west. Abby explains more about the customer base: “When Moorland Fuels was created, we began serving just the area around our main depot in Okehampton. Twenty years later, we cover the entirety of Devon and large areas of Cornwall.
“We currently offer our customers traditional fuels such as kerosene, DERV (white diesel) and gas oil (red diesel) alongside our 100% renewable diesel alternative – HVO. With further major investment in tanks at our Okehampton depot, we will soon be able to offer Flame35 which is an industrial heating oil alternative. We also offer a wide range of lubricants and additives including bulk AdBlue.
“We find that a lot of new customers have heard about us from friends and family, which is a testament to our customer service. Another great advertisement for us would be our impressive tankers that can be seen serving the region daily!
“I know it may sound clichéd, but we really do put our customers first. Over the years we have built fantastic customer relationships and strive to deliver on our promises. The team go above and beyond every day to help customers with whatever they need, including emergency deliveries.”
A beautiful but challenging location
“Our main depot sits right on the edge of Dartmoor which, of course, is a beautiful area. However, it does pose some logistical challenges.
“Our drivers and vehicles work extra hard on the narrow roads, and they can travel long distances before getting to their delivery areas each day. A huge positive is the beautiful landscape, and we get to work with wonderful local customers and team members from the area, and there are multiple terminals we can utilise.”
A shared commitment to excellence
Moorland Fuels started its journey with just three employees, and now there are seventeen across the business.
In 2022, Moorland Fuels transferred 100% ownership of the business to its employees by establishing an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Moorland Fuels is proud of the way in which this unique ownership model empowers every team member, from drivers to office staff, to have a personal stake in the company’s success, resulting in unwavering dedication, loyalty, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Abby explains more: “Our employees have seen short term benefits so far, including the first payments to them being made in December 2022. The EOT gives the team more motivation and a sense of higher personal investment in the business.
“Employees have reported that they have a sense of career stability and feel part of the long-term business plans. This new level of dedication from the team also translates to excellence in customer service. I’m passionate about promoting the benefits of employee-ownership and I will continue to drive passion and enthusiasm with my fellow employee owners.”
The future for Moorland
“A big focus for Moorland Fuels and myself, going forward, will be to continue to consistently deliver excellence to our thousands of customers across the region,” Abby shares as she considers what the future holds for Moorland. “We are looking to expand our growing commercial base even further, and have invested heavily in our trucks, systems, and products, to ensure we can service businesses daily with their unique requirements.
“We are passionate about low carbon and sustainable solutions for our customers, and we will be continuing to pursue green alternatives such as renewable diesel, carbon offsetting and any new emerging technologies.
“I enjoy the challenges of working within fuel distribution; it’s a fast-paced industry that is constantly evolving, and every day is different. There is a great deal of teamwork involved in smoothly operating a fuel business and I am blessed to work alongside a wonderful team.”
A Moorland Christmas
We couldn’t resist asking Abby what Moorland had planned for Christmas this year: “We always take part in Christmas Jumper day, in aid of Save the Children, and this year that will take place on Thursday 7th December. We also like to get the team together for a nice meal before Christmas to say a small thank you for all their hard work through the year.
“And, of course, there will be lots of chocolates and mince pies in the office throughout December to keep us powering through!”
Fuel Oil News wishes Abby and all the team at Moorland a wonderful Christmas and all the best for another successful year.
