Motor Transport 23 April 2018

Sharp ■ Informed ■ Challenging

23.4.18

Axis opens mobile maintenance unit

NEWS INSIDE Great deal

DHL Supply Chain to run M&S South East DC

p3

Strong tide

Canute reassures that it will weather the storm p6

Time to split?

Shareholder calls for Wincanton division

ALL ELECTRIC: Volvo Trucks has put the first two of its all-electric FLs into service with Swedish recycling firm Renova and general haulage company TGM. The 16-tonne FL Electric is a fully electrically powered truck for distribution, refuse collection and general haulage work in built-up areas. It has a range of up to 300km on a full charge and can be fast-charged in two hours or plugged into the mains grid, which takes up to 10 hours. Volvo Trucks president Claes Nilsson said: “We are immensely proud to present the first in a range of fully electrically powered Volvo trucks ready for regular traffic.”

Creditsafe boss warns of uncertain year as industry profit dives

p8

OPERATORS IN THIS ISSUE Canute .................................................p6 DHL Supply Chain ........................... p3, 12 DS Smith ..............................................p6 Eddie Stobart Logistics ........................p13 Hermes ..............................................p14 Matthew Kibble ....................................p8 Miniclipper Logistics .............................p3 Premier Logistics ................................p10 Shop Direct .........................................p12 Wincanton ...........................................p8 XPO Logistics ........................................p3

Mixed times ahead

By MT team

Rachel Mainwaring, chief operating officer of credit checking service Creditsafe, has warned the transport sector that it faces an uncertain year ahead.

Mainwaring issued the warning after Creditsafe’s latest Watchdog Report revealed retained profit across the broader logistics and transport sector, which road transport forms a significant part of, had bombed by 96% year on year and was just £163m in quarter one 2018. The warning came as both debt owed to and by the logistics and transport sector leapt.

“It’s not plain sailing from here, but hopefully the sector can lift itself out of the slump,” she said.

The warning follows a slew of road transport operators

releasing mixed performance data, with Canute Group (see page 6) suffering a tough period as Eddie Stobart Logistics (see page 13) continued to surge.

A recovery in the UK steel sector combined with new contract wins helped boost Owens Group’s turnover by more than a fifth in the year to 30 June 2017. It recorded a 22% rise in turnover to £55.6m (2016: £45.4m) and a pre-tax profit rise of 15% to £2.2m (2016: £1.9m).

Meanwhile, a turnaround strategy at Aspray Transport led to the next-day carrier spending almost £400,000 to tackle a “highly challenging” environment resulting in the firm recording a loss. For the year to 30 June 2017, it reported a turnover of £32.4m (2016: £49m but for an 18-month

period). It made a pre-tax loss of £378, 754 (2016: profit of £778, 711, an 18-month period).

However, if exceptional items (including redundancies and investment) are stripped out, the company would have made a profit of £8,168.

John Jempson & Son added more than £1m to its turnover last year, thanks to a buoyant construction market in London. The Rye, East Sussex haulier reported a turnover of £13.8m for the year to 31 October 2017, up 8% on 2016’s £12.7m. Pre-tax prof it increased to £392,000 (2016: £333,000).

Chairman Jonathan Jempson told MT: “It’s been a busy year. London particularly was very busy, with goods going into the city because of the amount of building work going on.”

Axis Fleet Management has opened a new mobile maintenance division to service its UK-wide customer base. The unit will be headed up by Ian Ashman.

The division will provide nationwide on-site maintenance and repair services, with the aim of improving trailer availability and up-time for customers. Axis has invested in the latest diagnostic equipment and the initial mobile maintenance vehicles are under development, with the first due to be operational within six weeks.

Ashman’s role will see him co-ordinate operations to deliver an industry-leading service to UK customers.

Axis MD Leigh Goodland said: “The mobile maintenance division marks another step in being the UK’s market-leading fleet management company.

The investment in an in-house maintenance and repair service will give us control to ensure customers enjoy consistently high standards.”

Focus: Warehousing p14 CV Show Preview p18 MT Awards Shortlists: Haulier p24, Operational & Compliance Excellence p26, Partnership p28

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19/04/2018 16:05:51

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News

Leon Hargreaves

motortransport.co.uk

WE ARE FAMILY: Miniclipper Logistics held a 50th anniversary celebration last week at its Leighton Buzzard headquarters, with three generations of the business present to mark the occasion, including founder Mick Masters and wife Janet. The company, headed by Jayne and Peter Masters, unveiled a wall-mounted photo timeline (with a larger version by the transport office, pictured) depicting the company’s journey from one van to a business with an O-licence authorisation for nearly 70 vehicles.

They also handed out service awards to several long-standing members of staff. Graham Leitch, MD of Palletline, which Miniclipper joined in 2012 and Peter Masters is now a board member of, paid tribute to the business. “From a Palletline perspective we are both delighted and fortunate to have Miniclipper and the Masters family as part of our family,” he said.

■ Miniclipper Logistics is shortlisted in the Haulier of the Year and Business Excellence categories at this year’s Motor Transport Awards. See page 22 for the full shortlist or go to mtawards.co.uk, where you can book your table for the industry’s big night on 4 July.

The new facility at Welham Green, Hertfordshire, will open early 2019 and employ approximately 500 staff

DHL wins M&S South East DC

By Hayley Pink

DHL Supply Chain will run Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) new South East DC, as the retailer’s supply chain transformation continues apace.

M&S revealed plans to open a 495,000ft2 DC, based at Welham Green, Hertfordshire, as part of its five-year transformation plan, which began in November 2017.

The retailer wants to shift towards a single-tier clothing and home distribution network to move products from suppliers to stores more quickly and at lower cost.

This has resulted in M&S streamlining its network of 18 smaller distribution hubs with national DCs established in Bradford, Castle Donington and Swindon.

The new facility, a former Tesco site, is being fully mechanised and fitted out to M&S specifications, and will open early next year. It will employ approximately 500 staff.

Gordon Mowat, director of clothing and home supply chain and logistics at M&S, said: “DHL is the right partner for us. It delivered the best response to the tender, it has

a strong record at other M&S sites, and is best placed in terms of costs and speed of operation to help us realise the benefits of our new DC.” However, there is a sting in the tail for DHL, as well as XPO Logistics, as M&S will close its Hardwick Grange, Warrington DC in September.

XPO operates the DC itself, with DHL handling transport.

Approximately 450 jobs are affected (MT understands 50 of those with DHL), with staff now in a consultation period.

The Hardwick DC handles clothing and home products

for stores in the North West and Scotland, and this work will transfer to other sites.

Mowat said: “Closing Hardwick will help remove some complexity from our network and speed up our supply chain. However, it was not a decision we took lightly and is not in any way a reflection on the hard work and dedication provided by the teams on site.

“We will do all we can to support our partners through the consultation process.”

An XPO Logistics spokeswoman said: “Following a

review of its operations, our customer has decided to withdraw its operations from the Hardwick warehouse.

“We have entered into a consultation period with colleagues, the trade union and elected employee representatives to finalise the plans.

We will work to support employees through this time.”

