Long-established haulier and warehouse firms slide into administration Pandemic gloom kills off Kenyon

By Chris Tindall

A 90-year-old haulage company in Blackburn has blamed the impact of the pandemic on its collapse into administration.

Kroll Advisory in Manchester was appointed to handle the affairs of Kenyon Road Haulage and Kenyon Warehousing on 20 March and the businesses are now being wound down.

A spokesman for Kroll said: “Michael Lennon and Steven Muncaster of Kroll were appointed as administrators on 20 March 2023.

“Due to the financial position of the entities, both companies ceased to trade with 90 of the 97 road haulage and 18 of the 22 warehousing employees being made redundant.

“The remaining staff have been retained by the administrators to assist with their duties and wind down operations.”

Kenyon Road Haulage was established in 1933 and held an inter- national licence authorising 82 HGVs running out of three depots in the North West and 12 out of an operating centre in Andover. The family-run firm was taken over in 2016 by new management. Its last available set of accounts, for the year ending 31 July 2021, showed the previous year’s pre-tax profit of £98,000 had converted into a pre-tax loss of £87,000 on an almost £14m turnover.

RECRUITMENT DRIVE: McMurrays Haulage in Accrington has launched a search for administration, customer care and office staff after joining the Palletways network. The family-owned firm is already a member of The Pallet Network and asked anyone affected by the collapse of local business Kenyon Road Haulage and Kenyon Warehousing to get in touch.

Commercial manager Rob Spencer (pictured) said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with Palletways, which is not only positive news for us but for local people looking for jobs in administration and customer care. We are keen to help and support others in the industry.” Added MD David McMurray: “We have a great track record of having staff who stay with us for a long time and we are thoroughly looking forward to adding to our fantastic team.”

Newell & Wright cuts emissions with Volvo FHs

Newell & Wright Group has taken on two new Volvo FH 6x2 tractor units with I-Save after finding other manufacturers could not help the company hit its ‘double figure’ carbon reduction ambitions.

The tractor units feature a Euro-6 compliant D13TC Step E engine, producing 460hp and a peak torque of 2,600Nm.

“With customers temporarily closing due to Covid, the business focused its efforts on its internetbased customers,” a business review said. “Regrettably, this changed the dynamic of its delivery profile from mainly B2B to B2C.”

Driver wage costs also increased by 40% and negotiations with customers to increase rates had taken time to finalise.

Further fuel gains are provided by the I-Shift automated gearbox technology, which monitors speed, weight, road grade and torque demand in order to time each gear shift. The FHs are expected to cover at least 160,000km annually, working five days a week over the next seven years.

Yusen Logistics hit by strike over pay

Warehouse workers at Yusen Logistics downed tools for a week in a row over the company’s pay deal, according to the United Road Transport Union (URTU).

The union said the strike was in relation to a long-running trade dispute, which began in early 2022 when it sought formal recognition with the logistics company at the Grange Park site in Northamptonshire. URTU claimed Yusen implemented a pay deal without its agreement and so it raised a collective grievance demanding an improvement.