Transport & Logistics Issue 143 by T & L Online

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ISSUE 143

TRANSPORT &LOGISTICS D R I V I N G

T H E

I N D U S T R Y

F O R WA R D

ISSUE 143

FOCUS ON:

BUS AND COACHES

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

BARNES COACHES PAGES 46-49 HODGSON’S COACHES PAGES 50-51 ALPINE TRAVEL PAGES 52-57

plus AZTEK LOGISTICS MUCH MORE THAN JUST TRANSPORT

INTER-HAUL CONTINUING TO GROW

GCA DOMESTIC THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

COUNTRYWIDE SUPPLYING THE RURAL COMMUNITY

ALSO INSIDE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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THE STANDING START HAULAGE COMPANIES HELP BAIL OUT FLOOD VICTIMS t is always nice to hear stories of well-intentioned actions by people who care. The

transport industry, regarded for its attention to every detail and meeting customer demands, rallied round this month to help stricken farmers who have been affected by the recent bad weather and consequent flooding. It has been particularly fearsome in Somerset where high water levels have left people’s homes cut off

PUBLISHER: Noah Quirke EDITOR: Daniel Stephens MAGAZINE MANAGER: Shane Kelly

or under water, unable to get electricity and more importantly vital supplies. For farmers trying to protect their livelihoods, flooding has prevented vital animal feed from getting through. Hauliers in the region have been praised by Forage Aid founder Andrew Ward for

FEATURE MANAGERS: Stefan Drakes Ray Clayton Eddie Hunt

helping to get essential animal feed through the flood-hit areas to desperate farmers.

ART EDITOR: Steve Williams

2013, was back at it again, rallying round to get feed to animals evacuated due to

DESIGNER: Kate Webber ` CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Senior Rob Samuels Liam Brown

the flooding.

PRODUCTION: Vicki Lindsay Lisa Pollinger

at Bridgewater has acted as the central point of this effort, becoming the drop-off and

Ward, a Lincolnshire grower who was named Farmers Weekly Farm Champion of the Year after organising a forage aid scheme to transport fodder to snow-hit farmers in

“I am getting enquiries from all over the UK because of the Forage Aid scheme I started and ran last year,” said Ward, who has seen feed companies, agricultural suppliers, and various rural businesses support his endeavours. Indeed, Sedgemoor livestock market collection point for animal feed, forage and straw bedding. From small companies to giants like Tesco, donations have been coming in to protect

ADMINISTRAT0R: Charlotte Lewis

and maintain this vital sector. Premier Foods was another to help out, sending one load

ACCOUNTS: Nick Charalambous

of straw to the area.

Transport & Logistics Magazine is published by: NQ Publishing, 3 Brook Street Huddersfield HD1 1EB Tel: +44 (0)1484 411 400 E-mail: noah.quirke@nqpublishing.com www.tandlonline.com

Transport & Logistics Magazine is published by NQ Publishing. Company registered in England & Wales. All material is the copyright of NQ Publishing. All rights reserved. Transport & Logistics Magazine is the property of NQ Publishing. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a director of NQ Publishing. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

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“We felt we had a moral obligation to help - it’s about doing the right thing for farmers and their livestock,” said Gary Sharkey, head of wheat procurement at Premier Foods. Keep up the great work everyone!

DANIEL STEPHENS EDITOR

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

INSIDE SECTIONS

NEWS LEGAL LOGISTICS ROAD HAULAGE FORS PALLET NETWORKS BUS AND COACH COUNCILS AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE TANKERS LOOKING BACK AT...

4 9 10 14 20 46 76 82 90 100

52 ALPINE TRAVEL

FEATURES News The latest top stories Backhouse Jones Who’s your favourite tranport manager? Newell & Wright An enviable reputation William Armstrong Logistics solutions WB Services UK Limited Lifting solutions Pall-Ex Building on a solid start Moody Logistics Delivering trust and reliability Pallet-Track 10 years and still growing Aztek Logistics Much more than just transport Inter-haul Dedicated transport and warehousing Downes Transport Customer satisfaction guaranteed Palletways Connecting to Europe Duncan Adams Customer focused Sovereign Transport Services Logistic solutions Barnes coaches “We always aim to be the best’ Hodgson’s Coaches Luxury travel Alpine Travel “Like juggling soot” Belle Coaches 90 years of local service Ausden Clark Coaches Leicestershire’s largest coach company... Golden Tours Solid gold tours Hunt’s Coaches The spirit of Lincolnshire Bluebird Coaches Travel in comfort. Arrive in style Yelloway Coaches The better way to get away Perth and Kinross Council Award winners Belfast International Airport Gateway to Belfast Cranfield Airport A competitive option for London Countrywide Supplying the rural community Askin Haulage The go-to tanker service provider GCA Domestic The future is bright Looking Back At... The Dartford Crossing

4 9 10 14 18 20 22 24 26 30 32 34 36 42 46 50 52 58 60 64 66 70 72 76 82 88 90 94 96 100

GCA DOMESTIC @TandLMagazine

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG

BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

COUNTRYWIDE

INTER-HAUL

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

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NEWS

TILBURY GETS A LIFT FOURTEEN new Kalmar straddle carriers have arrived at the port of Tilbury this month as part of a £20million investment programme at the London Container Terminal (LCT). Kalmar delivered the four-high machines to the port where LCT’s bespoke IT equipment has been fitted into each of the carriers which are now in use at the deepsea part of the terminal. Perry Glading, Chief Operating Officer of Tilbury owner Forth Ports, said: “We have put in place a significant investment plan for the London Container Terminal, which will see the continued upgrading of the site and its equipment as we work to integrate container handling across both the deepsea and shortsea operations at Tilbury.

“LCT handles in excess of half a million containers a year, and is the only UK port truly servicing both deepsea and shortsea customers. In addition to the new straddle carriers we have also invested in a single reception gate covering both security and container processing, new cranes, a bespoke ICT system and surfacing work.” The straddle carrier investment was aided by a Motorway of the Sea grant awarded to the ports of Tilbury and Bilbao, last year for the “IBUK – Intermodal Corridor” project, which aims to reduce congestion between the Iberian Peninsula and the UK by moving trucks off the road and onto a more efficient multimodal logistics corridor.

FUEL PRICE CONCERN FOR PALL-EX MEMBERS

PALL-EX members have named the cost of fuel as the top priority to be addressed in 2014, expressing concerns that the government does not do enough to support the haulage industry. In a survey of approximately 100 members, every respondent but one said the price of fuel was a major problem, which the network believes is “unnecessary strangulation” on growth in the sector and the economy. Pall-Ex

estimates that diesel at the current fuel duty rate of 58ppl costs hauliers up to £450 per truck per day. Pall-Ex CEO Hilary Devey said: “Transport is the foundation of a strong infrastructure. Whether personal journeys or commercial haulage, road transport leads to more money spent elsewhere in the economy. If the costs of products and services are reduced as a result of cheaper transport, the economic benefits are enhanced.”

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

BAN FOR TRUCKS WITHOUT CYCLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT LORRIES without cycle safety equipment are to be banned from entering London, the capital’s mayor has said. Revealing his Safer Lorry Scheme (previously the Safer Lorry Charge), Boris Johnson described the measure as an escalation of an initative originally set to see operators that didn’t conform hit with a fine.

The ban will affect any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes entering the capital without sideguards and cycle friendly mirrors. A traffic regulation order will now be co-authored by TfL and London councils to make the ban pan-London in its scope. Enforcement will be via CCTV cameras and on-street checks, subject to approval by the Department for Transport (DfT).

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NEWS

AIR FRANCE-KLM TO CUT FREIGHTER FLEET FURTHER AIR FRANCE-KLM is to take additional measures to reduce its freighter fleet. The combined carrier is planning to withdraw two of KLMMartinair Cargo's freighters next summer, one MD-11F and one B747-400 ERF, the fleet being downsized to a total of eight aircraft. Last September, Air France announced it was re-focusing its cargo fleet on two B777F with the phase-out of its five B747-400 Extended Range Freighters (ERFs), only two of which are in service. 70% of the French flagship carrier’s cargo traffic is now transported on its passenger flights. Air France Cargo chief, Alain Malka said retiring the B747Fs in spring 2015 was “a crucial

element in returning the company to profitability.” The move will lead to 160 jobs being axed at its G1XL hub at Paris Roissy-CDG Airport. “The B747Fs represent 10% of our activity but 30% of losses. We can't be profitable while they are in the fleet. We expect a marked improvement in our performance in 2014 and 2015 and positive financial results in 2016,” Malka added. Air France-KLM reported an operating loss from its cargo business of €184 million for the first nine months of last year, better than the same period in 2012 (€203 million). Full-year financial figures have yet to be released.

SWITZERLAND FINES AIRLINES IN PRICE-FIXING CARTEL SWITZERLAND’S Competition Commission (COMCO) has handed out fines totalling 11 million Swiss francs (US$12.1 million) to several airlines for their involvement in an air freight price-fixing cartel between 2000 and 2005. “Horizontal price agreements of this type are serious infringements of Article 5 Paragraph 3 of the Cartel Act. Besides the COMCO, the EU-Commission and the US Department of Justice (DOJ),

amongst others, inquired into and sanctioned the behaviour of various airlines,” the Swiss regulator underlined. The airlines in question are Korean Air, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (Polar Air Cargo), American Airlines, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cargolux, British Airways Plc. and Air France-KLM.

LONDON CONTAINER TERMINAL APPOINTS INDUSTRY EXPERT LONDON Container Terminal, the UK’s third largest container terminal based in Tilbury, has announced the appointment of Jamie Frater as its new senior asset manager. Jamie, an experienced international port expert, will join the business in March and will oversee the operations of LCT which handles over 850,000 TEU’s each year and offers short sea,

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deep sea and feeder port facilities for customers around the world. Jamie has worked in the Port industry for over 40 years and is currently the chief executive officer at Eastport UK in Great Yarmouth and also sits as a non-Executive Board Member of The Dublin Port Company. Jamie has a wealth of international experience working for a number of JV’s and projects.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

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NEWS

PORSCHE BOARD FACE LAWSUIT PORSCHE’S chairman Wolfgang Porsche and board member Ferdinand Piech are being sued by seven hedge funds over its failed takeover bid for Volkswagen. They are seeking £1.5bn in compensation. Porsche has been accused of misleading markets in the run-up to its takeover bid for VW in 2008. Porsche initially dismissed speculation it was seeking to takeover VW, but later revealed that it owned or had positions on almost 74% of VW shares. Some investors had bet against

Volkswagen shares, expecting them to fall in the absence on any firm takeover bid from Porsche. However, Porsche’s disclosure of an increased holding triggered an unprecedented stock market squeeze on VW shares as investors rushed to buy them to cover their short positions. Porsche, which has earlier faced similar cases, has denied any wrongdoing. "Porsche SE and its supervisory board members will defend themselves with all available legal means," the carmaker said.

RYANAIR MAKES LOSS IN FINAL THIRD RYANAIR made a loss in the final three months of last year as lower fares and the weakness of sterling against the euro hurt trading. The no-frills airline said average fares were 9% lower leading to a £28.8m loss for the quarter. The fall came despite a 6% rise in passenger numbers, which chief executive Michael O’Leary attributed to seat promotions and lower fares. “Our Q3 loss of 35m euros is in line with previous guidance,” he added.

Despite the profit drop, the airline said ‘ancillary’ revenues – which include reserved seating, priority boarding and credit card fees – rose by 13%. Ryanair said bookings in the fourth quarter were "significantly" ahead of last year, but prices were still weaker. In November, the company warned full-year profits to the end of this financial year were likely to be down on last year – a first annual profits fall in five years.

EUROTUNNEL EYES CALAIS FREIGHT ZONE EXTENSION A FRENCH public enquiry has been launched into the extension of Eurotunnel’s freight zone in Coquelles, near Calais. The expansion of the site, made necessary by the projected growth in truck traffic, focuses on raising the number of toll-gate lanes from four currently to six. This is expected to help offset tailbacks of vehicles building up on the A16 motorway intersection to the Tunnel.