M&S announced it is shutting its Neasden, north London DC, earlier this year and transferring work elsewhere. This is managed by XPO Logistics with DHL Supply Chain handling transport.

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19/04/2018 09:01:30

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19/04/2018 09:01:46

News

motortransport.co.uk

Director admits to difficult months after switching bank saw staff paid late

Tide turns for Canute

By Carol Millett

Canute Group has had to reassure staff that the business will endure after a delay in paying wages earlier this month.

In a letter to employees, seen by MT, Canute director Noel Marshall attributed staff payment delays to problems arising from the company’s decision to switch banks earlier this year, which “proved to be the wrong choice”.

The move to a new lender to address this is understood to have resulted in a delay in staff being paid, albeit only by a few hours.

In the letter, Marshall said the first bank had “failed to correctly understand the nature of our workflow and the cash management processes”.

He added: “The move caused considerable disruption to staff and suppliers and resulted in unwarranted speculation about the company’s stability.”

The letter comes after MT became aware that eight O-licence applications were made by recently formed company Almtone. The applications

give Canute’s Gamston depot as the company’s address and list Canute director Glenn Marshall as transport manager.

Marshall said in the letter that the company’s previous funder had obliged Canute to apply for “a number of changes to be made to our O-licences and structures”.

“This has now come out into the public domain and nobody should be alarmed about this process.”

Supplier disruption

Marshall added that the transition between funders meant Canute was still experiencing some temporary supplier disruption but he assured staff there would be no further delays to wages.

Canute’s most recently published accounts, for the year to 31 July 2016, show an annual turnover of £106m (2015: £100m) but a pre-tax loss of £442,000 (2015: loss of £236,000).

Speaking to MT, Canute Group sales director David Emslie conceded that

the past two months had been “a particular difficult period”.

He added that the group’s choice of a previous funding partner resulted in “a damaging change that affected many long-term supplier relationships and brought about unwarranted speculation about our stability”.

Emslie said the new funder “understands the nuances of the business and will work with us to provide a meaningful strategy for the future, leaving our team to focus on continuity of service and meaningful growth”.

Referring to “current damaging rumours about the group”, he said speculation of a takeover by Eddie Stobart was “unfounded”.

In its year results released last week, Eddie Stobart revealed that it had bought Canute’s building materials division for £1, taking on £6m of debt and £6m of assets (see page 13).

Last year, Canute ended its 29-year relationship with national retailer Wilko after Wincanton won a five-year deal to manage its transport operations.

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19/04/2018 09:03:15

News

motortransport.co.uk

Major shareholder calls for sale break up of the 3PL’s business

Split Wincanton call

By Emma Shone

The investor that successfully campaigned against DX Group’s former executive team last year has called for Wincanton to sell one of its two divisions after buying a 2% stake in the 3PL. Gatemore Capital Management made headlines last year as a DX Group shareholder when it demanded the removal of then-board chairman Bob Holt and non-executive director Paul Murray after the operator’s share price plummeted. It later bought more shares in the business, making it the group’s majority shareholder.

Gatemore Capital Management has now bought 2% of Wincanton, and MT has seen a letter sent to investors outlining the case for the sale of one of the transport giant’s two divisions – Retail & Consumer and Industrial & Transport.

8 MotorTransport MTR_230418_008.indd 8

Managing partner Liad Meidar said that selling one of the Wincanton divisions would fund its pension deficit, which stood at £69m at the end of last September.

Meidar wrote in the letter: “We have engaged in constructive discussions with Wincanton’s management and, in private, are calling for the company to conduct a strategic review, sell one of its two divisions, fund the pension, and refocus the business.”

Meidar argues in the letter that the two divisions of the business are “not a natural fit, and in fact operate under different economic models”.

While Retail & Consumer operates on an asset-light model based around open book contracts, he said, Industrial & Transport is asset-heavy and closed-book contract based.

Gatemore suggested that to sell one of the divisions could

potentially raise its monetary worth by 88%, suggesting it is undervalued as a business, as well as allow the business to refocus on just one operation.

However, market analyst Liberum’s transport team said that while it agreed Wincanton was undervalued, it did not think breaking up the group was the best option.

It said that separating the Retail & Consumer and Industrial & Transport arms of the business would be “legally and operationally complex”.

It added that benefits from the current operational synergies would also be lost in any separation.

Liberum added that it struggled to see “why a buyer interested in one division would not be interested in buying the whole business instead”.

Wincanton declined to comment.

Matthew Kibble goes Fullforce Matthew Kibble Transport has bought Coventry-based Fullforce Logistics.

This latest acquisition, which follows the purchase of Kent-based Shakespeare Transport in March 2015, sees the Lancashire haulier broaden its geographical reach and gain a new Midlands operating base.

The acquisition results in Pallet-Track member Matthew Kibble Transport adding another Palletforce member to the group, with Shakespeare Transport already a member

of the network. The company stated that further acquisitions are on the cards.

Matthew Kibble Transport MD Matthew Kibble said: “We’ve been planning an expansion into the Midlands for some time, so I’m delighted to acquire a quality business such as Fullforce.

“Both Pat and Mick [the owners] will continue to be involved and we’ve already started to integrate the company within our group by rolling out a new logo aligned with the group branding.”

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19/04/2018 09:04:46

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motortransport.co.uk

MD Lee Christopher expects a return to profit after a full-year effect of corrective measures has taken place

Better times ahead at Premier

By Chris Druce

Premier Logistics MD Lee Christopher has predicted the haulier will bounce back after two disastrous acquisitions and the end of its Pall-Ex work led to a £1m loss which triggered an emergency loan from its new network.

The Leicestershire firm’s recently published accounts for the 16 months to 30 April 2017 reveal a turnover of £24.9m, compared with £18.9m in the year to 31 December 2016.

A pre-tax loss of £1.2m (2015: £181,041 profit in year to 31 December) was mainly due to the poor performance of CJ Express in Hull and DA Clayton in Bicester, which were both bought in 2015.

DA Clayton was closed in December 2016, while CJ Express traded until last November. It was placed into voluntary liquidation after a loss of £386,918 in the reporting period.

On the closure of the Hull depot the fleet was transferred

to an existing Huddersfield depot, ensuring key relationships were maintained. It continues under the banner of MWC Logistics.

Premier added in its accounts that the termination of its contract with pallet network Pall-Ex in 2016 cost it dearly. “The group suffered a loss of a few customers, which contributed approximately £2.4m in annual turnover.”

Premier calculated this led to a profit loss of £400,000 in the reporting period.

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Facing a cash crunch, Premier’s pallet network Palletforce made a short-term loan of £400,000 in December 2017 in exchange for an 8% equity stake in the business, although MT understands this is a temporary measure.

Christopher also appears to have put £300,000 of his own money into the business via preference shares, safeguarding the operator in the short term.

In a statement Christopher said: “The group faced a challenging trading period in 2016 and the first half of 2017, but made a number of successful changes to turn things around.

The board took corrective action to improve efficiency and control costs and we are pleased to have achieved a significant improvement in financial performance.

“We expect further improvement and a return to profit once a full-year effect of these measures has taken effect.”

