Barry Proctor Services

OPERATOR FEATURE

BEAUTIFUL BRICKS,

Words: Ronnie Hitchens Photographs: Karl Hopkinson

Barry Proctor Services Ltd is changing. Always known for operating an award-winning fl eet of highly recognisable vehicles, the fl eet today has received a new, sleek, brand refresh designed to reinforce the company’s credentials as a modern logistics specialist for the construction industry. The visual impact is dramatic. DAF Driver magazine headed to Stoke-on-Trent to fi nd four New Generation DAF XG drawbars and an XG tractor heading up an impressive looking fl eet.

BLOCKS & TRUCKS

Sam Proctor is now responsible for day-to-day operations and she has brought fresh ideas to the business

The business retains the name ‘Barry’, and the great man continues to play an active role as company Chairman. It is now daughter, Sam, who is General Manager and steering the company firmly into the future. The most evident change is the new livery. Modern, bold, and showcasing the initials BPS, it is a departure from the existing fleet which was lavished with specially commissioned air-brushed artwork featuring music, films and characters from popular culture. With Sam’s background in marketing, PR and communications, it’s little wonder the company’s on-road aesthetic is viewed as important.

“Our visual presence is crucial,” says Sam, “the way we look reflects the way we are, and we’re a company that’s aiming for excellence. We’re gearingup for growth and the fleet is frontand-centre of that journey. That’s a key reason why the new DAF XG trucks are on the fleet – cutting-edge technology and a completely modern cab design. Our drivers absolutely love them and we’re already seeing productivity gains.” The company is, and always has been, rooted firmly in the construction sector with brick, block and aggregate haulage its speciality. A 32-strong fleet – 90% of which is DAF – has been built up over 40 years. BPS operates throughout the UK, including weekly drops in London where some of the new DAF XG vehicles, with the fitment of DAF-approved safety equipment, operate under FORS Silver accreditation.

New, but with a nod to the traditional While Sam Proctor has achieved an enormous amount in only her first 18-months at the helm of business operations, she is very keen to maintain and, indeed, promote the advantages of BPS’s traditional, family-run business model. “You can’t beat that personal touch,” Sam says, “it just works. This is a family business and it’s been built on traditional values of decency, honesty and a tailored service, and by building strong relationships with our customers. In this commercial, IT-led world, there’s definitely a space for oldschool working principles that embrace the integration of new world technology.”

It’s not just a fresh lick of paint for the truck fleet either. Sam’s keen business brain (she worked for Dragon’s Den star, James Caan CBE) identified where BPS needed to invest and has now restructured operations to ensure it can ride the wave of business growth. “You can’t just say ‘we’re going to grow’ and then sit back,” she insists, “we’ve done a lot of groundwork to ensure the core of the business can handle an increase in volumes,” says Sam.

The new DAFs, while a couple are replacements, signal an expansion of the fleet size; two new traffic planners have also been brought in to focus on two separate revenue streams, there’s new IT infrastructure in place and more sub-contractors have been added to the roster.

“We’re ready to scale,” adds Sam, “but the economy is making business tough. We’re just waiting for the

housing market to come back. In our line of work, we need people to buy houses!”

Why DAF? DAF’s latest heavy truck range has been a huge hit and is turning heads of previously non-DAF operators, but DAF has been market leader for 27 years. What makes DAF customers stay with the built-in-Britain brand? Like many operators with whom DAF Driver has spoken, Sam is quick to extol the virtues of DAF customer support. “The team at Motus in Stoke is excellent,” acknowledges Sam, “Andy Ridgway in particular has always been very responsive to our needs, and defect reporting is turned around really quickly. Because our trucks are working constantly, we often need a tight turnaround at the workshop at the end of the week, and,” she admits, “while some small issues are delayed, overall service levels are great. “I must say that DAFaid is fantastic,” she says, “If a truck does break down, DAFaid is always there under 90-minutes and, unlike another truck brand on our fleet, there’s almost always a DAF dealer nearby. If it can’t be fixed at the roadside, the peace-ofmind of knowing there’s a local dealer makes life so much easier and more efficient.”

Cool on fuel DAF Driver magazine has spoken to plenty of new XF, XG and XG+ customers over the last 12-months and, we’re pleased to report, improved fuel economy has become a common trend – with BPS being no exception. The company describes an uplift in economy of around 10% from its new DAF fleet (which, for the record, comprises four XG 530 drawbar units with DAF’s ‘FAS” axle configuration on the prime-mover, and an XG 530 six-wheel tractor. Five more ‘new-gen’ DAFs are due before the end of the year).

Sam says, “We’re very impressed with how the new DAFs are delivering on fuel – showing a significant improvement on the previous fleet average. One driver is seeing returns of 10.5mpg, and that’s at maximum weight on six-axles. The trucks are marginally lighter than the previous models which helps.”

BPS chose DAF’s ‘FAS’ 6x2 tag-axle platform for its new XG drawbars including twin-wheels on the rear bogie. The configuration means weight is more evenly distributed over eight wheels, while offering greater stability with loading / off-loading the rearmounted Moffett forklift.

Comfort is king DAF Trucks has really stolen a march on its competitors with its completely

Air brushed designs like this movie themed XF Super Space cab have been the stars at many truck shows.

The new Proctor DAFs are returning fuel efficiency gains of around 10 per cent

redesigned cab range. XF, XG and XG+ cabs all benefit from the new rules contained within European Masses & Dimensions legislation, allowing for a fundamental rethink of cab architecture. The result means the XG+ is the biggest cab on the market with a voluminous 12.5m3 of interior space. The XG is only slightly smaller, but the same level of comfort and convenience exists.

BPS places huge emphasis on the importance of driver comfort, rewarding the longer-serving drivers with new trucks when they’re acquired. The company prides itself on the fact that the average driver retention period is eight years, with many staying a lot longer, and it’s due in no small part to top-spec trucks. “Once they’re with BPS, they tend to stay,” says Sam, “and if they do leave, it’s not long before they come back. There’s lots of examples of that happening. Our drivers are so incredibly important,” she says, “so we give them the best kit we can. The drivers that have recently been handed the keys to the new XGs, are over the moon.

“We upgrade the vehicles for them, too. Customised curtains, leather mats, light bars. The latest ones have Tranz Tech catwalks and decking. They’re really proud of their trucks, showing them off regularly at truck shows.”

“Some are out tramping four and five nights a week, and we feel they deserve some luxury. It’s a tough job,” insists Sam,” and I’m pleased we can make their life a bit easier. We have one driver who absolutely adores his new XG, and, although he’s back to base every evening, he often stays in his truck overnight!” DDM

FORS FOR GOOD?

With its weekly runs into London, BPS has installed Transport for London’s HGV Safe System cameras on all new vehicles. The company has chosen FORS – the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme – as a route to compliance and has mixed Bronze and Silver accreditation. FORS Silver allows BPS trucks to operate in London.

“I think FORS is a good thing for the industry,” says Sam, “It sets a high standard for hauliers, and it holds them to account. We also set very high standards for ourselves and I think FORS is an acknowledgment of our efforts to be the best – it maintains our credibility. Membership has given us marginal gains in terms of new business wins. It’s not been life-changing,” she concedes, “but its good practice and it’s definitely been a benefit in terms of driver training – especially the cycle safety course for our older drivers. FORS does rubber stamp the safety aspect which instils excellent practice in all our drivers.”