The extension also entails increasing capacity for HGVs with the creation of a secure parking area. It would be equipped with CCTV surveillance and have controlled access, in order to better combat clandestine immigration and limit acts of vandalism on trucks, such as theft of goods and the siphoning of fuel. Provision is also made for building a dedicated access road for staff to get in and out of work.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE

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NEWS

NEW SAFE LOAD GUIDELINES

THE INTERNATIONAL Road Transport Union’s (IRU) International Commission on Technical Affairs (CIT) today published International Guidelines on Safe Load Securing for Road Transport “to promote safe load securing practices to all stakeholders involved in the transport of goods by road and further increase road safety.” While the IRU guidelines are primarily based on a European standard on load restraining on road vehicles (EN 12195-1:2010), they also include other safe practices observed across the road transport industry, such as timber and vehicle transport as well as others, not covered by the European standard. “The aim of these guidelines is to enable all stakeholders involved in road transport operations anywhere in the world to correctly load and secure goods on

MALCOLM GROUP EXPECTS THE BEST FROM NEW VOLVOS

SCOTTISH haulage giant Malcolm Group has said it expects the Euro-6 Volvo FM to “at least equal, if not exceed” the fuel economy performance of the Euro-5 FMs currently running on its 475 vehicle strong fleet. The Linwood, Renfrewshirebased haulier has taken delivery of its first Euro-6 Volvo FM, and placed an order for 30 more. It said it is basing its decision

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on the performance of its existing Euro-5 FM units. Back in May Malcolm Group took delivery of 40 Euro-5 Volvo FM11s, following a fuel trial in which it achieved over 9mpg. Chief executive Andrew Malcolm said: “I am confident in Volvo’s approach to Euro-6 and I expect the newcomers to at least equal, if not exceed the performance of our current FM trucks.”

vehicles,” said Mårten Johansson, President of the IRU CIT. “If all stakeholders implement safe load securing practices from the outset, it will create sustainable improvements in transport operations and road safety standards at national and international level.” The IRU underlines that rules on safe cargo securing vary from one country to another, or do not even exist in some countries and regions, making it difficult for road transport operators to know the minimum requirements for international journeys. The guidelines, developed in cooperation with partners in the health, safety and training industries, as well as the working environment, will help reduce the number of people injured and transport disruptions resulting from load related incidents in the workplace and on the road, the IRU adds.

JIT LOOK FOR MORE RAIL FREIGHT ROUTES TO THE UK THE JOINT in Transport Cooperative (JIT), whose members are major shippers Colgate Palmolive, Mondelez International (formerly Kraft Foods) and Nestlé, is eyeing new rail freight routes from the continent to the UK following the successful launch of a five-times weekly service from Poland earlier this autumn. “We are planning other rail freight corridors, among them ItalyNetherlands-UK and Spain- France-

Netherlands-UK,” a spokesman for JIT said. JIT was formed last year with the aim of providing a platform for the reduction of CO2 emissions by transferring freight movements from road to rail. On the basis of its projected loads, JIT estimates CO2 savings of 18 million tonnes per year. JIT has been contacted by other large groups interested in joining the transport co-operative he added.

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LEGAL LOGISTICS

WHO’S YOUR PERFECT TRANSPORT MANAGER? his is a question which is still yet unanswered. The Senior Traffic Commissioner in her Practice Directions Statutory Document (number 3) has issued prescription information as to how she perceives the role of the Transport Manager being satisfied. This document is a must read for all organisations and all Transport Managers who wish to operate vehicles. It is extremely helpful of the Senior Traffic Commissioner to issue this sort of guidance as many operators for years have felt their way and unfortunately at times paid the price with their licence and livelihood. The discussion however is still unresolved. The essence is the obligation for the Transport Manager to have “...continuous and effective responsibility for the transport operations to the business in so far as they relate to the carriage of goods” 1071/2009. Following the above guidance from the Senior Traffic Commissioner it is immediately apparent that a preferred approach to Transport Management is a very hands-on approach with the Transport Manager being very local at depot level in the management structure and personally managing all the documentation and processes involved in ensuring compliance with the undertakings on the operator’s licence. This individual will be expected to have an intimate knowledge of the specific maintenance documents and the tachograph infringement reports, dealing on a day to day basis with the operational and engineering staff, or in the case of a contracted engineer, with the contractor. This person is making compliance decisions on a day to day basis and is effectively immersed in the daily operation of the fleet. A Transport Manager as described above will often not be considered capable of carrying out this in-depth day to day role for very large numbers of vehicles due to the physical time constraints; particularly where there is more than one operating centre.

Jonathon Backhouse looks at the guidance from the Senior Traffic Commissioner and tries to determine what makes a perfect transport manager? This ‘cover all Transport Manager’ still has to have very good access to the Directors and obviously the respect of the Board, and must have his/her decisions listened to and acted upon. For smaller operators, this type of model is achievable however cracks start to develop in much larger organisations with multiple operating centres, often in different parts of the country. At this point, if you are appointing Transport Managers at depot level, as an organisation you can find yourself with a large number of individuals all running their little “fiefdom” with their own preferences, likes and dislikes of compliance systems. Many large organisations have tried and tested operational systems which could cause fall out, disgruntlement and general dissatisfaction with some or all of these much lower level Transport Managers. Therefore there is clearly a point where the Transport Manager may well have to be in a more overseeing type of role ensuring that the compliance systems are sitting with tried and tested compliance procedures and using high quality key performance indicators and other management information including personal auditing and external auditing as the means of managing the transport operations of the business. Then the discussion arises whether this needs to be done in a pyramid type structure with the depot style Transport Mangers below this individual – however are they therefore not in danger of having their wings clipped? The discussion continues...

For all related enquiries, please contact Jonathon Backhouse at Backhouse Jones, 08450 575 111 or email jonathon.backhouse@backhouses.co.uk

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HAULAGE: NEWELL & WRIGHT ewell & Wright was established in 1974 by founders Frank Newell and Paul Wright. At the beginning it was a small general haulage company, operating from rented premises but over the years it has experienced significant growth. Today the company is situated on a large 6.5 acre freehold site in Sheffield, where it has been since 1987. This was the year that NWT Freight Forwarding began enabling the company to offer customers a variety of other freight solutions. This has seen the company develop an enviable reputation with the group achieving an annual turnover in excess of ÂŁ50 million and an excellent financial status. The group employs 300 personnel, many of whom have remained with the company as it has expanded. Newell & Wright attributes that growth and success to delighting its customers, old and

AN ENVIABLE

REPUTATION from a small haulage company formed in 1974 Newell & Wright grown into a major concern dealing with all aspects of haulage, warehousing and distribution

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HAULAGE: NEWELL & WRIGHT new, with value for money and excellent all round services. Most recently the group expanded its pick and pack operations. This service is offered as part of a complete supply chain management process that is commonly found in the retail distribution of goods. Outsourcing pick and pack operations would include everything between the order coming in and the goods going out. The Newell & Wright pick and pack service can include all or elements of the following aspects: small to large volumes; multiple transportation systems; complete supply chain solution; case packing with a side variety of packaging systems; warehouse management; inventory management; despatch operations; and IT integration. The company’s extensive experience for outsourcing provides the complete range of services needed by today’s retail, business, commercial and e-commerce traders. With extensive experience in both business-to-consumer and business-to-business storage, pick and pack, order fulfilment and dispatch, Newell & Wright provides clients with a first class service. It operates with an integrated partnership approach which makes the group an extension of any client’s business. Another new service offered is a turnkey solution for factory and facility relocations. This can include smaller single pieces of machinery right through to larger 100,000+ square feet locations. The planning process is a crucial element of any factory relocation project. Newell & Wright’s role involves the coordination of all stakeholders within the project to ensure that the project plan is implemented with minimal disruption and contingency for unexpected events. Continuing its investment in new services the group added a cargo vessel chartering provision in November last year. Its involvement

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with global logistics over many years allows for Newell & Wright to offer a comprehensive service in this area. The vessel charter options include shipping across common routes and more unusual cargo destinations. All sizes of shipping vessel can be chartered to suite client requirements including the following fleet types: bulk carriers and vessels; container vessels; dry cargo vessels; gearless vessels; hovercraft; tankers and vessels; and RoRo Vessels. The services extend beyond cargo vessel chartering with all other aspects offered including importing, exporting and cross trades (road, air freight, and sea freight) heavy lift cargo, factory relocation, aircraft charter, warehousing, storage, distribution, tail lift deliveries and collections, pick and pack operations, consignment tracking, customs clearance and brokerage services. This wasn’t the only investment the group made towards the end of last year. It announced in December that it had brought an additional container lifter into service from lead-

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HAULAGE: NEWELL & WRIGHT

Newell & Wright Group Ltd. Templeborough Depot Sheffield Road, Sheffield South Yorkshire S9 1RT www.newellwright.co.uk Tel: 01142 444836

ing manufacturer Kalmar, for operations at the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centrally located UK facility in Sheffield. Handling containers with reach stackers is a vital component of its 24-hour, 7-days a week operation. The Kalmar DRF reach stacker sets new standards for reliability, performance and easy maintenance and Newell & Wright is already seeing a return on its six-figure investment. The Kalmar reach stacker is the most extensively tested reach stacker in the world. The combination of high performance throughout the operating cycle, high user-friendliness, and low running costs, together with a high level of environmental awareness was a key factor in the acquisition process. These additions and enhancements to the operation complement the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development in 2013. For example, earlier in the year it increased its capabilities to undertake heavy lift cargo services. Newell & Wright can now handle and manage oversized items, plant and equipment to be transported from one place to another for home trade and export trade and then lifted or installed. The characteristic for heavy lift goods is the absence of standardisation which would then require a unique or bespoke solution for transportation. A wide range of heavy and unusually shaped items can be handled by Newell & Wright. Generators, electrical equipment, power generation and propulsion turbines, reactors and boilers, cooling towers, heavy castings, large heating systems, industrial presses and press machinery, locomotives and rolling stock including trams, boats, satellites, military personnel and equipment. This can be managed for global destinations in and outside of the UK.

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HAULAGE: NEWELL & WRIGHT

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HAULAGE: WILLIAM ARMSTRONG

LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS

Established in 1927, the Wm Armstrong Group is a family run business based in Cumbria offering Haulage Warehousing and Distribution in the UK and Europe

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HAULAGE: WILLIAM ARMSTRONG diverse range of activities is often a big advantage for a company and has helped William Armstrong to be still experiencing growth in its 87th year. That wasn’t always the case and disaster almost struck in 2001 when an overreliance on agriculture meant the foot and mouth epidemic caused it to lose half its business in the space of two weeks. Armstrong’s position as a founding member of Palletforce helped it to survive and ultimately prosper. Jennifer Whyberd, Managing Director and granddaughter of the company’s founder, recalls: “Using Palletforce has allowed us to expand the business into other areas away from the reliance on agriculture. It gave us great flexibility and the ability to have somebody in another part of the country we can work with, knowing they provide a good service. “Prior to Palletforce, we handled full loads but customers wanted small consignments delivered so we can now expand business that way. We are all shareholder members of

Palletforce and it encourages us to use other members directly. When we are talking to new customers, we can offer them full loads and individual pallet deliveries as well so it opens up another range of possibilities.” That flexibility now applies throughout the company’s operations, which still include milk deliveries from farm to dairy and livestock deliveries between farms, markets and abattoirs, with several customers having been on the books for over fifty years. The abattoir work is regular and depends on supermarkets’ needs while other consignments, such as moving pedigree breeding stock, tends to be more seasonal.The work now increasingly covers general consignments with a mixture of large and small contracts plus 100,000 square feet of warehouse space that’s used for pick and pack services. Armstrong has depots in its original base of Longtown near Carlisle and depots at Uddingston, near Glasgow, and in Caithness in the North of Scotland. It also operates an Isuzu Truck dealership from the Longtown site and a

car and van MOT centre at Uddingston.Through these businesses, it offers customers vehicles sales, parts and servicing, and online parts and accessories through the Truckapart brand.