A number of new contracts were won during the period including a three-year agree-

ment with Tile Giant to supply more than 100 stores nationwide on a daily basis, Premier said. It also continues to deliver cost and operational efficiencies to Boal Group, described as a significant contract for the company.

Premier said that since the reporting period in the eight months to December 2017, earnings before tax at the group improved by more than £1.1m. This resulted in it turning a £739,000 loss (over 16 months to April 2017) into a £190,000 profit (for the eight months to December 2017) at its haulage business.

Dawsongroup saves van rental business Transflex Dawsongroup has purchased Transflex, the van rental business of collapsed TOM Vehicle Rental Group.

The deal secures 80 jobs, with the trade, business and assets – including 3,600 vans – of Transflex purchased out of administration.

Dawsongroup CEO Steve Miller said: “The troubles of the TOM Group show how tough the rental business has been.

“It is fortunate that our own business has shown strong growth over the years – and continues to do so – so we undertake this rescue with confidence: confidence in the Transflex team; confidence in the quality of its fleet; and confidence in our own ability to put the two operations together to make an even

stronger whole.”

He added: “We will bring to the mix a strong customer focus, supported by proven management styles and disciplines honed while developing our own hard-earned success over the past 40-plus years.”

Miller promised that Transflex’s senior management would be given the support required to get the business back on track.

T he deal has taken Dawsongroup’s van fleet to close to 9,000. It already has eight dedicated van rental sites and, with Transflex, adds branches in Stockton, Manchester, Bristol and Buckingham.

TOM Vehicle Rental Group collapsed into administration last month after efforts to sell the group failed.

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19/04/2018 09:06:23

News

motortransport.co.uk

BIG LABELS: DHL Supply Chain has won a five-year extension to its logistics management contract with apparel and home fashions retailer TJX Europe, which is known for its TK Maxx brand in the UK. DHL will continue to manage TJX Europe group logistics operations across Europe, which began in 1994 in the UK and was extended across Europe in 2007, and includes overseeing TJX Europe’s end-to-end supply chain, including inbound vendor collections and outbound store distribution. TJX Europe said it will benefit from DHL’s advanced fleet management system, as well as its European transport control tower – a multi-lingual, multi-skilled facility that will act as a control hub for TJX Europe’s logistics operations.

Shop Direct plans to open a fully automated fulfilment centre near Castle Donington in Leicestershire

Online retailer invests in mega facility to meet demand

By Simon Jack

Online retailer Shop Direct – owner of the Very and Littlewoods brands – is to open a 500,000ft2 automated fulfilment centre near Castle Donington in Leicestershire.

The new facility will replace three operations in Greater Manchester and will allow Shop Direct to increase its cutoff time for next-day delivery from 7pm to midnight and to explore the potential of sameday delivery in the future.

Shop Direct said this will be

possible due to the location of the site at East Midlands Gateway, which is off junction 24 of the M1 and adjacent to East Midlands Airport. There is also a multi-user rail freight terminal at the site.

Construction of the building, which will accommodate all one-man fulfilment and returns operations, will start in May and will be fully operational by the Christmas 2021 peak. There will be 500 permanent staff employed at the new operation with between 200

and 300 agency staff taken on to cover peak trading periods.

The existing operations at Shaw, Little Hulton and Raven, which total 1.5 million ft2, currently employ 1,177 permanent staff and 815 agency workers. An internal review concluded that limited accessibility, layout and loading restrictions meant that these centres would not be able to meet Shop Direct’s future operational requirements.

Derek Harding, interim group CEO at Shop Direct,

said: “This is a tough day for the business and we know how difficult this news will be to hear for our teams. However, these proposals are necessary for our future to enable us to continue to grow and meet rising customer expectations.�

The company said redundancies are anticipated and it will work alongside trade union Usdaw, local authorities and community leaders. It will offer staff careers advice, training and access to financial planning courses.

“We are announcing this now to give our colleagues the best possible opportunity to prepare for the change,�

Harding said.

East Midlands Gateway is being developed by Segro and Roxhill.

Once completed it will provide 6 million ft2 of space.

Amazon is thought to have negotiated a deal for a 500,000ft2 warehouse and XPO is expected to take 700,000ft 2 to service its contract with NestlĂŠ.

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19/04/2018 09:46:00

News

motortransport.co.uk

Push into manufacturing, industrial and bulk and e-commerce pays dividends for operator

Eddie Stobart bulks up

By Chris Druce

Eddie Stobart Logistics has seen its push around manufacturing, industrial and bulk (MIB) pay off handsomely, with the segment now its biggest turnover contributor.

In the year to 30 November 2017, the firm, which trades as Eddie Stobart, saw turnover growth of 37% in MIB, and 111% in its e-commerce operation – its other major focus since returning to the Alternative Investment Market in April 2017.

MIB accounted for £182m, or 29% of full-year turnover (2016: £132.7m), supplanting its mature retail business, which at £168.6m (2016: £152.2m) contributed 27% of turnover in the period.

E-commerce, off the back of its iForce purchase, also had a stellar period, more than doubling from £49.1m in 2016

to £103.4m and contributing 17% of the logistic firm’s annual revenue.

Despite this, Eddie Stobart stated in its accounts regarding its retail segment, which increased in revenue terms by 11% year on year, “we now work with most of the major UK retailers”.

In a period that saw it open its second training school, buy half of Speedy Freight, and buy out the Logistics People, Eddie Stobart also struck a deal with Canute Haulage Group on 7 August 2017 to strengthen its MIB offer.

The deal resulted in 38 tractors and tankers, 53 trailers, approximately 50 employees and the licence to occupy a Brentwood, Essex, address transfer to Eddie Stobart.

The assets and liabilities were recorded initially at £6m each, with the business

YEAR HIGHLIGHTS ■ Turnover: £623.9m

itself acquired for just £1.

Responding to reports that Eddie Stobart’s name might disappear from the business after February 2020, the accounts state “the team at Eddie Stobart is passionate about our name and the leading brand. However, we also recognise that following the introduction of our new strat-

egy and the recent acquisitions, we need to review our position given the broader range of supply chain service we now offer.”

Alex Laffey, chief executive of Eddie Stobart Logistics, said: “We have made good progress in implementing our strategy of becoming a leading provider of end-to-end supply chain

(2016: £570.2m). If the impact of ending its Irish retail service is stripped out, 2016 revenue was £549m.

■ EBITDA adjusted for Irish retail business: £55.3m (2016: 47.4m) ■ Operating profit: £26.6m (2016: £26.8m) ■ Pre-tax profit: £9.9m (2016: £11.2m) ■ Proposed dividend per share: 5.8p ■ Net debt: reduced from £165.5m to £109.5m

solutions. Overall we are pleased with our progress in 2017.

“The new financial year has started well and in line with the board’s expectations.”

Hall 5, Stand F10 NEC Birmingham, 24-26 April 2018

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19/04/2018 09:46:23

Focus: Warehousing

motortransport.co.uk

Exchange sites suit seekers and owners Warehouse exchanges, where companies with spare space advertise on an internet platform to potential occupiers, are increasing in popularity, according to those providing the services.

