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Dyer outlines DHL’s future in 3PL sector By Christopher Walton
NEWS INSIDE Network additions
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AIMing high
Eddie Stobart Logistics ready for stock market
The new chief executive said ‘clear differentiation’ is its goal
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Future workforce
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Last-mile technology
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DHL Supply Chain is looking to show the market “absolute clear differentiation” from its rival 3PLs under the leadership of its new UK and Ireland chief executive Paul Dyer (right). Speaking exclusively to MT – in an interview that can be listened to as a podcast on the new-look motortransport. co.uk – Dyer questioned the current levels of differentiation between the main 3PL players. “Of the big 3PLs is there much differentiation between them? Our goal for the next 18 to 24 months is to show there is clear differentiation between the big 3PLs and at the same time worry about some of the newer, emerging players that are doing things a bit differently and being successful,” he said. Dyer said over the next 12 months DHL Supply Chain
would “look like a UK- and Ireland-focused business” as opposed to having sectorfocused business units. “While I don’t want to lose that focus, one of the challenges is to use our strengths and expertise more widely. Our customers want innovation and best practice from multiple sectors,” Dyer said. “A year from now you will see a one-team approach, so we can start harnessing some of our scale and expertise and have a fantastic offering against the competition.” Looking at the long term, Dyer said in four or five years time he sees DHL Supply Chain with warehousing and transportation at the core of its business but he would like to see a more standardised approach. He said the business needed to prove it could run warehousing and transporta-
tion better than anybody else with “more efficient working; better systems; better innovation”. “I would like it to be a renowned supply chain management company,” Dyer added. ■ The full interview with Dyer can be accessed via iTunes or Soundcloud by searching Motor Transport Podcasts.
Fire at Arrow XL Worcester site A fire at Arrow XL’s Worcester warehouse has been declared a major incident by the police. The blaze broke out in the 200,000ft2 building on the Blackpole Trading Estate at 8.30am last T hursday (20 April). Arrow XL said between 150 and 200 employees were on site at all times but all were evacuated safely. A statement from the two-man delivery firm said it had a recovery plan in place, and added plans for it to operate temporarily out of a “group owned site” were being finalised. The Worcester site is one of Arrow XL’s four main hubs, and services the Midlands and South West. Arrow XL chief operations officer Charlie Shiels said: “It is our intention to be back up and running in a matter of days. The support of our colleagues has been amazing and proves what a great team ArrowXL is. We have plans in place for disruptions such as this.”
Suckling wins Shell forecourt contract for the Midlands Shell has renewed its forecourt fuel distribution contracts, with Suckling Transport picking up the Midlands operating region from Hoyer Petrolog. Suckling will provide fuel distribution services for Shell in Scotland, Wales, the South West and, from 1 July the Midlands, for three years. As well as providing road transport services to Shell foreFTA
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Focus:
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Highwayman
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courts, Suckling will provide a full delivery service including stock management, automatic order taking, routeing and scheduling on behalf of Shell in some areas. Despite losing the Midlands operating region, Hoyer Petrolog’s contract with Shell for retail forecourt deliveries has been extended until June 2020. Show
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