INTEGRATION The integration of the various locations and services provides a high level of flexibility reinforced by Palletforce and Transport Association membership. “Working with like-minded hauliers ensures that service levels are maintained on all customer deliveries wherever they are in the country,” remarks Jennifer. The varied nature of the work requires an equally varied fleet of 100 trucks and 200 trailers that includes specialist milk tankers and livestock trailers, the former being either rigids to collect from farms or artics for delivery to dairies. A similar principle applies for the Palletforce work with rigids undertaking the collection and delivery work within its postcode areas and artics being used for trunking to and from the hubs. Common amongst all the vehicles is a distinctive livery that’s associated with the high level of service Armstrong provides.

FORS As part of its efforts to maintain high levels of service and quality standards, William Armstrong joined FORS, which was initially aimed at transport companies operating within London. Jennifer recalls: “It has been rolled out to the rest of the country as an opportunity to demonstrate quality assurance standards. There are different levels but we were offered the bronze award and realised that, in order to go into London, which we were having to do with one of our customers, we had to have this accreditation. It was becoming more recognised and would benefit us

It also operates an Isuzu Truck dealership from the Longtown site and a car and van MOT centre at Uddingston

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HAULAGE: WILLIAM ARMSTRONG because more and more tenders are asking for qualifications now.” The company is now in a position where other customers are looking for FORS membership as a condition of working for them and so the temptation is to move up to silver or gold standard. That’s currently being resisted until the Road Haulage Association’s position on a possible quality assurance scheme is seen.

MICROLISE IS FITTED IN ALL THE COMPANY’S TRUCKS AND PROVIDES PLANNERS WITH A COMPLETE VIEW OF THE FLEET AND ANALYSES DRIVER PERFORMANCE

www.warmstrong.co.uk Tel: 01228 791242

“We have quality assurance in other areas of the business,” states Jennifer. “We are a member of the Dairy Transport Assurance Scheme for the tankers, we are accredited under the Assured British Meats Transport Scheme for the transport of livestock, we have FIAS accreditation for fertiliser transport and we are audited on ADR compliance.” William Armstrong is generally seen as a forward thinking company and that extends to its use of technology. In addition to the Palletforce Alliance system,

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where every pallet is scanned, tracked through the system and is visible to customers to access progress right through to proof of delivery via an app, the company uses Microlise software. Microlise is fitted in all the company’s trucks and provides planners with a complete view of the fleet and analyses driver performance. Jennifer says: “It gives us the means to keep track of everything and with the forward facing cameras we are able to monitor drivers’ performance and reward the drivers who perform well so that together we benefit the business.” That helps to counter the challenge of high fuel prices, part of the ongoing exercise to examine the costing structure and to control and reduce costs. A programme to focus on the cost of maintenance includes a Direct Tyre Management system that gives a better visibility of spending on tyres and enables excessive tyre costs and damage to be addressed. The focus on costs will be accompanied by increased diversification and expansion, which is illustrated by its Uddingston deport winning the Sales and Marketing category in the 2013 Palletforce Awards. “We have seen growth in this last year and we want to continue that growth,” comments Jennifer. “But we want to manage the growth and ensure it is not affecting levels of service to customers, which means maintaining service levels and growth at the same time. Some companies grow really quickly but it can adversely affect levels of service and we want to avoid that happening.”

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WM Armstrong:feature 2 14/02/2014 11:13 Page 17

WB Services UK Ltd :feature 2 10/02/2014 12:29 Page 18

FORS: WB SERVICES UK LIMITED B Services UK Limited is a family owned business specialising in providing transportation, lifting equipment that includes specialised Hiab vehicles and services as well as moving abnormal loads. The services are delivered through a mixed fleet that includes 20 vehicles that range from one tonne per metre capacity mounted on a pick-up truck through to 100 tonnes per metre capacity on eight-wheeler wagon and drag combinations or artics. Some of the larger HIABs have mobile crane capabilities, with flyjibs and winch combinations.Transport is provided through a combination of 40-foot flats, semi low loaders and specialised extendible trailers with capacities up to 50 tonnes. All equipment is fully tested by the manufacturer and tackled in-house by trained personnel to ensure it's in full working order and compliant. Devoted to meeting client needs, WB Services has developed an enviable reputation within the construction industry for delivery of a safe, efficient and superior quality service. This is achieved by having all the necessary accreditation in place, paying attention to detail and offering a wide range of services so customers can select the most modern fleet of machines available in the industry. The intention is to be dynamic and flexible. This can mean hiring out a particular item of equipment, such as a Hiab vehicle or mobile crane, or providing a complete package of services for a particular project. This can include undertaking a site inspection to establish what needs to be done and the equipment that's required, preparing method statements, risk assessments, lifting plans and arranging insurance for the job to ensure everything is completed correctly.

LIFTING

SOLUTIONS WB Services provide a comprehensive package at competitive rates

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WB Services UK Ltd :feature 2 10/02/2014 12:29 Page 19

FORS: WB SERVICES UK LIMITED Other services provided include liaising with the police and local authorities, arranging road closures, obtaining permits to move wide loads, and organising an escort vehicle when hiring under CPA Contract Lift Conditions. Indeed, WB Services is particularly adept at handling the most complex challenges. It’s all part of delivering a complete package safely and efficiently which gives customers peace of mind that their project is in the hands of professionals. Typical jobs are the lifting and moving of heavy equipment, installing machinery and transporting abnormal loads between sites. Examples can include everything from craning materials to and from roof level for telecoms companies or lifting a hot tub over a house. The big advantage of Hiab vehicles is the ability to handle collection, transportation and delivery of heavy equipment with a single vehicle. This crucially avoids having to use separate crane and transport vehicles. Other services include the hire of mats to support crane operations on different types of ground and the sale and hire of various items of lifting tackle plus a six-monthly examination of customers' tackle and the provision of twelve-month test certificates for lifting appliances. WB Services also provides training at its Northfleet depot. CITB and CPCS approved courses are available and include Hiab operator training and slinger certification. Most recently, the company entered the FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) in order to enhance its own procedures and maintain good relationships with its current clients.

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Company director Darren Burke says the company has found FORS systems and procedures to be a good addition to the business’s own safe systems of work. Achieving the Bronze grade, FORS has helped the company continue its working relationships with clients while aiding it in adapting working procedures to make operations safer and more efficient.

AS THE COMPANY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE IT AIMS TO CONTINUE GIVING CUSTOMERS A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE WHILE GROWING AND ENHANCING ITS FLEET WHEN AND WHERE REQUIRED Crucially, WB Services didn’t have to make any improvements to its own processes to achieve Bronze status, it only had to adapt its current systems of work to included recommended procedures. The company is always looking to improve and may in future look to achieve FORS Silver status. “We do feel the FORS safe systems of work, which must be implemented to achieve membership, can only be a good thing for the industry because it highlights the qualities of organisations that achieve it,” adds Darren. As the company looks to the future it aims to continue giving customers a high level of service while growing and enhancing its fleet when and where required.

WB Services (UK) Limited London & South East Depot Northfleet, Kent, DA11 www.wbservicesuk.co.uk Tel: 0845 304 7121

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Pall-ex:feature 2 10/02/2014 12:33 Page 20

PALLET NETWORKS: PALL-EX

ith the aim of being the first full Pan-European pallet network, Pall-Ex has appointed a director of strategic development to drive that vision forward. Rapid expansion into Europe has seen the company open Pall-Ex Polska, its fifth continental network and the second in Eastern Europe, where palletised freight is a rapidly emerging industry. Whilst expansion marks exciting times for Pall-Ex, as CEO Hilary Devey explains, it poses challenges: “In Eastern Europe, the palletised freight network concept is underdeveloped and the hub-and-spoke logistics model almost unheard of. Pall-Ex has to not only grow the network but pioneer the concept to a market not fully aware of its benefits. This means Pall-Ex Romania will always grow slower than Pall-Ex France, for example, but the foundations we have built in the country are producing very promising results. We have an exciting future in the region.” The expansion has seen a rise in membership, with nineteen members in the newly-launched Pall-Ex Polska and forty in Pall-Ex France, which started operations in May 2013. Other new members reflect the recovering global economy and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of the business model for small palletised consignments, enabling the organisation to suffer less than most through the recession. New members benefit from that cost-effective structure, helping them develop new business themselves. “Pall-Ex has always been ambitious and we offer logistics firms the opportunity to be part of something big,” recounts Hilary. “We haven’t been quiet about wanting to become the first Pan-European palletised freight network, a fact not lost on haulage firms. We can offer a seamless coverage of palletised logistics from the top of Scotland to the heel of Italy and the Canary Islands. This translates into more business and growth for members, several of whom have been with us for many years.”

BUILDING ON A SOLID START

WE INTERVIEW HILARY DEVEY ABOUT PALL-EX’S FURTHER EXPANSION INTO EUROPE

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Pall-ex:feature 2 10/02/2014 12:33 Page 21

PALLET NETWORKS: PALL-EX

Pall-Ex Pall-Ex House, Victoria Road Ellistown Leicestershire, LE67 1FH www.pallex.co.uk Tel: 0808 1442808

A prime feature of Pall-Ex is its innovative nature, seen in the way it is introducing the hub-and-spoke pallet model across Europe and its bespoke, fully integrated TWINE technology system that alone is responsible for securing contracts worth more than £1 million. Besides being cost-effective, the model has environmental benefits. It is based on moving the maximum amount of freight, using the fewest lorries, covering the least distance. Pall-Ex adds to those benefits through other measures, including the acquisition of thirty forklift trucks powered by compressed natural gas, producing even lower emissions than LPG. Its campaign to persuade drivers to clear up their litter in lay-bys and service areas won a Keep Britain Tidy award and it also has a strict policy to reduce waste. Part of that is its EcoDrive solution within the Retail Plus+ service, where members take away waste packaging for recycling. As Hilary stresses, however, the main goal is unchanged: “Our Pan-European expansion will continue to be high on our priorities. To achieve a fully linked service across the continent is no mean feat but, with such a promising response for our operations so far, I see no reason why we cannot achieve it.”

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Moodys Logistics :feature 2 10/02/2014 13:40 Page 22

PALLET NETWORK: MOODY LOGISTICS he wheels keep turning for highly regarded distribution and storage company Moody Logistics as the Northumberland-based business records growing sales in 2013. The family-owned transport and warehousing provider has weathered the economic storm with a solid financial base underpinned by its ownership of both 100,000 sq ft. of warehousing and its extensive fleet. Its attention to customer needs has developed a long established, enviable reputation. It is an ethos that has seen it create bespoke solutions for a variety of needs, whether that is overnight deliveries through the Pall-Ex network or dedicated transportation and storage. Most recently, it has established sister company MCR Marketing Services, an organic expansion to its offering that meets the exacting needs of blue chip

T Moody Haulage moodyhaulage.co.uk Tel: 01670 710060 MCR Marketing Services www.mcrmarketingservices.co.uk Tel: 01670 700690

retail clients like Tesco, Next and Boots for the repackaging and re-labelling of products. This service complements Moody Logistics’ other business arms including collection, storage, pick/pack and distribution, meaning it has been able to grow turnover and increase opportunities with clients it wouldn’t ordinarily deal with. Caroline Crawford, business development director, says MCR Marketing Services has given Moody Logistics a real financial boost in a tough economic period. “It’s been beneficial because the recession has seen a price squeeze, particularly through the pallet network, so we’ve enhanced our offering to customers through MCR Marketing Services which has generated around £100,000 worth of new business for our transport division. “Crucially, it has brought us to the attention of large-scale clients such as retailers Next, who we

DELIVERING TRUST AND RELIABILITY

Moody Logistics & Storage is a family owned and operated transport and warehousing company who put the customer at the forefront of their operation

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Moodys Logistics :feature 2 10/02/2014 13:40 Page 23

PALLET NETWORK: MOODY LOGISTICS

wouldn’t be able to work with otherwise because of the sheer scale of their operation. We have been able to offer, alongside our well established transport and logistics services, a one-stop solution that has been mutually beneficial to both our customers and us as a business,” explains Caroline. Working with Next, for example, Moody will collect goods from the Next warehouse and bring them to its Northumberland base where they can be safely stored. When required, MCR Marketing Services will carry out work on the products such as product inspection, repackaging or re-labelling before the products are transported back to Next. It is the attention to customer needs, creating bespoke solutions, that saw MCR Marketing Services created, says Caroline. “We don’t just have a set price on our services, we really try to understand the needs of our customer’s business to tailor a solution specific to their requirements.Therefore the price reflects that bespoke offering. “MCR was born out of that approach. For example, Next might want to send six loads of products up to us but if we suggest loading both ways it’s going to half their transport costs and be far more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly. It ticks all the boxes.” Consequently, Moody Logistics has been able to make further investments. It has strengthened its sales team with new staff and has bought two new 18-tonne vehicles with a new artic and transit van on the way very shortly. The company also has plans to extend its warehousing capability in the next 12 to 24 months.