Transport exchange Returnloads launched its service – The Warehouse Exchange – last summer and has since expanded to more than 1,000 warehouses and 70 million ft2.

MD Richard Newbold said the service, which is being shown at several exhibitions including Multimodal, caters for a large variety of requirements in terms of size and the length of time the space is needed for.

“Someone might want 10 pallet spaces for three months and someone else might need to handle 200 containFIRST IN: Hermes has signed up for an 80,000ft2 DC at Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead, the first occupier to take space at the site. Construction of the building, which is due for completion in October this year, has begun and will take place alongside the development of several speculative buildings. Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead will sit within Hertfordshire’s Enviro-tech Enterprise Zone, which aims to promote economic growth. Each of the buildings will have the highest possible EPC energy rating for their size and will include rooftop solar installations. When the park is fully developed it will provide 585,000ft2 of space, along with £2.5m-worth of highway infrastructure. Prologis senior vice president Paul Weston said: “Having such a high-profile company as our first customer further underwrites the importance of this area as a key business location.”

14 MotorTransport MTR_230418_014.indd 14

ers coming in regularly for the next few years,” he said.

Newbold said all enquiries are filtered to make them relevant. “If you had temperature-controlled warehousing on offer you wouldn’t be alerted to someone who wanted outside storage,” he explained.

Another service is UKWA’s webbased portal MarketSpace, which chief executive Peter Ward said covers a range of functions. “It is a logistics matching service, providing a workforce, racking, mechanical handling and so on. It is fully-serviced pallet space from companies that already provide warehousing,” he said.

The service, which is free to use for UKWA members, caters for short-term

needs of a week or a month as well as long-term requirements.

As well as bringing together those looking for and letting space, another platform called Stowga offers a streamlined transaction process.

CEO Charlie Pool said this creates an on-demand warehousing option for occupiers. “Rather than the tortuous year spent locating and negotiating a new lease, a business can locate, secure and move into a warehouse in just one week. By setting a minimum and maximum requirement, they can then scale up and down the amount of space – and supporting logistics services – as required in response to seasonality, customer demand or other factors such as Brexit,” he said.

DB Symmetry interchange plans on track Developer DB Symmetry is pushing ahead with plans for a rail freight interchange in Leicestershire that could create 9.1 million ft2 of logistics space.

If approved, the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) would integrate with the Nuneaton to Felixstowe railway line and have direct road access to junction 2 of the M69.

It would create a new rail port surrounded by 557 acres of land for loading and unloading trains. The warehousing space would be on a single land parcel between the railway and the motorway. The buildings could be rail-connected if occupiers demanded it.

DB Symmetry intends to submit

final proposals next year to the Planning Inspectorate after engaging with local authorities and the community. The scheme’s size means that approval will ultimately be determined by the transport secretary.

The announcement of the plans follows the opening earlier this year of a new rail freight hub at Verdion’s iPort development in Doncaster (above), which connects to the East Coast Line and the M18.

Development of the 6 million ft2 adjacent logistics park has attracted Amazon, CEVA, Fellowes and Lidl and there are two speculative units of 120,000ft2 and 60,000ft2 under construction.

Fresh perspective

By Peter Ward

Diversity works in the workplace Our industry is facing a serious shortage of skilled and unskilled labour and we’re keen to attract bright, enthusiastic and capable people to apply for jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities, irrespective of background.

As the leading trade association for the logistics sector, UKWA is working hard to educate and inform people about the exciting career opportunities our great industry has to offer and encouraging more diverse and inclusive working environments.

It is important to combat prejudice in the recruitment process and challenge illinformed notions about the capabilities of disabled people and those with health issues in the workplace.

Changes, driven by technology and e-commerce, have generated a variety of job and career opportunities in warehouses and fulfilment centres. Online purchasing has driven demand for new roles, such as planners, analysts, engineers, administrators and more. These roles are suitable for physically disabled or abled people, while those with different challenges, such as learning difficulties, can often excel in the physically demanding, largely unskilled jobs on the warehouse floor.

There is plenty of evidence that highlights that a diverse workforce is more engaged, loyal and motivated, which leads to better productivity and lower staff churn.

Driving diversity in the workplace is an important aspect of good business management. While legislation sets minimum standards, an effective diversity and inclusion strategy goes beyond legal compliance and seeks to add value to an organisation, contributing to a satisfied workforce and a successful business.

Peter Ward is chief executive of the UK Warehousing Association.

Tel: 0207 636 8856. pward@ukwa.org.uk

23.4.18

18/04/2018 10:56:03

YOUR TRUSTED FLEE T PARTNER

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19/04/2018 09:07:49 27/03/2018 15:49

Viewpoint

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Members only: the conditions of carriage

S Richard Burnett Chief executive RHA

ince 1946, the RHA Conditions of Carriage have defined a haulier’s legal relationship with its customers, specifying the responsibilities of the customer and consignee regarding the collection, transportation and delivery of goods.

Our frequently congested road network means just-in-time deliveries and last-minute orders can be at risk. However, incorporating the RHA conditions into the contract could save operators a fortune, should a problem arise. For example, unless agreed otherwise with the customer, the conditions set a limit of £1,300 per tonne on the gross weight of goods lost, misdelivered or damaged.

Not using them simply exposes the carrier to common law claims for consequential loss.

Without their protection, an operator could be held responsible for the full value of a consignment that had suffered only minor damage while in their care. In extreme circumstances, operators could find themselves liable for losses resulting from the closure of an entire production line because of a delayed delivery.

Of course, delivery issues may still occur but, with today’s prevalent blame culture, damage

limitation is of paramount importance.

Membership of the RHA entitles hauliers use of the conditions, thereby providing protection of livelihood.

The RHA Conditions of Carriage are for the exclusive use of RHA members. Their use is not compulsory, but members are strongly recommended to do so.

Long recognised as the industry standard, the RHA conditions are tried, tested and well understood. For that reason, we are often alerted to their use by non-members who are, in effect, using them under false pretences.

Anyone reading this who is not an RHA member but is using the conditions is in direct contravention of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008.

We are always quick to follow up any misuse and always inform Trading Standards. They in turn will use their statutory powers to investigate further and to bring forward criminal or civil proceedings. Today’s technology means it is easier than ever to find those using the conditions under false pretences.

To find out more about the RHA Conditions of Carriage, visit the RHA’s stand (5F30) at this week’s CV Show.

