JDI Generations: Gregory Marr

Gregory Marr, a truck salesperson at Universal Truck and Trailer in Saint John, has a family history with J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) that began long before he was born.

His grandfather, Eldon Marr, worked in the woods cutting and hauling timber with horses. He was among the last to use horses to haul wood for Irving Paper.

Gregory's father, Raymond Marr, worked at the Irving Shipyard in Saint John until the late 1980s. After that, he returned to the woods and carried on the family tradition. Unlike his father Eldon, Raymond used more modern equipment to cut and haul the wood.

“Three generations of my family have worked with JDI in one way or another,” said Gregory. “It’s something I’m proud of, and it’s a connection that has shaped who I am and how I work.”

Gregory grew up around forestry work and spent his high school summers in the woods. He later joined his future father‑in‑law on long lumber‑hauling runs until he earned his licence and could drive himself. He began hauling lumber for Sunbury as a full‑time driver in 1993 and later became an owner‑operator.

After an 18‑year career at Sunbury, he transitioned into a sales role with Universal Truck and Trailer, where he has been for the last 15 years. 

“I took the truck sales position in Saint John knowing that it would be a tough challenge as UTT didn’t have a strong shop or sales presence in Saint John," Gregory said of his early days with UTT. That's now changed.

"Our annual sales trends typically exceed 100 trucks at the Saint John location alone," he added. "I am very proud to have been part of that.”

Photo caption: Gregory Marr's father with two of his grandfather’s horses in 1957.

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