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pallettrack:feature 2 10/02/2014 13:44 Page 24

PALLET NETWORK: PALLET-TRACK

10 YEARS AND STILL GROWING PALLET-TRACK CELEBRATES A DECADE OF EXPANSION

Titan Distribution Centre, Millfields Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV4 6JH www.pallet-track.co.uk

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pallettrack:feature 2 10/02/2014 13:45 Page 25

PALLET-TRACK

espite recessionary times, the UK’s domestic pallet network is booming. This is in part due to the cost-effective hub and spoke operations across the UK that are reducing fuel costs and ‘empty running’ while at the same time creating a buoyant market for the local haulier shareholder members as well as giving them a national voice and footprint. Pallet-Track a founder member of the Association of Pallet Networks (APN), opened its doors for business on 30th January 2004 and today celebrates a combined group turnover of £80 million, handles an average of 8,000 pallets per night and in less than a decade has delivered a staggering 10 million pallets with an astounding zero lost pallet record unequalled in the freight industry. This is a long way away from the 852 pallets distributed on the first night of trading – but year on year, the company has expanded in terms of turnover and staff development. Even during the height of the recent recession expansion was only stunted to single digit growth, but the company operating out of its 267,000 sq ft Central hub in Millfield Road, Wolverhampton in now back in double digit ascendancy.

DEMAND FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY The current market is buoyed by the increasing customer demand for next day delivery – more than two-thirds of its business is for overnight fulfilment, a market transposition in recent years. “The whole world has changed. We have had to become more competitive and leaner in the new markets where just in time and ‘next day’ delivery is now the norm – the model has shifted to 80% next day,” said managing director Nigel Parkes who started to build Pallet-Track with long-term business partner Carl Jones. “Although the market has changed, which has meant adjusting our business, we have fundamentally maintained our core values and strength as a company and we do things in a socially responsible manner whilst ensuring the profitability of the business – this is core to the DNA of the company,” he said. This trend is driven by a dramatic increase in online purchasing, an austerity-driven value for money culture and demand for greater convenience which all of the pallet networks and 3PLs have had to respond to. A decade on, the Black Country-based company is now a million miles away from its more humble beginnings in Woden Road West in Wednesbury, although rooted to the same ethos of enterprise, innovation and hard work. “It took two long years of ‘hard graft’ before it was up and running, but I now look back with a sense of pride and achievement, although even as we celebrate our first 10 years, there is little time for reflection as there is so much to do.” Now working smarter as well as harder, is the order of the day as technology and innovation bring increasing value to the Pallet-Track network. “The network is a partnership – what Pallet-Track can do for its shareholder members in terms of a value proposition and, in return, what they do for the greater network in terms of collaboration and giving the business the geographic reach to compete nationally,” said Parkes. “I would say that the number of pallet networks is at market capacity, but the levels of investment in those networks will be the new competitive frontiers. From our point of view, this involves continual investment in Pallet-Track and its share-

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holder members, whether it be in IT, new business support or training – this is the way to deliver true innovation and differentiation. We may not be the cheapest solution, but our record over the last decade speaks volume and volumes.” In 2012 Pallet-Track broke through the 9000 pallets in a single evening barrier and it has more recently achieved the industry first of handling 10 million pallets in less than 10 years, without a single loss. In terms of investment in growth, Pallet-Track also acquired a depot in Brighton to service the South-East region. “The bigger you get, the harder it is to maintain the figures, but we are once again back in double-digit growth,” Parkes commented. Since the early days, the company which works with a broad range of manufacturers, producers, retailers, suppliers and stockists – supplying many household names across all sectors including consumer, business and industrial brands, has trebled in size. Pallet-Track and its 70+ shareholder members transport anything from building and construction materials, through to sporting goods, clothing and accessories, a service that has put the Black Country well on the road to recovery. In short, it has helped the UK economy become more cost and fuel efficient during the well-documented economic downturn that this country is just emerging from. At a time of sky-high fuel costs its national hub and spoke operation reduces haulier’s costs and their impact upon the environment by cutting delivery distances and making sure that no trucks run empty on any leg of their journeys. The network currently boasts 75 depots across the country and employs 1,800 staff that are directly involved in Pallet-Track freight operations. Parkes models his business success upon the Cadbury family; the Birmingham based chocolate pioneers whose corporate ethos was as much about social philanthropy towards its workforce as it was about making profits. “To me the business is more than just making money. I always wanted to be a good boss and we have a great track record of 90% retention. It is about making a difference to industry and doing things right and working closely to bring your people on,” he said.

EUROPEAN MARKET Although a national company, Parkes and his management team have one eye on the future of the European market – but this is not an immediate priority. “Other pallet networks do operate in Europe but with limitations as I believe generally across the continent the palletised freight industry is not as sophisticated in terms of the technology and control that we offer here in the UK. I would say they are several years behind us, which is why I am keeping a watching brief and only launching there when I know there is a sustainable model Pallet-Track can work with. We bucked the trend in the UK during the recession and from 2008 to 2009 we grew by 6.4 per cent. I know we could do the same in Europe once the conditions are right for entry into that market,” he said. Pallet-Track is a classic example of continuous, year-on-year UK growth – a booming sector in an economy that has at best flat-lined since the 2008. Enterprise and innovation – empowering staff to achieve more with less – has underpinned this expansion success strategy and kept the wheels on industry running when UK plc appeared to be putting the brakes on.

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Aztec Logistics:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:07 Page 26

PALLET NETWORK: AZTEK LOGISTICS eing named Business Person of the Year in the 2013 Hertfordshire Business Awards was a highlight for Stuart Charter and added to the pleasure of his company finishing in the top five of the Medium Business category. He recalls: “I have done this for years, just get on with the job and make sure we look after our staff and customers. It’s fantastic to know what I have done in building the business from nothing to what it is now has been recognised. It shows our customers that I am driving the business in the right direction.” It illustrates how far Aztek Logistics has come since starting with one lorry funded by a Prince’s Trust loan in 2001. Now the company has 28 vehicles, 70,000 square feet of storage space and can deliver anything

MUCH MORE THAN JUST TRANSPORT

Stuart Charter, winner of the Business Person of the Year in the 2013 Hertfordshire Business Award explains the ethos of Aztek Logistics

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Aztec Logistics:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:07 Page 27

PALLET NETWORK: AZTEK LOGISTICS from a single pallet to a full load throughout the UK and into Europe.

PALLET NETWORK The growth and flexibility are partly enabled by the company’s membership of Pallet-Track, which it joined in 2009 after three years with another network. “We changed because their IT, infrastructure and membership are better than some of the other networks,” remarks Stuart. “They have been a massive benefit to Aztek because they are a stable and good network with a very good service level that has enabled us to grow the pallet volumes through them and grow the business on the back of it. Without being involved in the pallet network, it’s hard to win Aztek Logistics Works Rd Letchworth Garden City Herts SG6 1JZ www.azteklogistics.co.uk Tel: 01462 689480

some business because customers have different sized consignments they need to distribute efficiently and cost-effectively, which using the network we can do.We don’t want to be doing only one part of a customer’s business but need to cover all aspects.” The Pallet-Track IT system integrates with Aztek’s own tracking management system and allows customers to book consignments and track everything online. That backs up PalletTrack’s claim to be the only pallet network never to have lost a pallet, enabling Aztek to assure customers their freight is safe. Those customers include many long-standing ones due to the company’s concentration on providing a high quality service. Although the aim is to specialise on pallets where possible, consignments comprise a diverse range of general ambient goods. The company also utilises

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resources around it to provide a parcel service when customers need it and further enhances its range of services through warehouse storage. Stuart says: “Around 90% of our business is pick and pack, which enables us provide the customer with a full solution. We are currently looking to extend our warehousing facilities by another 25-30,000 sq feet.”

INCREASED EFFICIENCY As for any transport company, fuel has been a big problem but one Aztek has countered by controlling running costs, investing in modern vehicles and avoiding empty running. Stuart believes the diversity of the business has helped it retain its customers and the economic situation has encouraged increased efficiency: “We plan routing to maximise the time vehicles are out using the most cost efficient routes. The reces-

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Aztec Logistics:feature 2 26/02/2014 14:16 Page 28

PALLET NETWORK: AZTEK LOGISTICS

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Aztec Logistics:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:07 Page 29

PALLET NETWORK: AZTEK LOGISTICS

sion required us to look at all aspects of the business, control costs and concentrate on what we have. If you concentrate too much on what you don’t have, you lose sight of customers that have been with you for years. They’re the ones you need to keep moving forward with.” Providing the right service to customers, Stuart believes, is the priority: “Service has to be 100% and we spend a lot of time getting it right. Communication and stability in the staff are important; we have a very low turnover of staff with no driver leaving in the last 4-5 years. Without our drivers and staff, the business wouldn’t be where it is because it is down to them. They are out there and are the ambassadors of the company.” To retain the high levels of service, there’s a big investment in staff, with driver CPC training, manual handling and other courses for warehouse staff and a general effort to keep everyone involved and up to speed. That’s paid dividends in terms of growth throughout the recession and culminated in a good year last year with the awards, further growth, investment in new vehicles, the acquisition of new customers and the business generally moving in the right direction.

“WITHOUT OUR DRIVERS AND STAFF, THE BUSINESS WOULDN’T BE WHERE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS DOWN TO THEM. THEY ARE OUT THERE AND ARE THE AMBASSADORS OF THE COMPANY.” STUART CHARTER

CONTROLLED GROWTH Next on the calendar is the company’s first appearance at Multimodal at the NEC in April, which may help acquire new customers. Stuart, however, is adamant that any growth must be controlled: “I don’t want to be turning over massive amounts of money just for the sake of it but want a fine balance between turnover and profit.We have to make sure we are looking after what we have and not be busy fools. The business has grown year on year with controlled growth and this will be our continued aim for the future.”