The newspaper for transport operators

To contact us: Tel: 020 8912 +4 digits or email: name.surname@roadtransport.com Editor Steve Hobson 2161 Editor-in-chief Christopher Walton 2163 Group news editor Chris Druce 2158 Deputy news editor Emma Shone 2164 Group technical editor Colin Barnett 2141 Aftermarket editor Roger Brown 2168 Vans editor George Barrow 2156 Urban editor Hayley Pink 2165 Group production editor Clare Goldie 2174 Chief sub-editor Rufus Thompson 2143 Key account managers Andrew Smith 07771 885874 Miranda Hall-Morley 07825 409551 Display telesales Barnaby Goodman-Smith 2128 Event sales Richard Bennett 07889 823060 Tim George 0755 7677758 Classified and recruitment advertising Head of sales operations Julie McInally 2122 rtmclassified@roadtransport.com Sales director Vic Bunby 2121 Head of marketing Jane Casling 2133 Head of events/MT Awards Stephen Pobjoy 2135 Managing director Andy Salter 2171 Editorial office Road Transport Media, Sixth Floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1JB 020 8912 2170 Free copies MT is available free to specified licensed operators under the publisher’s terms of control. For details, email mtsccqueries@roadtransport.com, or call 01772 426705

Cheating is no way to improve our image ‘D Steve Hobson Editor Motor Transport

on’t demonise diesel.’ Remember that plea from the SMMT in 2015 following the Volkswagen car and van emissions scandal? Sadly, the CV industry has just possibly put another nail in the coffin of diesel with the Channel 4 Dispatches programme highlighting the number of operators using illegal AdBlue bypass devices.

This is not just hysterical journalism having a go at the haulage industry: the DVSA has said that one in 12 vehicles it stopped – admittedly in a targeted campaign – was found to have some sort of emissions cheat device or software.

There is simply no excuse for this. Claiming that it is the only way to keep trucks on the road will not wash. Would you bypass a faulty brake actuator just to get the truck out of the yard and on the road?

Arguing that emissions cheating is not as

16 MotorTransport MTR_230418_016.indd 16

serious a road safety risk as bodging the brakes, and that Euro-6 emissions limits are far too tight, is missing the point. Euro-6 trucks are indeed clean – but not if their AdBlue systems are bypassed.

The industry is once again trying to ease its skills shortages by pulling together to improve its image in the eyes of the public, this time under the leadership of former senior traffic commisisoner Beverley Bell.

This type of negative publicity does immense damage to the transport industry in the eyes of politicians, regulators and potential recruits and we are in danger of shooting ourselves in the foot yet again.

Subscriptions Tel 0330 333 9544 Quadrant Subscription Services, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH Rates UK £135/year. Europe £163/ year. RoW £163/year. Cheques made payable to Motor Transport.

Apply online at mtssubs.com Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper Published by DVV Media International Ltd © 2018 DVV Media International Ltd ISSN 0027-206 X

Got something to say?

If you would like to contribute to MT’s Viewpoint, email steve.hobson@roadtransport.com 23.4.18

19/04/2018 13:44:21

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19/04/2018 09:12:32

Preview: CV Show 2018

It’s show time Anyone and everyone involved in the road transport industry will be heading to Birmingham this week for the Commercial Vehicle Show. Michael Gordon previews the 2018 show

T

he 2018 Commercial Vehicle Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham this week (April 24 to 26) will feature some 450 exhibitors, representing the entire road transport supply sector, and attract around 20,000 business visitors to the 55,000m2 exhibition space.

Visitors will be shown a massive range of products and services that can help them to operate and maintain a safe, efficient and effective fleet. This year the key themes are centred around innovation and urban delivery with a multitude of mobile apps and telematics devices on show and vehicle manufacturers focused on the van market.

Vehicle manufacturers exhibiting this year include MAN Truck and Bus, Citroën, Fiat Professional, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, LDV, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SsangYong, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Peugeot (5D40) will be exhibiting a full range of light commercial vehicles, featuring the Partner, Expert and Boxer. Making its CV Show debut is a conversion from the new Boxer “Built for Business” conversions range.

SsangYong (4F80) will be exhibiting its all-new Musso pick-up. First launched at the Geneva motor show, its appearance at the CV Show is

18 MotorTransport MTR_230418_018new.indd 18

a UK first. The all-new multi-purpose pick-up offers practicality, versatility and style with a quad-frame body construction, a 1-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and a proven 4x4 system delivering dynamic off-road capabilities.

In a European premiere Toyota (4E10) will launch a new top-of-the-range Hilux with a re- designed front end and interior improvements. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Hilux has built a limited edition model and this will be present at the show. Toyota has also introduced a new Land Cruiser Commercial vehicle for the UK, which has been available in SWB and LWB deri vatives since March.

Citroën Ready to Run

Citroën (5D40) is showcasing the latest addition to its Relay Ready to Run conversions range.

The Relay Ready to Run Crew Cab Tipper conversion is based on the Relay L3 Crew Cab chassis and features a load floor that is 2,670mm long and 2,026mm wide. Using bolted construction for ease of maintenance, the tipper body is made from steel and aluminium components for durability and optimum payload – up to 1,033kg with the L3 Crew Cab. The tailboard features full “Chapter 8” high-visibility markings, while the 400mm tall side boards feature a smooth finish for easy application of customer

livery. Joining the Relay on the Citroën stand will be two variants of the Dispatch, which was given its international launch at the CV Show two years ago.

MAN (5F10) will launch the 3.5-tonne RWD TGE light commercial van and exhibit the new TG truck interiors for the first time in the UK, as well as launching the MAN Vans to Go body solutions. Thomas Hemmerich, MD of MAN Truck & Bus UK, says: “The UK CV Show is an important event in our calendar and as a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer it’s a show that we have always felt important to attend and support since conception.” MAN in-house experts covering all business areas will man the stand over the three days, offering visitors advice, support and product updates.

The UK’s largest Iveco dealer group, Guest Truck and Van and Sherwood Truck and Van, will be putting the new LNG-fuelled Iveco Stralis Natural Power 460hp tractor unit centre stage on its stand (5G90), alongside examples of the new CNG-fuelled Daily Blue Power van and the on/off-road Stralis X-Way ranges – all making their CV Show debuts. The Stralis NP can deliver up to 2,000Nm, matched with a 12-speed Hi-Tronix automated transmission for excellent driving comfort and performance, and a range of up to 1,600km. Particulate emis23.4.18

18/04/2018 10:42:20

motortransport.co.uk

sions are negligible and NOx emissions are 60% lower than the Euro-6 limits on long-haul work. The Stralis NP is also much quieter than a diesel-powered truck, with noise levels about 50% lower, improving deliveries in urban areas.

Also on display will be the highly anticipated new Stralis X-Way truck that combines the Trakker chassis strength with the fuel saving, safety and driveability of the Stralis. It comes with a choice of Cursor 9, 11 and 13 engines and transmissions including manual, Allison automatic and the new automated ZF Hi-Tronix 12- or 16-speed.

Cartwright Conversions is showing its Ford Transit welfare vehicle and a Peugeot Expert racking van, on a stand dedicated to showcasing its conversions (5D70).

Tiger Trailers (5A110) is exhibiting a new three-quarter length, moving-deck curtainsided double-deck trailer, along with the Tiger Deck loading dock, developed to speed up the loading and unloading of any double-deck trailer.

The Tiger Deck has been specifically designed to offer more cage capacity than other systems to produce significant time savings.

Hireco has long had a presence at the CV Show, its trailers appearing on numerous manufacturer’s stands, but this year it will be exhibiting in its own right for the first time (5A120). The UK’s largest trailer buyer, which boasts a 4,500-strong fleet, is in the process of building a new £5m depot at DP World, Essex.

