Moody Logistics driver Dave stars in BBC show celebrating night workers

A long-distance lorry driver is a star in a new television show highlighting the North East’s army of nocturnal workers.

Dave Blench is part of BBC programme Night Force.

A driver at Cramlington-based Moody Logistics and Storage, Dave, of Stakeford, near Morpeth, has driven the same 374-mile round trip between Northumberland and the Pall-Ex depot in Leicestershire each night for the past 20 years, clocking up an annual 90,000 miles.

In the programme, which began airing today (Monday, April 6), Dave is joined by other night-shift workers across Tyne and Wear, who include vets, mechanics, roadworkers, market wholesalers, theatre staff and a street cleaner.

Dave, who has been with haulier Moody for 25 years, said: “I’m looking forward to watching the series, although it might have to be on catch-up as at that time of the morning I’m normally still catching up on my sleep!

“I enjoy working nights and have grown used to it over the years, but it will be nice for people to get an insight into just what it’s like,” added Dave, who is one of four Moody drivers that make the daily Leicestershire ‘night trunk run’.

Caroline Moody, managing director of Moody Logistics, said: “It’s great that a family-run firm like ours is able to portray on national TV the contribution it makes in helping to keep this country running.

“There’s no doubt Dave is a real stalwart of the night shift and he’s an excellent choice to represent the thousands of other HGV drivers, who are on the road while the rest of us are asleep.

“They really are the unsung heroes.”

Night Force will be screened each weekday morning at 11.45am on BBC One until Friday April 17.