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Inter-Haul:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:17 Page 30

PALLET NETWORK: INTER-HAUL

CONTINUING TO

GROW 21 Taff Business Centre, Tonteg Road, Treforest, S.Wales CF37 5UA www.interhaul.co.uk Tel: 01443 844986

With a modern, professional outlook Inter-haul offer a nationwide palletised delivery service to the manufacturing industries of South Wales

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nter-haul offers a nationwide palletised delivery service to the manufacturing industries of South Wales. Modern and dynamic, the company has bolstered its reputation as a professional, flexible and reliable service provider by consistently meeting the varying demands of its clients. Originally formed by director Mark Waite in 2001, his vision was to develop a company with a contemporary outlook on the distribution requirements of clients. The key objective was to offer a personal, competitive and professional service from a local base, whilst utilising the service of a nationwide network. The company saw tremendous growth in its first two years seeing it listed in the Wales Hot 100 Start Up Companies, followed by two consecutive years in the Wales Fastgrown 50. Since then the company has trebled both its workforce, fleet and warehousing capability. In 2003 it was approached by Pallet-Track Ltd and offered a shareholder membership. The company became a founder member of the network in 2004 and immediately utilised the benefits of the market leading

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Inter-Haul:feature 2 14/02/2014 11:27 Page 31

PALLET NETWORK: INTER-HAUL I.T. and unrivalled service levels. This led to a huge increase in its customer base. Today, Inter-haul primarily offers an overnight pallet delivery service via the Pallet-Track network. Coverage is nationwide on a Next Day basis. Items carried can include everything from rugby programmes to insulation to ventilation systems. There isn’t product that Inter-haul will not move that can be carried legally on a pallet. The company is also able to supply bespoke vehicles built to a client’s specification on a contract basis which can include crane vehicles, extending trailers and double-deck trailers. Key strengths of the service include fully traceable transport. Clients can order online, see where their product is at any given time and all files are archived online for ease of access. The company has also gained ISO 9001 accreditation, indicating its professional approach to all aspects of the business. This has helped it add more blue chip clients to its expanding portfolio. Certainly, Inter-haul’s modern fleet and professional, well-trained drivers have played a key role in its success. For example, Aerodeck double-deck trailers give Inter-haul a capacity of 60 pallets per trailer making the service far more financially and environmentally efficient. Having the most modern fleet in South Wales also means making use of new technologies such as vehicle tracking and forward and reversing cameras. Side cameras have also been added on new vehicles to comply with Transport for London’s FORS scheme. Also, all vehicles are manufactured by MAN so the company makes use of its full telematics system to monitor driver performance to ensure standards remain high and fuel efficiency is maximised. In addition, the company employs a very experienced team of drivers.With a low turnover of staff aiding service quality and consistency, Inter-haul ensures that each driver is fully inducted before being enrolled in continual Drivers CPC training. As the company looks confidently to the future its ambition is to continue its growth. Larger premises are on the horizon to accommodate this, while it maintains its ongoing investment in modern vehicles and technology.

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downes:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:22 Page 32

PALLET NETWORK: DOWNES TRANSPORT

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Downes Transport pride themselves on offering a professional efficient and personal service, which is tailored to suit each customer’s needs ownes Transport was established by experienced haulier Douglas Downes in 1995. The company has stayed true to its family roots over the last 17 years, employing members of the Downes family in key operational positions while incorporating a customer-led approach that has developed a reputation for the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Company director Craig Downes acknowledges his father Douglas’ experience within the industry as a key driving force behind the company’s success. Douglas brought 30 years of expertise into the company when he started it as a general haulage firm serving the construction industry in and around London. Introducing Craig to the company at an early age, initially as a driver, the current company direc-

D Downes Transport Ltd Unit 1 Mills Way Boscombe Down Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7RX www.downestransport.com Tel: 01980 624850

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tor had grounding in the operational needs of the business as well as the requirements of its customers. “Customer service is key,” says Craig. “That is the defining factor for us. Obviously, like any business, people ask for the best price but that isn’t always possible. We remain competitive but my philosophy is the customer is going to get what they pay for. And with us they get a very high standard of service. I would rather they spend a little extra with us so that the job gets done in the manner that they want it done.” The company provides storage and distribution solutions for a variety of industries throughout the UK. Supported by a global network of partners, the company is able to handle UK and worldwide deliveries by land, sea or air. Much of the goods handled by

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downes:feature 2 10/02/2014 14:22 Page 33

PALLET NETWORK: DOWNES TRANSPORT Downes includes foodservice items such as ingredients, as well as animal feed, and computer, gaming and electrical accessories. Working with ingredients used by major food and drink manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, which include an element of alcohol, means Downes is also accredited and experienced with handling hazardous goods. The service is supported by a fleet of modern vehicles which range from articulated lorries to small vans. It also has 9,000 square feet of warehousing and utilises digital tracking system Nav-Man to ensure efficiency and provide customer’s with an even better quality of service. This enables Downes to offer an industry-leading service which includes Next Day and Economy Delivery services in Europe and the UK for freight, pallet distribution, hazardous goods and general haulage requirements. Craig says, “Our success is based on consistently providing the committed level of service demanded by our clients. Our ever-expanding client base is a firm endorsement of our reliability and performance. Customers can be assured that they will be given a professional, efficient service.” The company is conveniently located at the Boscombe Down Business Park off the A303 linking the South West and London. The array of services provided means Downes Transport can accommodate the needs of many different types of clients. Specialist services include short and long term storage contracts, as well as pick and pack products tailored to the client. The company can also offer on site loading and unloading ramps for de-vanning containers. Crucially, Downes is equipped to store, dispatch and deliver goods whether it is one pallet or a full load. This flexibility is supported by experienced staff who know how to do a job right.

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palletways:feature 2 14/02/2014 13:06 Page 34

PALLET NETWORK: PALLETWAYS

CONNECTING TO

EUROPE PALLETWAYS IS EUROPE’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF EXPRESS PALLETISED DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. WITH THEIR STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED NETWORK OF DEPOTS AND HUB OPERATIONS, THEY’RE UNRIVALLED IN THEIR ABILITY TO CONNECT YOUR BUSINESS TO THE WHOLE OF EUROPE ith around 25% of the UK market, Palletways is the leading pallet network operator in its twentieth year. The business operates on a hub and spoke structure with some 300 members and up to 30,000 pallets daily being moved across Europe. The success, believes Managing Director Martyn Young, is partly attributed to innovation: “We’re often the first to do something and we are very proactive commercially, continuing to drive volume and investing in the network. We opened a northern hub a year ago and launched a service in Germany when others felt it couldn’t be achieved.” This pursuit of innovation is typified by the comprehensive IT system supporting the operation, the latest addition being the Palletways Archway Scanning System, which automatically captures a high definition image of every pallet arriving at the hub. The system, a £1 million investment that won the Global Freight Innovation Award for New Processes and a BCS UK IT Industry Award, has immense benefits for security and quality assurance. “We move a huge amount of pallets and it gives us visibility on every one,” comments Martyn. “Freight comes through the network more efficiently, with fewer claims and losses.”

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It’s the latest in a long line of developments that include a portal system for members to track consignments at every point as well as accessing service performance and other data. Martyn says: “We invest to help members and give them greater efficiency. There aren’t huge margins in distribution so any advantage through IT certainly has a benefit.” Those benefits have resulted in volumes continuing to grow, necessitating a constant restructuring of

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PALLET NETWORK: PALLETWAYS

“WHEN WE STARTED THE EUROPEAN SERVICE, ONLY 10-20% OF MEMBERS HAD EVER SENT CONSIGNMENTS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WHEREAS LAST MONTH THAT FIGURE WAS 95%. SO IT’S A HUGE ADDITION TO THEIR PRODUCT LINES AND THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THERE ARE THE SAME SERVICE LEVELS AND VISIBILITY ACROSS THE NETWORK.”

areas to correct trunking imbalances and ensure members handle consignments efficiently. That process generates new member opportunities and Palletways takes care to recruit only quality members. “We constantly review and adapt to changes, ensuring new opportunities are profitable and genuine,” explains Martyn. “We check potential members’ financial position, their trading history and reputation to make sure we sign the right people. Through

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our network they can access the European market, plug into our award winning IT systems and receive business support. We expect them to use all those opportunities because they need to evolve and adapt to make it successful.” The success of the Palletways model has transferred increasingly across Europe, with identical models now operating in thirteen countries across the continent, including Italy, Spain, the Benelux countries and Germany plus recent moves into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. All countries have the same rules, terms, codes of practice and type of member which, as Martyn outlines, creates significant benefits for members:

“When we started the European service, only 10-20% of members had ever sent consignments to European countries, whereas last month that figure was 95%. So it’s a huge addition to their product lines and they have the confidence of knowing there are the same service levels and visibility across the network.” Expansion will continue further into Europe, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe. There’s also the challenge of home deliveries and other opportunities, enabling Palletways to maintain its market-leading position. Fradley Distribution Park Wood End Lane Fradley Park Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 8NE www.palletways.com Tel: 01543 418000

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Duncan Adams :feature 2 13/02/2014 16:31 Page 36

PALLET NETWORKS: DUNCAN ADAMS uncan Adam Ltd was established in 1960 and has grown to become one of the largest privately owned transport and distribution companies in Scotland. It thrives under the direction of founder Duncan Adams whose ambitious and forward-thinking management has seen it become a leader within the field. The result is a company which offers unparalleled industry experience alongside state of the art facilities. Its headquarters are located at Grangemouth with satellite depots at Glasgow, Birkenhead, Teesport and South Shields. The company is proud to offer competitive pricing, quality servicing (40% of its customers have dealt with the business in excess of 15 years confirming Duncan Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reputation as a reliable service-led operation), and 24-hour 7-days per week contact. As well as its experience, Duncan Adams also provides fully computerised accounts and logistics, and comprehensive insurance cover. Its central distribution point for general haulage throughout the UK is based at Grangemouth. Customers include blue chip companies in the chemical, wine, spirits and forest products industry. From its Birkenhead

depot the company transports newsprint to the major national and provincial newspapers on a timed delivery basis. Furthermore, the company services the requirements of the North East corridor from its Tyne and Wear depot and from Hull it operates a daily service to the continent via Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. All the depots are interlinked with a nightly trunk system. Key services provided by Duncan Adams include contract hire. This provides a dedicated contract hire service with drivers qualified to client requirements, customised equipment in client-own livery, and no down time with a full 52-week service. The company also has a number of clients who have taken advantage of its trailer services to Europe. This service is provided to Holland, Belgium, Germany and France through Duncan Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recognised routes at Teesport and Immingham, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. Products regularly shipped include specialist forest products and out/in gauge steel. A weekly groupage service to Antwerp and Rotterdam is available, as is storage on the continent. Container handling is also available with storage capacity for 400 containers. Repair

CUSTOMER

FOCUSED One of the largest privately owned transport and distribution companies in Scotland

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Duncan Adams :feature 2 13/02/2014 16:31 Page 37

PALLET NETWORKS: DUNCAN ADAMS

WHY DOES THE COMPANY STAND OUT? 4Competitive pricing 4Quality servicing – 40% of its customers have been with it for more than 15 years 424 hour – 7 day contact 4Fully computerised accounts and logistics 4Experience 4Comprehensive insurance cover

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Duncan Adams :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:39 Page 38

Duncan Adams :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:39 Page 39

PALLET NETWORKS: DUNCAN ADAMS facilities from minor to major refurbishment, a container lifting capacity of 30 tonnes, and refrigeration points complement the service.

FUEL EFFICIENCY Duncan Adams Ltd has recently taken delivery of the last of a total order of 44 new Renault Premium 460.25 6x2 tractor units with Privilege cabs, through Renault Trucks dealer, Border Trucks. The company originally placed an order for 14 Renault Premiums in August 2011 but subsequently increased its order due to the excellent fuel performance of the initial trucks. The Renault Premiums are replacement trucks and join a 104strong mixed fleet that includes Mercedes and MAN. The new Renault Premiums will undertake container haulage, pallet distribution, timber and steel pipe haulage across Scotland and the North East, as well as general haulage and trunking work for blue chip companies in the chemical, wine, spirits and forest products industry. A number of the trucks will also undertake a daily service for the company’s European operations. Eric Adams, director of Duncan Adams Ltd said he was very pleased with the fuel efficiency of the vehicles, significantly aiding the company towards its carbon reduction and fuel consumption goals. In recent years the company has increased its fuel consumption monitoring activities in order to reduce its own costs and continue to provide competitive prices to customers. The new Renault Premiums have proven to be a great benefit to the company’s operation.

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Eric said, “The Renault Premiums are showing impressive fuel figures. We are seeing a 10% improvement on fuel consumption at the moment with the new trucks running at around 8.5mpg. The nature of our business means that 10,000 miles are covered by our trucks every day so we monitor our fuel return carefully. “We were so impressed with the fuel consumption on the initial Renault Premiums we ordered that we decided to increase our order with Renault Trucks to make further savings. The finance deal we were given through Renault Trucks Financial Services was also excellent with a great overall sales package.”