Showcasing innovation, Trakm8 (4H112) will be demonstrating two products – the RH600, which provides fleet managers with the insights they need to improve safety and reduce costs, and Trakm8 Prime, which is the only vehicle tracking solution in the UK that allows the customer to buy online, without the need for any intervention from a sales person.

It is designed for small to medium-sized fleets.

Compliance and tachograph experts TruTac (4H01) will exhibit new product features, includ23.4.18

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ing earned recognition to judge performance against ER KPI’s, Driver Calendar Import to eliminate administration, Divisions for KPI monitoring and control, GDPR for encryption protection across the full suite of products, and TruLinks for smooth data integration between other systems where shared data provides management benefits.

Tachograph experts Aquarius IT (4F71) is this year showcasing ClockWatcherelite, analysis software allowing an integrated approach to tachograph compliance, with bolt-on applications such as payroll, telematics and tracking.

Recent developments include a proof of delivery module, a paperless solution allowing a full audit trail and a time and attendance module, enabling employees to clock-in and clock-out with existing devices.

Specialist transport management software provider Mandata (4H80) is showcasing its new cloud and subscription-based transport management system. The Mandata TMS Go! enable smaller hauliers to manage collections and delivery processes from order-to-invoice with a single paperless system.

Telematics technology

Brigade (3A65) is launching its Ultrasonic Detection on-screen display (OSD) following customer demand for more integrated products to reduce driver information overload.

Chevin Fleet Solutions (4E41) will showcase its flagship software FleetWave – a new, simple to use mobile data collection solution. Workers can access the tasks via the Forms mobile app to quickly capture and collect any information on the go, and securely transfer the data back to the FleetWave asset management platform.

OBS Logistics (4E110) is showing its Calidus suite of products, which primarily includes a transport management and warehouse management system along with products that can be fully integrated such as electronic proof of

delivery, track and trace, and a dashboard alerting tool.

VisionTrack, a supplier of in-vehicle camera telematics technology, is launching its 4G mobile DVR system that includes driver fatigue and mobile phone distraction monitoring as well as collision warning (4G50).

BT Fleet Solutions (5C15) will showcase innovations in app technology, accident management, data insight and service, maintenance and repair, which help keep vehicles safely and profitably on the road.

Another area of growing interest is dashboard cameras. Pre-orders of the Road Angel Pure sold out within weeks. The most advanced Road Angel (4C10) product to date is now on general release and will be exhibited at the show.

With an 80% market share (according to GFK stats) of the dash cam market, Nextbase (3B72) is exhibiting the 380GW, which has been designed specifically with commercial vehicle drivers in mind. It is the result of a year’s research involving some of the UK’s biggest fleets.

Intelligent Telematics (4H70), the leading provider of connected vehicle cameras to the fleet, road transport and insurance sectors, is launching a 3G multi-camera system.

ProVision (4H120), the creator of CameraMatics, is showcasing its latest innovations, including a major extension to its CameraMatics platform in the form of a new browser and app-based Command Centre, as well as two other apps to help with tracking, fleet risk compliance, and management..

CKO (5C140) is exhibiting its advanced safety technology products for compliance and accreditation with FORS, CLOCS, Crossrail and beyond. Featuring entry level to comprehensive compliance packages, tailored to meet every business’s needs, visitors can see its Digital CCTV recording camera equipment in operation.

Seeing Machines (3E84), a world leader ➜ 20 MotorTransport 19

18/04/2018 10:42:48

Preview: CV Show 2018

in computer vision technologies is once again showcasing Guardian, a real-time driver fatigue and distraction accident prevention technology.

Trailer Vision (4H112) is showing its OmniVue 360-deg ‘look-down’ camera systems for HGVs and LCVs. In line with national ambitions to reduce levels of exhaust emissions, a number of exhibitors are displaying environmental products.

CNG Fuels and Agility Fuel Solutions (4H21) are showcasing a Scania Bio-CNG 4x2 tractor unit, one of 10 ordered by Waitrose. CNG Fuels’ will be discussing the financial and environmental benefits of 100% renewable biomethane fuel for the HGV sector, with emissions reductions of 84% and a 30% to 40% reduction in fuel spend compared with a Euro-6 diesel.

Agility Fuel Solutions is highlighting its advanced CNG fuel tanks, which offer longer range, quicker fill time and significant weight savings.

BOC (3B65) will be exhibiting its LNG capability at the CV show. Visitors will have the opportunity to see its easily deployable Lite refuelling equipment which is ideal for customer site refuelling of five to 15 vehicles.

A participant in the Go Ultra Low Grant Scheme, LDV’s electric vehicles are set to be the centre of attention on its stand (5F120) this year.

Temperature-controlled solution

For those moving goods that need to be kept at a controlled temperature the Cool zone in hall 3a is a must. Here visitors will find a range of refrigerated vehicles and bodywork, side by side with the latest fridge units, monitoring equipment and other products specific to cold chain operations.

motortransport.co.uk

Specialist bodybuilder Coolertech is displaying insulated van conversions and box bodies on its stand (3C130), while Thermo King and Frigoblock (3C100) are featuring the new SLXi Hybrid trailer refrigeration units. This innovative hybrid technology, introduced as a concept during the 2017 show, has become a reality and combines expertise from Thermo King and Frigoblock for sustainable and cost-effective urban and long-haul refrigerated transport.

Increased business from the refrigerated and temperature-controlled vehicle market sees Eberspächer UK take a larger stand (3F140) within the Cool zone this year. Sharing the stand with specialist Coldtainer dealer and refrigeration engineers David Brett Solutions it is launching new products from the Coldtainer range of temperature-controlled, mobile refrigeration boxes.

Maximum efficiency

Carrier Transicold UK (3F125) is showing its engineless technology with two innovative units on display – the Iceland Twincool and the Vector 1550 E all-electric system.

The Twincool runs on hydro-electric power generated by the truck’s engine, using Transicold’s Eco-Drive GenSet. A hydraulic pump connected to the truck’s power take-off drives a generator that delivers electrical power to the fridge unit. The Vector 1550 E trailer unit harnesses electrical power via either a tractor fitted with Eco-Drive or mains power while parked.

Carrier Transicold is also exhibiting its improved telematics system with full two-way communication functionality, which allows operators to remotely manage or carry out pre-trip checks of the cooling system.

To ensure vehicles are kept running at maximum efficiency, the Workshop zone in hall 4 will showcase everything from OE components and replacement parts to maintenance management systems, garage, workshop and bodyshop equipment.

Eclipse (4B10) is returning to the CV Show with a vehicle simulator that will demonstrate how this equipment could help technicians solve problems faster and improve their workshop efficiency.

Tachosys (5G01) will present its vision of the future for its Digipostpro – to include time and attendance for non-driving staff in the same location.

Tecalemit (4E65) returns to highlight the signature TGD/MDS/X Combined Emissions Tester. Calibrated by UKAS accredited Tecalemit engineers and housed in a compact, spacesaving cabinet, the TGD/MDS/X is approved for all classes of MoT testing.

Merridale (4K10) is presenting four new products. The MX-P diesel/gasoil pump and the MX-I, an integral diesel/gasoil pump with built-in fuel management, the MX-P DEF for AdBlue, and the MX-T tank contents management system.

