Ex-RHA chief joins KB Event

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Showtime for Burnett

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Sounding the alarm

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Cleaning up Manchester

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ArrowXL ........................................................p6 Crouch Logistics ............................................p3 Culina Group .................................................p3 Cullimore Group ............................................p6 DFDS ...........................................................p17 DX Group .......................................................p4 FedEx ...........................................................p16 Freightlink Europe .........................................p6 GXO...............................................................p3 KB Event .......................................................p3 Maritime Transport ........................................p4 Meachers ......................................................p6 NWF Group....................................................p4 Pall-Ex ..........................................................p6 PML ..............................................................p6 Spedition Jacob Weeks.................................p16 Stobart Multimodal .......................................p3 Wincanton ....................................................p3

CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS: The 36th Motor Transport Awards are now open for entries, with the deadline set for 9 April. The shortlist will be announced on 20 June and the winners will be presented with their trophies at a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 7 September. For over three decades, the Motor Transport Awards have been seen as a benchmark for excellence among UK road transport fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers and other innovators. While 2021 saw a return to a semblance of normality for much of the UK, it remained a challenging period for many operators, making it even more important to reflect the achievements of an industry that really is the lifeblood of the economy. For a full list of categories and details of how to enter go to mtawards.co.uk – and you could be wearing a smile as wide as Don-Bur founder Donald Burton, winner of the 2021 Service to Industry Award, pictured with one of last year’s hosts, Carol Vorderman.

Contract hire and rental firm proposes to make strategic withdrawal over the next 12-18 months Ryder plans to leave UK market

By Tim Wallace

Contract hire and rental firm Ryder is set to exit UK operations following a detailed business review by US parent Ryder System.

The company said the plan was “in no way a reflection of the efforts of the great employees Ryder has in the UK”.

The company entered into a period of consultation with its employees, customers and suppliers on 16 February, with the outcome expected in mid-April.

A Ryder statement said that, subject to this outcome, it was planning an orderly withdrawal from the UK market, which it first entered in 1971, over the next 12 to 18 months.

“The company will work with its suppliers and customers to help them understand the implications for their commercial vehicle fleets,” it said. “The company will also be reviewing the potential for the divestment of its business operations with potential associated opportunities for employees.”

The Ryder System financial report for Q4 2021 referred only briefly to the move, saying: “As part of our strategy to improve returns in FMS, we intend to exit the lower return UK business over the next 12 to 18 months, subject to consultation obligations under UK law.”

Meachers chairman Bob Terris told MT : “The whole rental market is changing. The availability of spot rental vehicles is now almost nonexistent with the rental companies demanding a minimum of six months’ commitment. This makes it difficult to kit up for peak periods without incurring overspill costs. I think more operators will think that this will not be viable.

“The lack of availability of new equipment must be hitting the rental companies when seeking replacements and the cost of new equipment is also increasing dramatically, and this is without the future consideration of vehicle types that will be required with alternative power sources.”

Terris added that the investment in alternative-fuelled vehicles will be “huge” and some, such as Ryder, may decide this is not something they want to take the risk on.

He continued: “Of course, this is something that all operators will be considering and many may be thinking that initially they would rent alternative power source vehicles and carry out evaluation before purchasing. The question is: will the rental companies be able to respond to this demand and at what cost?”

Dawsongroup MD John Fletcher was “shocked but not surprised, and extremely saddened for the people involved”, adding: “But maybe this is the first of many inevitable changes that will be brought on by the pressures of alternate fuels and whatever else the future brings.

“There is a series of crossroads to come for everybody.”