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Duncan Adams :feature 2 17/02/2014 12:59 Page 40

PALLET NETWORKS: DUNCAN ADAMS

Grange Dock, Grangemouth Scotland FK3 8UG www.duncanadams.co.uk Tel: 01324 484951

Border Trucks carries out routine inspections and servicing for the Duncan Adams Renault fleet at the company’s premises in Grangemouth. This ensures the fleet stays in tip-top condition thanks to Border Trucks’ experienced team of professionals who are fully trained to the very high standards demanded by Renault Trucks. The workshop is fully equipped with the very latest tools and technology and its extensive opening hours mean that it can service Duncan Adams’ vehicles at a time that suits which does not impact on the company’s operations. Duncan Adams has every reason to look positively to the future. With an enviable reputation already established as well as long-running relationships with customers, the future is distinctly bright for this Grangemouth-based haulage and logistics specialist.

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Duncan Adams :feature 2 17/02/2014 12:59 Page 41

PALLET NETWORKS: DUNCAN ADAMS

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Sovereign Transport :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:50 Page 42

SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES

24 HOUR NEXT DAY 2-3 DAY ECONOMY PALLETS 5 DAYS ECONOMY FULL/HALF/QUARTER PALLET RATES FULL LOADS/HALF LOADS/ BACK LOADS

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Sovereign Transport :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:50 Page 43

PALLET NETWORKS: SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES

LOGISTIC SOLUTIONS

Established in 1984, Sovereign Transport Services offers Palletised Distribution services both locally and nationwide overeign Transport, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has a longestablished reputation for providing a range of quality logistics solutions. Clients have become accustomed to improved efficiency, value for money and the streamlining of operations when using the services of Sovereign. Complementing the service is access to over 270 depots through Palletways, enabling the company to offer clients economy and Next Day delivery services for palletised freight. Sovereign was established in 1984 and began offering palletised distribution services both locally and nationwide.The company grew gradually over the years, achieving significant success. This led to the business being invited to become a founding local member of Europe’s leading pallet network – Palletways. Today the company offers a competitively priced service with its own tariffs based on full, half and quarter pallet rates to anywhere in the UK and mainland Europe. The company has dedicated itself to providing solutions that meet the distinct needs of its clientele. No two jobs are the same. Each assignment is tailored to specific needs ensuring Sovereign can achieve total cus-

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tomer satisfaction. Over the years the business has modified its services to meet ever-changing needs, while investment in the latest technology and an innovative approach to operations has seen it deliver an efficient, reliable and speedy service that is unparalleled within the industry. As a founder member of Palletways, Sovereign has been working in partnership with the pallet network for over a decade. This gives clients the added benefit of all services that can be expected from a large organisation committed to customer service and excellent performance. Indeed, Sovereign has held Platinum membership for a number of years. Platinum membership is awarded to depots that don’t just achieve excellent service levels for their existing clients, but exceed those levels set by the network for delivery performance. Externally audited for ISO 9001, Sovereign makes use of a rigorously monitored internal code of practice to oversee performance and constantly drive improvement. At the cutting edge of palletised consignment distribution, with over 25 years of experience in our industry, you can be confident that Sovereign Transport Services will deliver your goods exactly to your schedule, complete and undamaged.

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Sovereign Transport :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:50 Page 44

PALLET NETWORKS: SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES The company has access to its own fleet of 25 vehicles but through the pallet network it has access to hundreds more. This means clients can rely upon Sovereign to meet their needs. In addition, acknowledging its role in helping the country become more environmentally friendly, Sovereign operates a “green” haulage policy and is com-

SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES OFFERS AN UNRIVALLED RANGE OF COST EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE, FLEXIBLE AND HIGH QUALITY PALLETISED FREIGHT SERVICES mitted to conservation of the environment so that its collections and deliveries are carefully planned for the optimisation of load efficiency and the reduction of road miles wherever possible. This is an extension of the Palletways ethos given that it was founded in May 1994 to respond to the growing demand for a specialised service capable of distributing small consignments of palletised goods in a more efficient manner. Sovereign Transport Services offers an unrivalled range of cost effective, reliable, flexible and high quality palletised freight services to customers within Merseyside and the North West of England. Services include

premium and economy express network distribution of small consignments of palletised freight to the whole of the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe as well as full, half and quarter pallets. Saturday morning and timed deliveries are available as is a Book In service to arrange times with delivery customers. Sovereign can also arrange collections on the client’s behalf and offers a full track and trace solution available to all customers on all consignments. In addition, FOC tail lift services are available too. Sovereign also has access to daily departures with pre-defined lead times to the whole of Europe. The international service has been designed to meet the increasing demands for the movement of small consignments of palletised freight within the European market sector. The service is provided through a network of over 270 depots throughout Europe. A client’s local depot can offer a guaranteed daily departure assisted by an integrated IT infrastructure which allows the customer to obtain reliable lead times as well as Track & Trace. Collections can be made daily up to 5pm with departures internationally the same day (with some restrictions). Two service levels, Premium Service and Economy Service, provide an efficient solution for the client or supplier within Europe. The advantages are clear. With Sovereign you get one partner for both domestic and European shipments, with local expertise, guaranteed daily departure, and reduction in lead time. Other advantages include an online schedule to provide lead time information before clients expedite a consignment and access to the consignment status information online.

SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES (STS) Acornfield Road Knowsley Industrial Park North Kirkby, Merseyside L33 7RD www.sovereigntransport.com Tel: 0151 548 1199

Sovereign Transport :feature 2 26/02/2014 14:23 Page 45

PALLET NETWORKS: SOVEREIGN TRANSPORT SERVICES

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Barnes Coaches :feature 2 14/02/2014 13:24 Page 46

BUS AND COACHES: BARNES COACHES

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Barnes Coaches :feature 2 14/02/2014 13:24 Page 47

BUS AND COACHES: BARNES COACHES

“WE ALWAYS AIM TO BE THE BEST”

With over 90 years experience and a full range of vehicles, Barnes Coaches is one of the largest and most modern coach operator in the UK

arnes Coaches has been successfully serving the needs of its passengers for many years. It boasts over 90 years of experience with the great grandchildren of its founder Tommy Barnes — Luke and Matt — continuing to maintain the enviable reputation it has enjoyed for decades. Originally established as a carrier service operating between local villages and nearby train stations, the business slowly grew to incorporate being both a coal merchant and later a coach operator. Over the last 25 years the company has focused solely on its coach services, expanding and modernising the fleet and moving to dedicated premises. This has allowed the business to enhance its services which now include a full range of coaching activities including contract hire, private hire and an extensive programme of day trips, holidays and theatre excursions. Employing 35 full-time in-house drivers and around 15 part-time, the make-up of the team is complemented by 15 office staff and four vehicle technicians. Although much of the company’s work comes from the Swindon and Newbury areas, its location close to the M4 and A419 means it has perfect access to the main road network serving Cheltenham, Bristol, Southampton, London and Oxford meaning Barnes Coaches can provide services to a large geographical region. It achieves this through a fleet that encompass-

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es 28 coaches and five minibuses, made up of Volvo VanHools, DAF VanHools, Jonckheere Volvo, DAF Bova’s and Ford Minibuses. Luke Barnes, who today runs the company alongside brother Matt Barnes, believes its recent successes have been down to an attention to detail, investing in the fleet, and listening to the customer. Certainly, maintaining a modern fleet is crucial to ensuring customer safety, comfort and satisfaction. It is also essential to the efficient running of the service. “We have tried to increase the number of new vehicles bought each year to bring down the age of the fleet,” says Luke. “We bought five vehicles last year and have four on order for this year so we are moving in this direction. “We don’t always aim to be the cheapest but we do aim to be the best we can. We have tried several things with new vehicles including e-leather seats, CCTV, and different seating manufacturers, for example, all in an attempt to improve customer comfort. Sometimes it is easier to order a new vehicle specified to the same requirements as the last one you bought, but we try not to do this to ensure we are always improving. “Also, the vehicle tracking system through TomTom is something that has helped us keep our customers informed and if problems do arise we can always let people know either over the phone or via our website or social media.

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Barnes Coaches :feature 2 14/02/2014 13:24 Page 48

BUS AND COACHES: BARNES COACHES

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Barnes Coaches :feature 2 14/02/2014 13:24 Page 49

BUS AND COACHES: BARNES COACHES

“Likewise with the tours and day trips we run we try to constantly change and improve what we have to offer. To do this we encourage customer feedback so we can see if any of our pick-up routes or itineraries need adjusting.” Certainly, Tom-Tom vehicle tracking has provided a number of advantages to the service, not least the ability it gives the company to analyse driver performance. The company is hoping to provide incentives to drivers in future to aid performance improvement. However, Barnes only employs highly qualified personnel, as Luke explains. “Obviously all drivers have passed their initial CPC qualification and we have sent all drivers on at least seven hours of training so far this year to ensure performance is maintained. We try to vary the training so that different topics are covered. The feedback we have received from drivers so far this year has been very encouraging.” Of course, success doesn’t come easy and there have been a number of challenges. For example, rising diesel prices have seen the company adopt a policy of allocating work to avoid dead miles. Also, changes to how councils tender for school contracts has at times been problematic as each council asks for different

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things. The process of DBS checking is, says Luke, unnecessarily complicated as this also needs to be done for each council. However, the Low Emission Zone in London, which has been an obstacle for some, has proven beneficial to the company because it runs such a modern fleet meaning only minor adjustments have been made to comply. Indeed, all the coaches it has on order this year are Euro 5 specified with the switch to Euro 6 coming next year. In this challenging economic period, being a member of organisations such as the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) has helped the company, particularly around updates in legislation and general advice. It is also part of the BUSK Simply Safe and Benchmark Scheme. Luke says that the initiatives run by BUSK are an excellent way to raise the standard of coaching, while raising awareness that some companies quite rightly put safety and quality above price. As Luke looks ahead, he hopes to further improve the company’s service to customers while remaining competitive in the marketplace. Certainly, Barnes Coaches’ success over the last few years proves it has every reason to be ambitious as it looks confidently to the future.

Woodside Rd South Marston Park Swindon SN3 4AQ www.barnescoaches.co.uk Tel: 01793 821303

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Hodgson Coaches:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:42 Page 50

BUS AND COACHES: HODGSON'S COACHES

T LUXURY

TRAVEL Hodgson’s coaches have an excellent reputation for high customer satisfaction, value for money and providing the best quality coaches available in the market today

hey say that mighty oaks grow from little acorns, yet when Keith Hodgson started a small taxi company in 1985, he could hardly have imagined that almost 30 years later the company would have grown to become the major transport provider that Hodgsons Coaches is today. While the family-run business grew steadily in its early years, with the addition of two Mercedes Benz Minibuses in 1988, and then a full size coach in 1997 (a 1995 Bova Futura), it wasn’t until 2003 that the fleet began to resemble its current form, with the purchase of its first brand new coach. Today Hodgsons Coaches boasts an impressive 25 vehicles, including one specially commissioned Special Edition Neoplan Tourliner, complete with leather seats, executive washrooms and full climate control. At the other end of the scale, the taxi business still plays an important role, with Hodgsons operating 17 cars and eight-seat minibuses on a mixture of school contracts, private hire, and Hackney Taxi runs. In fact, it’s this flexibility that

Hodgsons Coach Operators Ltd 16 Galgate Barnard Castle DL12 8BG Tel: 0044 1833 630730 www.hodgsonscoachtravel.co.uk

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Hodgson Coaches:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:42 Page 51

BUS AND COACHES: HODGSON'S COACHES

Andy Timms, Operations and Business Development Manager, sees as the secret to the company’s ongoing success: “We are able to provide a large range of vehicles to our customers, starting at a taxi cab for four passengers up to a coach with a maximum of 70 seats. This enables us to offer a ‘One Stop Shop’ for any private or corporate customer.” However, it is not simply size and flexibility of the fleet that has contributed to Hodgsons Coaches lasting appeal. It has invested heavily in creating an allround positive customer experience. While both the Executive and Exclusive Edition coaches are equipped with little touches such as air conditioning, reclining seats, toilets/washrooms and DVD/CD/Radio players, the company has also invested in the people driving its vehicles. All 15 of its full time coach drivers, as well as 10 freelance drivers, undergo a programme of continual professional development and training, including completing their Drivers CPC training. This way, Hodgsons is able to ensure that both its vehicles and the people behind the wheel are both reliable and conform to the very highest standards at all times. Over the last twelve months the company has made further investments in its fleet, with the introduction of Tom-Tom Tracker to all of its tour coaches, enabling it to monitor vehicles and keep customers advised as to the progress of their tour coaches. The company has also developed a brand new company website to help both new and existing customers obtain information about the company, obtain quotations, and place bookings. Ultimately it is this attention to detail that helps to set Hodgsons Coaches apart from its competitors. While some companies might be content to rest on their laurels, Keith Hodgson and his team (which includes son Mark who is now responsible for the day to day running of the business) focus on providing a friendly, efficient and reliable service that has helped them build a loyal customer base, who agree that Hodgsons coaches really are second to none.