As part of Yara UK’s aim to engage with the community, local schoolchildren took part in designing adverts showing what they think Yara does and how it help clean up the air and the environment. Various pieces of artwork created by the pupils will be framed and on display around the Air1 stand (5F35).

Backhouse Jones (4E01) will be giving away Yorkie bars and there will be a member of the law firm’s team on hand to talk to visitors about O-licence compliance, employment, corporate or property matters. ■

INNOVATION HUB PROGRAMME The future of road transport, distribution and logistics will be at the forefront of the show. The latest technological innovations, advances in design and manufacturing as well as concepts for the products of tomorrow will all be showcased. Highlighting these progressive solutions will be the CV Show Innovation Hub, returning after its successful debut last year. Hosted by MT, the Innovation Hub will run continuous seminar sessions each day with a line-up of leading inspirational speakers and industry experts.

The programme is as follows: ■ 11am: Innovation Hub opens Welcome/introduction: host, Andy Salter plus guest.

■ 11.15am: Truck tech innovation Truck platooning; autonomous vehicles; electric trucks; safety devices; tracking.

■ 12.45pm: Alternative fuels Air quality issues; the changing landscape for fuel use; alternatives to diesel.

■ 2pm: Smart transport and logistics Mobility as a service; blockchain, freightshare; urban mobility; future of employment.

■ 3.15pm: Innovation Hub closes Timings are approximate, please check the final programme in Innovation Hub, Hall 3.

20 MotorTransport MTR_230418_018new.indd 20

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19/04/2018 09:17:15 27/03/2018 09:32

MT Awards 2018 shortlists Haulier of the Year Sponsored by

MT profiles the shortlists for this year’s awards

Miniclipper

Formed nearly half a century ago by Mick Masters as a one man and a van operation, Miniclipper now runs 40 trucks, 35 trailers, four warehouses and a 24-hour DC, and delivers 250,000 pallets each year.

The Palletline member saw turnover rise 10% to £13.1m in 2016/17 with pre-tax profit up 8% to £397,400. Customer service statistics are highly impressive, with delivery KPIs between 97.5% and 99.4%.

Every customer is allocated a specific customer services rep to build trust and improve relationships. The company has invested in longer double-deck trailers to carry 25% more pallets per trailer, cutting two trailers from the nightly trunk schedule. It has put solar panels on its owned warehouses and installed energy-efficient lighting to reduce electricity consumption.

Judges liked the way the company encouraged its 130 staff to come up with ideas in a 'Dragons' Den’-style pitch and said this was a “well-managed business showing both turnover and profit growth”.

Customer feedback gathered by Analytiqa included: “A can-do attitude makes it our first point of call for anything out of the ordinary.”

Stephen Sanderson Transport

This family-owned haulier, founded more than 40 years ago, prides itself on its reputation for “highly adaptable and personal service, combined with the strength to deliver almost any consignment”.

The Market Harborough operator runs 70 vehicles and 100,000ft2 of warehousing. A member of the Transport Association and Palletline, its turnover in 2017 rose to £11.4m, while pre-tax profit increased to £925,586.

The entry was based on the company’s six key values: breadth of capability and expertise; first-call customer service, communication and quality; investment in our vehicles, technology and innovation; commitment to sustainability; developing and caring for our staff; giving back to our community.

Average employee length of service is 12 years, and the company has recently employed three apprentices in its workshop.

Judges commented on the focus on staff retention and the firm's dedication to the local community and environment “all while running a very high-profile fleet, growing its business and making continued profit”.

Customer retention is excellent, with one telling Analytiqa it had used Stephen Sanderson for 37 years. Another said: “It is like having our own transport company.”

24 MotorTransport MTR_230418_024new.indd 24

Howard Tenens

Although based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, Howard Tenens is a national operator, with sites throughout the country. One of its biggest is Swindon Europa, where it has more than 1 million ft2 of warehousing for customers in the retail and automotive sectors.

Last year was one of the most successful in the privately owned firm’s 65-year history, with group turnover of £85.5m and pre-tax profit of £9.4m. A new board of directors was tasked with delivering an ambitious growth strategy. The company believes its people are its most valuable asset and it invested £450,000 in improved internal development and rewards programmes, which culminate in an annual staff awards ceremony.

It added 650,000ft2 of new warehouse space at a cost of £34m, with a further £655,000 spent on upgrading existing facilities.

Judges were impressed by the renewed vigour following the board restructure, with one saying: “Great to see the profit growth challenge required from new business.”

Another said: “It is clear Howard Tenens is focused on managing its carbon footprint and cares about its staff.”

One customer told Analytiqa the company was “always willing, always capable, and delivers on promises”.

Expect Distribution

Family-owned Expect Distribution has been in business for 30 years, but still has a 'fresh and dynamic' approach to transport and warehousing. Last year it continued to boost turnover and pre-tax profit, making £1.25m on sales of £24.2m. It employs 250 staff, runs 94 Euro-6 vehicles from three sites, and is the largest member of Palletline, handling more than 3,000 pallets each day.

The owners have reinvested £12m in the business in the past seven years, including £1.7m expanding warehousing facilities at its Bradford headquarters.

As well as rewarding and retaining its existing staff, the company is actively developing its talent pipeline by recruiting four apprentices every year across the business.

Judges liked the high levels of employee engagement and the ‘presence’ the firm’s branding and distinctive livery commands. One said: “A financially stable business with a clear sustainable operating model.” Another said: “The investment in people and infrastructure, and good management control, is clear. It is a safe and environmentally aware business.”

Customers told Analytiqa: “Its can-do attitude makes for a streamlined customer experience.”

23.4.18

19/04/2018 09:38:01

Fleet Truck of the Year 2017

At Volvo Trucks we believe that behind every great Haulier is a great truck.

Volvo make great trucks, but it’s more than just the trucks that make Volvo so special – it’s our people.

Our passionate people go the extra mile to keep your vehicle on the road, working and earning, 24/7 and it is for that reason that we are proud to sponsor the Haulier of the Year 2018 award.

Just like the winner of this coveted award, we have a real passion to see our customers succeed. www.volvotrucks.co.uk

Search: VolvoTrucksUK

Volvo Trucks. Driving Progress 56468

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19/04/2018 09:19:30

MT Awards 2018 shortlists Operational & Compliance Excellence Award Sponsored by

Hermes

Parcels carrier Hermes last year managed the difficult balancing act of increasing volumes by 13.5% while improving KPIs such as driving infringements, fuel consumption, accident rates, driving style and customer service levels across its HGV trunking fleet.

Some improvements were dramatic – a 5.5% drop in fuel consumption, a 15.5% improvement in driving style scores and a drop of 10.5 driving hours infringements to just 34.7 for every 10,000 miles driven.

Hermes uses a dashboard to monitor key operational metrics. This also forecasts demand three times a day so managers can improve the operation and plan resources more accurately using the combined planning, execution, tracking and review transport management system.

It helped the business achieve impressive vehicle fill rates of between 79% and 93% on its inbound and outbound trunks.

