Neil Smith Biography

A profile of the Driver of the JCB Backhoe Across America

When Neil Smith was growing up in Rocester, England, he walked by a large factory on his way to school each and every day. That factory was heavy equipment manufacturer JCB's World Headquarters. Not surprisingly, Neil dreamed of operating JCB's powerful, bright yellow machines-but he had no way of knowing that the family-owned manufacturer would play a major role in his life for many years to come.

In 1974, Neil took his first job with JCB, working as a setter operator in the machine shop. Over the years that followed, he worked in various business units within the company. Eventually, Neil learned of a job opening with JCB's world famous Demo Team. He positively jumped at the opportunity to apply for this particular position, as it involved his childhood dream-driving JCB machines. From then on, Neil lived that dream, operating JCB machines and demonstrating their impressive capabilities to crowds at equipment shows and special events all over the world.

Neil's first trip to the United States with JCB took place back in 1998 when he was asked to operate machines as part of a groundbreaking celebration for JCB's North American Headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. At the time, John Patterson, JCB's current deputy chairman, was serving as the company's global CEO, and he asked Neil to return to the Savannah facility in 2000, presenting him with the task of establishing and training a new, U.S.-based Demo Team. Pleased and excited to receive this overseas opportunity, Neil took the challenge head-on. Now entering his tenth year in Savannah and his thirty-sixth year with JCB, Neil's enthusiasm for the powerful machines has never waned.

The year 2010 has brought about yet another new challenge for Neil in his long tenure with JCB. On March 26, 2010, Neil will take the controls of a JCB 3CX Backhoe loader and drive it across the United States from coast to coast, raising awareness and funding for the American Red Cross. Taking approximately a month to complete, the cross-country trip will begin at Tybee Beach on the Atlantic Ocean and end at the Pacific Ocean at the famous Santa Monica Pier. Seeing the scope of the devastation in Haiti, and in light of the recent Chilean earthquakes, Neil is ready, willing and able to take on this honorable, important and grueling task.

"Over the years, the people of JCB have become like a second family to me," Neil said."As a member of that family, I feel that it's my job do as much as I can to help JCB support our global community in times of crisis. I'm truly excited to get this 'show on the road,' and start this latest adventure in my career with JCB."