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 13/02/2014 14:38 Page 52

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL

“LIKE JUGGLING SOOT”

Chris Owens, Managing Director at Alpine Travel explains the highs and lows of running a coach hire business

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 13/02/2014 14:38 Page 53

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL unning a coach hire business, reckons Alpine Travel’s Managing Director Chris Owens, is ‘like juggling soot’. He says: “You never know how any day and any financial period is going to pan out. Every quarter and every month is completely different because there are always so many factors that affect how we perform financially. Whether it be a major global issue such as the terrible 9/11 crisis or the earthquake and tsunami that predicated the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, such incidents had a profound negative impact on our inbound tourist industry. On the other hand, it could be the Icelandic Ash Cloud or recent flooding which drives demand for coaches to move people when other forms of public passenger transport fail. No two days are ever the same!” The nature of the industry has caused Alpine Travel to constantly adapt since it started in 1972 as a local transport provider in a small geographical location. It’s still based in North Wales, although now with four operating bases, but is a national and international business. The company has reacted to the changing domestic holiday market, with a tendency for shorter breaks and altered means of transport, by amending its offering to suit modern-day needs.

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“The whole business structure has changed,” recounts Chris. “Our school travel business has diminished from two thirds of the activity fifteen years ago to about a third today. It is diminishing because it is completely price based and, in the compliant environment in which we exist, we can’t continue to reduce

THE NATURE OF THE INDUSTRY HAS CAUSED ALPINE TRAVEL TO CONSTANTLY ADAPT SINCE IT STARTED IN 1972 AS A LOCAL TRANSPORT PROVIDER prices and won’t compromise quality for price in relation to operations.” The emphasis has switched to a higher profile coach fleet with a distinctive corporate livery to provide luxury coach touring and private hire. An element of that involves running coaches in other companies’ liveries to provide branded holidays for various operators. That’s where the main investment for growth is going and it’s a business based on relationships, quality and standard of service as opposed to the school travel where price is the key factor.

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 13/02/2014 14:38 Page 54

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL

WITH ITS STRONG MANAGEMENT IN PLACE, IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE AND RANGE OF FACILITIES, YTL HAS EVERY REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC Nevertheless, the school work remains important and, as Chris affirms, to a large degree affects the activity patterns throughout the year: “The school programme runs eleven months a year and the coach holiday season runs pretty much from mid March through to the end of December. So the only time the coaches are quiet are January and parts of February and March. The middle of February can be chaotic with coaches going off to Austria and Italy taking children skiing. Because the half terms are a bit skewed between England and Wales, the two weeks in the middle of February are busy so we end up with two months that are fairly flat and the other ten months busy with a crescendo for May to July and September.” Due to the mix, there’s an enormous customer base that includes corporate clients and local authorities providing regular work and a large proportion that may use the company once a year or less frequently. There’s also a diverse fleet that comprises mainly standard and luxury coaches, the latest additions for the

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latter having Wi-Fi and every conceivable modern feature today’s passengers expect. In addition to those are open top buses that operate around Conwy under the City Sightseeing brand and vintage coaches hired for weddings and special events. The vintage vehicles are the simplest to maintain due to their lack of technology, with all maintenance handled in-house through a team of full-time mechanics plus apprentices. There’s a big emphasis on training for all staff, the drivers undergoing a full training programme, mainly at the company’s own facilities, that includes CPC courses, customer service, fire evacuation, incident management, compliance and driver assessments.

SHARED BENEFITS Driver performance is an essential part of the service and is monitored by GreenRoad telematics that is fitted to all vehicles to provide profiling information. It’s not intended as a means of controlling drivers but has helped tremendously when there have been issues to resolve as well as improving driving habits. “We have a productivity related discretionary bonus every month and that is partially based on GreenRoad performance,” states Chris. “If the company is benefiting, as it has done with reductions in maintenance costs and complaints, improved customer feedback and overall better performance with reduced fuel costs, it’s only fair people who assist in that share in the success.”

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 13/02/2014 14:38 Page 55

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 14/02/2014 11:57 Page 56

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL

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Alpine Travel :feature 2 13/02/2014 14:38 Page 57

BUS AND COACHES: ALPINE TRAVEL Alpine redeveloped its site in Llandudno during 201112 and its Rhyl site is currently going through the same process. The aim for both, as Chris affirms, is to improve welfare facilities, service facilities and efficiency: “If you have a badly laid out, badly planned workshop, its not conducive to getting a good quality job done. We want to improve the quality of our service delivery by helping the mechanics make sure the vehicles come out of the workshop correctly. We have built a new body shop to ensure we are not reliant on third parties. Vehicles with knocks and scrapes can be brought in, repaired and go back on the road looking 100% as quickly as possible instead of waiting for a third party to arrange and do the work.” The redevelopment work has been brought forward to some degree due to Chris’s recent appointment as President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which requires him to spend time away from the business. Although he accepts that non-members benefit from the work of the organisation, he firmly believes all companies that have an operating licence and carry passengers should be members. They’ll be joining the operators of 95% of the UK’s buses and 60% of coaches that are members, amounting to 920 operating companies as well as 125 supplier members. Membership is particularly relevant due to the amount of legislation coming from Europe since members benefit

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Alpine Travel Builder Street West, Llandudno, Gwynedd North Wales LL30 1HH www.alpine-travel.co.uk Tel: 01492 879133

through being part of the European Alliance for Coach Tourism by getting practical outcomes for the industry. It will also help them meet other challenges the industry faces, which partly result from the business model. Whilst the coach industry doesn’t receive government subsidies in the same way as bus operators, it isn’t subject to the same level of intervention and largely has to operate independently. Chris says: “As coach operators, we live and die by our own business acumen, our marketing skills and our abilities to sell the quality of our service. Our business model means we are no different to a shop on the high street and we have the same challenges. Whereas a haulier tends to buy lorries after securing a contract to meet known demand, in our sector we tend to buy coaches and hope someone wants to hire them. Every year, the vehicles get older, we go through our normal stock rotation and keep trying to improve but an awful lot of what we do is non contractual.” Possibly the biggest priority for a coach operator is being on time because, while being late with a haulage delivery might not be crucial, arriving late at the theatre or missing a ferry sailing will almost certainly guarantee a loss of business. “In our industry, we have to deliver,” remarks Chris. “Our whole existence is based on providing what we say we are going to provide, when we say we are going to provide it and there is no contingency.”

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Belle Coaches :feature 2 11/02/2014 10:12 Page 58

BUS AND COACHES: BELLE COACHES elle Coaches celebrates 90 years of service this year. The Suffolk-based business provides European and UK coach tours, day excursions, private hire, and contract work, and has secured an enviable reputation for customer service and comfort. Its modern fleet includes 7-seaters up to 53-seat Executive coaches with air-conditioning in the majority of vehicles. The Executive coaches are equipped with all the modern conveniences you’d expect such as toilet and refreshment facilities as well as audio/video to make long journeys a pleasure to be a part of. Complementing this is the experience of highly qualified professional drivers who put passenger safety above anything else, an inhouse maintenance department to ensure coaches are always running like new, and the company’s committed, personal approach to the customer. The company was first established in Lowestoft in 1924 and has been continuously running in the area ever since. Founder Benjamin Robert Shreeve started by operating a bus service between Lowestoft and Oulton Broad using a 14-seat Model T Ford charabanc. Early work included summer day trips before school contracts began in the early 1930s. During the war,

B Lowestoft Office Hadenham Road Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 7NF Tel: 01502 574669 Leiston Office 73 High Street Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4BX Leiston: 01728 830414 www.bellecoaches.co.uk

. . . S R A 90 YE

coaches were used to transport children away from major cities while the company also carried out further work for the Ministry of Defence. Continued growth during the 1950s and 1960s saw Benjamin’s sons Ernest, Allan and John entering the business and continuing the family tradition. Through acquisition the fleet eventually expanded to 60 vehicles at its peak before contracting to its present level of 44 in the late 1990s. It was at this time that the company began its own coach holiday programme under the banner Lazy Days Holidays. This saw the acquisition of Executive coaches as well as an extension to its MOT Testing station at Leiston to ensure all maintenance could be carried out under one roof. Ken Shreeve, who now runs the company alongside his cousin Robert, believes keeping the business within the family has been vital to its long-running success. “It encourages personal service and being attentive to the customer’s needs which is something we’ve built our reputation upon,” he says. Indeed, with Ken’s daughter joining the company in 2011, it means four generations have overseen the success of Belle Coaches. Highlighting its dedication to passenger comfort and safety was its inclusion of seatbelts over 20 years ago, well before it became law to install them. The

...OF LOCAL

SERVICE

Having been operating in the Lowestoft area since the early 1920’s Belle Coaches are celebrating 90 years of service

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Belle Coaches :feature 2 14/02/2014 12:00 Page 59

BUS AND COACHES: BELLE COACHES

company also ensures professionalism in its drivers, ensuring they are regularly up to date with Drivers CPC training alongside in-house training and assessment, and additional specialist training such as first aid. Gaining customer feedback helps monitor driver performance as do random spot checks. However, the company has a low turnover of drivers meaning it has plenty of experience in-house. Whenever a new driver is employed they sit alongside one of the company’s most experienced members of staff which Ken says is a far better way to learn than any classroom. “That’s where you get the family orientated ethos coming to the fore because we are absolutely committed to service excellence and ensure our employees know what we expect of them,” explains Ken. Today, Belle Coaches runs over 200 excursions annually with summer and winter holiday tours going all over the UK and Europe. The company is also very flexible in its approach, providing a tailor made private hire service for groups. Also, through its partnership with Just Go, Belle offers a number of additional tours.

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Ausden Clark :feature 2 14/02/2014 15:12 Page 60

BUS AND COACHES: AUSDEN CLARK COACHES

LEICESTERSHIRE’S LARGEST COACH COMPANY... WITHOUT THE LARGEST PRICES Twenty-one years on the road have seen Leicestershires coach hire and MOT specialists Ausden Clark grow from a one-man operation to a multi-million pound business.

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eing the largest coach operator in Leicestershire and the largest independently owned operator in the Midlands is something Ausden Clark Coaches has achieved since moving into the business in 1992, after ten years of repairing coaches. It is a position to be proud of but imposes a responsibility to maintain the high standards that have got the company there and raised its profile. Ausden Clark Coaches now operates, with a new management team, from three sites, having recently relocated its main

Leicester depot and spent just under £1 million acquiring and developing the site. It runs a fleet of seventy vehicles ranging from 16 to 87 seat capacity that has benefited from a £2.5 million investment over the last six years. All are seat belted and are a mixture of standard and executive coaches, with the latter having DVD players, toilets, reclining seats and air conditioning. “We have twelve double-decker coaches and that is where we are pushing our market towards” recounts Managing Director Lorne Kind. “We have one of the largest fleets of double-decker coaches and they enable us to move big numbers continuously”.