The carrier uses an in-cab camera-based system to improve driver behaviour, which in turn cuts fuel consumption and accident rates. Fuel use was also reduced by investment in better aerodynamics and more efficient tractor units. This contributed to a 1p per mile cut in cost per mile across the depots and a huge 54p per mile drop in hub linehaul costs.

Judges liked the Hermes submission, which presented a “well-managed business”. One commented on the excellent weekly reports on driving styles that were presented in a league table across the depots – “this shows healthy competition and the scores mirrored the performance”.

Moran Logistics

Moran Logistics’ ambition is to be the UK’s leading distributor of chilled, ambient and frozen foods, and as such sees it as its responsibility to set the highest standards of operational and compliance excellence. It uses state-ofthe art telematics and transport management systems to monitor a number of KPIs and drive improvements in efficiency, customer service, compliance and

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environmental performance. One impressive KPI was that empty running was less than 1% across the Moran network, far lower than the national average of 28%.

Key to ensuring the operation is delivering what its customers want are a structured series of client reviews, held daily, weekly and monthly, to look at performance and measure how well services are meeting their needs and expectations.

One major customer said: “You delivered good service over the peak weeks and this is testament to the real commitment from your team to deliver an excellent performance. Your communication was excellent and the overall performance gave us real confidence.”

Judges were equally happy, praising the ‘no-nonsense’ entry’s attention to detail and saying Moran was a “professional, well-run company doing all the things every 3PL should be doing”.

Whirlpool UK Appliances

As the only major domestic appliance manufacturer to run its own home delivery operation, Hotpoint Home Solutions (HHS), Whirlpool says its logistics division is managed with military precision and its people are ambassadors for the brand.

HHS delivers almost 750,000 products to customers’ homes each year, managing the process from customer order, delivery, unpacking and installation, and including removal of the old appliance and packaging. Customers are given a three-hour delivery window and successful delivery rates were almost 100% last year.

A winner of this award in 2015, HHS holds product at its NDC in Raunds, distributing to 11 satellite depots for onward delivery. It operates 140 vehicles and employs 330 drivers and attendants.

The HHS fleet department has a clear focus on compliance and has a programme of three annual internal audits at each depot, covering vehicles hired in for peak periods as well as the core owned fleet.

The audits cover more than 100 points to check compliance with all O-licence requirements and other legislation. Last year’s audits revealed compliance had risen to a record 97.5%. Any non-conformities are addressed with an improvement plan held on a company-wide SharePoint.

A combination of introducing more efficient 5-tonne and 7-tonne vehicles alongside the conventional 7.5-tonners, and driver training has seen consistent improvement in MPG across the Euro-5 EEV and Euro-6 fleet.

Judges liked this ‘well-presented’ submission. One said: “The entry clearly provides evidence of how they have gone over and above the call of duty to ensure the profitable, safe, legal and efficient running of their fleet.”

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Eddie Stobart is proud to sponsor the organisational and compliance excellence award

Eddie Stobart Logistics is a leading supply chain, transport and logistics business providing industry-leading services to many of the UK’s best-known brands.

Working across a range of sectors we operate c.2,300 vehicles, c.4,000 trailers and 26 distribution centres throughout the UK and Europe.

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Good luck to all the finalists this evening

19/04/2018 09:21:49

MT Awards 2018 shortlists Partnership Award Sponsored by Clipper Logistics and Superdry

Since 2013 retailer Superdry has used the services of Clipper Logistics to provide, and indeed transform, its supply chain, which incorporates fulfilment, returns and warehousing. The aim of this has been to create and implement an effective and world-class service, benefitting Superdry and its customers. Initiatives have been founded on the sharing of data, insight and schedules, allowing the pooling of the expertise of the partners.

Clipper has been instrumental in supporting Superdry’s development not just in the UK, but also across the EU and US. One judge said: “Clipper and Superdry demonstrate clearly that this is a true partnership. Clipper has not only delivered on the original contract but has helped Superdry as the business has grown.”

Winterbotham Darby and Quorn to replace Müller, and today 18 million cases pass through the facility (with 40,000 additional pallets cross-docked) a year.

One of our judging panel said: “A well-constructed entry that clearly shows how teamwork benefits everyone.”

Jigsaw and Whirlpool

A 10-year partnership between Whirlpool and Jigsaw has transformed the white goods manufacturer’s in-house transport operation into a highly efficient, responsive and cost-effective outsourced solution, according to the partners. The relationship has continued to flourish and develop. Highlights include: empty road miles reduced by 11.7% or 623,610 against the baseline; year-on-year volume has increased by an average of 1,678 loads each year; driver utilisation/productivity per shift increased by 13.9% versus the baseline.

“This submission is very strong; it is structured and clearly demonstrates the way in which both organisations have collaborated over a long period of time to meet and exceed the objectives,” said one judge.

Eddie Stobart Logistics and Early Life Nutrition

Eddie Stobart showcased its work with Early Life Nutrition (ELN), a Danone company focused on developing and delivering nutritional products for babies, toddlers and parents to be. The operator works with ELN to transport its goods throughout the UK. To achieve this, a multi-user facility employing approximately 300 staff and operating 24/7 was set up in April 2016. Last year alone, more than 350,000 ELN pallets were handled at this site.

“This is a good example of a contract that requires a partnership approach by virtue of the product and consumer profile. There are some great nuggets of testimonial confirming the approach meets the needs of the client,” one judge said.

Fowler Welch and Dairy Crest

When British dairy company Dairy Crest sold its liquid milk business to Müller, the future of its Nuneaton national DC needed to be considered. The national DC incorporates storage, cutting and a packing facility, and Dairy Crest was keen to integrate the site with a logistics supplier.

Fowler Welch was ultimately that supplier, and the partners established from the onset that with the impending departure of Müller more volume would deliver benefits for all. Prior to the partnership, Dairy Crest serviced 503,977 pallets a year, with 27% of overall volume coming from Müller and Milk & More (135,406 pallets). This was 17 million cases through the national DC a year. Following the partnership, the newly integrated sales team secured 102,514 pallets from

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Pladis UK and KP Snacks

Nuts it isn’t, rather Pladis’ partnership with KP Snacks sees the businesses service a common customer base using its warehouse, transport and customer service centre of excellence. While Pladis operates as an ownaccount operator, it also unusually operates as a 3PL and partner for KP Snacks. The story started in 2013 when United Biscuits (now Pladis) sold KP to Intersnacks. As part of the agreement, it was recognised that a distribution partnership was vital to maintain synergies, as well as retaining consolidation of KP Snacks’ and Pladis’ stock on one vehicle to ensure a consistent delivery of service to the shared customer base. Today, Pladis manages the storage and distribution of more than 200 million cases a year.

This equates to approximately 400 deliveries to customer per day.

“Saving 1.8 million miles is significant and the results from Tesco alone show that customer service is at a high level,” one of our panel opined.

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19/04/2018 14:47:46

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We are independent and we’re not tied to any manufacturer, which means we enjoy significant buying power and we’re completely impartial. Above all, we’re focused on using our knowledge, experience and expertise to provide a tailored, reliable service that results in minimal downtime, total fleet compliance and cost efficiencies across our customer fleets.

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