A work of art on wheels: 13-16 winner Grace Higginson (centre) with Transport Training Academy Directors David Coupe and Rachael Scanlin-Davis

Atherton-based Transport Training Academy (TTA) has unveiled a new-look truck after hosting an art and design competition for schools across the North West.  

The Transform My Truck competition asked youngsters to submit designs showing different ways of getting goods from A to B to redesign a ‘blank canvas’ 31ft logistics truck.

A trio of creative children from Heaton Park Primary School in Prestwich took first, second and third place in the Under 12 category. 

11-year-old Kayla Blaine’s winning design was added to the side of the truck while Archie Dickson (10) and 12-year-old Lara Goodwin’s designs were transferred to the rear doors. 

Grace Higginson, 13, and 15-year-old Raechel Duddle – both from Turton School – took first and third place in the 13-16 age category, while Westholme Senior School’s Tilly Daley (14) finished in second place.

The redesigned truck was unveiled at TTA’s Atherton base after having its specially-made vinyl skin applied by Display Equipment Company in Bolton.

David Coupe, Managing Director of TTA, said: “We’re so pleased with our new-look truck – the designs have transferred really well from small A4 prints to a huge piece of art on wheels. 

“We hope our six winners will keep their eyes peeled for the truck they designed out and about on the roads near them – the vinyl transfers are designed to last for years to come and each winner has signed their artwork like all good artists do!” 

As well as seeing their designs on the body of the truck, the children also won themselves Amazon vouchers and cash grants for their school. 

Transform My Truck was launched as part of a campaign to attract more young people into the logistics industry. The competition received almost 350 entries from nine schools across the North West. 

David continued: “We hope that educating young people about the wide variety of career opportunities in logistics will encourage them to look into the sector and ultimately provide a boost to the UK economy.”

Did you know? 

• In two years, logistics delivers enough sausages to travel to the moon and back
• The average food item travels at least 1,500 miles before it gets to your home
• 85 per cent of everything we use, including what we eat, is transported by a UK lorry
• 1 in 12 people in the UK work in a logistics role – that’s more than 1.5 million people