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BUS AND COACHES: AUSDEN CLARK COACHES

Being able to move large numbers of passengers is important for the school contracts that amount to about 50% of the workload and require the daily transport of some 3,500 students to and from school as well as to swimming baths. Those contracts run for 34 weeks of the year and are supplemented at other times by school trips to various destinations including European ski resorts and musical venues in the UK and abroad. There is also a considerable sporting involvement with the company providing independent away travel for supporters of Leicester City Football Club and many other Midland and national high profile sporting clubs. Added to that is private hire for corporate events and excursions. The varied workload means the fleet has to be able to handle all demands and the drivers, all full time employed and uniformed, need to cope with all eventualities. The latter, as Lorne emphasises, is ensured by a thorough training programme: “We put our new employees through our in-house training with successful completion guaranteeing a highly skilled new driver with a two-year contract in return for our investment in them.” “All our staff are trained to a high level and we strive to provide ongoing training that

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“WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST FLEETS OF DOUBLE-DECKER COACHES AND THEY ENABLE US TO MOVE BIG NUMBERS CONTINUOUSLY”

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Ausden Clark :feature 2 14/02/2014 15:12 Page 62

BUS AND COACHES: AUSDEN CLARK COACHES

Transport House Murrayfield Road Leicester LE3 1UW ausdenclark.co.uk Tel: 01162 629492

includes attending CBT course, which in return gives us the quality of the team we have around us now. Our fleet is so different that we make sure all our drivers are type trained, enabling us to maximise our workforce. We have a very good team here and it’s a team run business”. The training emphasises proper driving techniques and helps limit fuel usage. That’s all part of a focus on cost reduction in general and includes working closely with suppliers to buy fuel in bulk at competitive prices. The main focus, however, is always on service standards, which is one of the issues Lorne was brought in to address when he joined the company in 2012, and that attention is being repaid. “We gain a lot of business through recommendation and that to me is the best form of advertising,” he

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says. “We have secured another school contract through recommendation. We also gain new business because we have a fleet capable of doing the work and we are prominent in the market because of our vehicle signage and strong presence on the road.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE Lorne is conscious there is more to be done in a challenging market and says: “Although the economic troubles of the last few years are easing, that is yet to filter through to the company’s leisure market.This market is getting harder because people have less money to spend and so we are being squeezed on price constantly. I think our biggest challenge is continuing to provide the highest quality of service whilst being compliant and remaining competitively priced in relation to other operators that may not have the same outlook on compliance and high levels of maintenance. We remain adamant that high standards come first.”

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Ausden Clark :feature 2 14/02/2014 15:12 Page 63

BUS AND COACHES: AUSDEN CLARK COACHES

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Golden Tours :feature 2 14/02/2014 13:57 Page 64

BUS AND COACH: GOLDEN TOURS

SOLID GOLD TOURS

Fully escorted by professional guides and travelling in luxury air-conditioned coaches Golden Tours offer an extraordinary range of tours and excursions

rucial to the quality of service within the bus and coach tour sector are the drivers and the vehicles. For Golden Tours, which offers a comprehensive coach tour programme around London with all popular destinations covered, it is one of the key factors behind its success in the marketplace. The company was founded by Nick Palan in 1984 to offer airport transfers and coach tours around the

C www.goldentours.com Tel: 0207 630 2028

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city. Over the years it has grown organically and through acquisition, and is now a major player in the city’s tourist industry. Customers can choose from any of 80 pick-up points in Central London, with tours including added extras such as allowing passengers to skip the queues at tourist attractions and lunch if required. Working with National Rail, Golden Tours can also offer tours further afield to Edinburgh, the Lake District and Liverpool, while alongside Eurostar, a wide range of packages to Paris are available. Hotel accommodation, airport transfers, Thames boat cruises, theatre tickets, and London attractions admissions can all be packaged to suit individual or group requirements. Continuing to grow into new markets, Golden Tours began running an hourly service between Victoria and the very popular new attraction – the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour near Watford. Five double-deck buses have been painted in Harry Potter livery with the service proving to be immensely popular. The company also entered the open-top bus tour market in 2011 which continues to go from strength to strength. Indeed, Golden Tours is now a major operator in this field with four main tour routes in London running at a frequency of up to every 10 minutes. Director of operations Andrew Bassom explains how the company ensures its drivers and vehicles are up to the task. “Only experienced qualified drivers are employed within a strict set of criteria,” he says. “Potential recruits are given an exhaustive assessment

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Golden Tours :feature 2 17/02/2014 12:09 Page 65

BUS AND COACH: GOLDEN TOURS drive before selection and are subject to a successful assessment and interview. “Drivers then undergo a period of training which includes health and safety, product knowledge, route familiarisation, accident procedures, rules and regulations and a period with an experienced driver in service. Once passed out for service all drivers are subject to ongoing monitoring and ‘mystery shoppers’. Safe driving is rewarded through the ROSCO (Road Operator Safety Council) scheme, and incentive payments are made.” Similar attention to detail is bestowed upon the vehicle fleet. “All engineering activities are undertaken in house, other than any warranty rectifications with Golden Tours operating a planned maintenance programme for all its vehicles. This comprises of a sixweekly safety inspection followed by a ‘Bowmark’ brake test. Servicing is undertaken in accordance to VOSA guidelines, and complies with manufacturers recommended practices,” says Andrew. The company also complies with London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) requirements meaning vehicles are either Euro 4 specified or newer, or have a Continuous Regenerating Trap fitted to the exhaust system. This CRT filter needs to be changed at least annually to ensure that the NOx exhaust emissions comply with Euro 4 requirements. Golden Tours is now looking forward to making further growth after its move to larger and more strategically placed premises in Alperton that will enable it to increase services and consolidate recent expansion.

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hunts:feature 2 11/02/2014 12:10 Page 66

BUSH AND COACHES: HUNT’S COACHES

THE SPIRIT OF LINCOLNSHIRE F Few family-run bus or coach service providers can boast nearly a century in business but Lincolnshirebased Hunt’s Coaches certainly can.

ew family-run bus or coach service providers can boast nearly a century in business but Lincolnshire-based Hunt’s Coaches certainly can. Founded by Fred Hunt in 1930, the business began by offering the general public a regular bus service into Boston town centre in Lincolnshire with the use of a Chevrolet Bedford. Such was the success of the route, more buses were added, as were more journeys including seaside holiday trips. Over the years the company has gone from strength to strength, and now utilises a large, wholly-owned fleet of vehicles that includes everything from full size Volvo Vanhool coaches to Volkswagen 8-seat Transporters. The varied service includes both regular and irregular scheduled journeys as well as contract and private hire. Scheduled journeys include trips to various regional markets once a week while the popular route between Alford and Skegness is run several times daily back and forth. The company also offers longer trips to tourist destinations such as York and Bridlington while its holiday offer has increased in recent years with popular locations including Morecambe, the Isle of Wight, Jersey and Guernsey. Hunt’s Coaches also

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runs a number of contracts with local schools providing daily services for pupils. That the company has remained family run for three generations is fundamental to its success, believes director Joe Hunt. “It is run like any other business but for me, like my father before me, and his father before him, we’ve spent the entirety of our professional lives working towards the success of the company. Instead of personal gain we’ve always focused on building and maintaining a well-respected business. Something that we can proud of,” he says. Certainly, the Hunts have every reason to be proud given the fact the business has developed an enviable reputation in the local area with regular customers becoming accustomed to its attentive service. Elsewhere, schools in the region have enjoyed a bespoke service that enhances the safety of young children getting to and from school. Firstly, the company is a member of BUSK which monitors health and safety standards and compliance in bus and coach service providers. This gives peace of mind to parents that their children are in good hands. However, Hunt’s Coaches has gone much further by developing an innovative way to enhance safety for children.

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hunts:feature 2 11/02/2014 12:10 Page 67

BUSH AND COACHES: HUNT’S COACHES

Director Joe Hunt stands with his father Michael and Nan Clarice Mary, who they dedicated this vehicle to

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hunts:feature 2 11/02/2014 12:10 Page 68

BUSH AND COACHES: HUNT’S COACHES

2/3 West Street, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9DG. www.hunts-coaches.co.uk Tel: 01507 463000

This has been seen in the distribution of high-visibility jackets to all primary aged children using Hunt’s school transport service. The jackets, each with the Hunt’s logo and the corresponding school logo emblazoned on them, also contain a pocket for the children’s bus passes meaning they can’t be easily lost or forgotten about. It has proven to be a very successful initiative, welcomed by both schools and parents. It highlights the company’s ability to tailor its service to the needs of the customer, to think outside the box, and most importantly, to ensure the comfort and safety of the passenger at all times. This isn’t the only example of Hunt’s Coaches going the extra mile for the community at large. It has incorporated Green Road technology into its fleet to improve both driver and passenger safety as well as fuel efficiency. This has brought with it corresponding environmental benefits as well. Principally, Green Road tracks driver behaviour and standards including cornering, speeds of vehicles, harsh or sudden braking, acceleration and lane handling. This information is fed back to the driver through a green/amber/red light reading indicating whether the driving style is up to standard. All the data is recorded and given a score out of 100. From this information both the driver and

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the transport manager can analyse the recordings to find ways to improve. Since the system was installed, Hunt’s Coaches has seen a gradual improvement in the scores highlighting both an improvement in driving standards and fuel efficiency. A monthly financial rewards scheme has given drivers the incentive to make further improvements. Crucially, Hunt’s Coaches is now gaining an extra 0.5 miles per gallon as a direct result of the Green Road system. This is an incredible saving given the fleet travels an average of 750,000 miles per year. It’s clear why Hunt’s Coaches has been able to achieve its success for so long. No expense is spared in ensuring the customer gets the best possible service. From its in-house maintenance team to its driver performance monitoring, the company has dedicated itself to reaching the highest standards in everything that it does. Yet, despite its already great advances, it isn’t going to rest on its laurels. The company expects to see further improvements through the use of Green Road while organic growth to include special education transport is an ambition for the future.

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hunts:feature 2 11/02/2014 12:10 Page 69

BUSH AND COACHES: HUNT’S COACHES

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Bluebird Coaches:feature 2 11/02/2014 13:50 Page 70

BUS AND COACHES: BLUEBIRD COACHES luebird Coaches, based in Dorset, provides first class coach holidays and day excursions as well as coach hire from its base in Weymouth. Having secured a reputation for customer attentiveness, the company can provide vehicles for short local journeys or longer trips around the UK and into Europe. It also operates a contract hire service, running local school transport services. The extensive range of vehicles can meet any requirements clients may have. The fleet numbers 16 with vehicles ranging in size from 22 to 57 seats. Models and manufacturers include Volvo Vanhool, Scania Plaxton, Daf Bova and Mercedes-Benz Jonckheere.

B Weymouth Office 83 The Esplanade Weymouth Dorset DT4 7AA www.bluebirdcoaches.com Tel: 01305 782353

Facilities onboard include air conditioning, reclining seats, toilet, and hot and cold drinks. Customers have also become accustomed to the reliability and cleanliness of the fleet. Indeed, vehicles are regularly serviced by Bluebirdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house engineers at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop. In addition, the service is further complemented by the professionalism and experience of the drivers who are trained through Arctic Training Swansea alongside additional in-house training. On an annual basis, drivers are further assessed to ensure standards never drop. The company first started in the mid 1950s when the father and grandfather of current owner Ian Warren began running a taxi service with a single vehicle. Success was quick to come and more taxis were

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Bluebird Coaches:feature 2 14/02/2014 12:07 Page 71

BUS AND COACHES: BLUEBIRD COACHES

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added to the fleet before the incorporation of a minibus. By the 1970s the company was operating a fleet of vehicles including taxis, minibuses and coaches on school and NCB contracts. By the 1980s, the company made the decision to focus only on coaches, operating school and college contracts and private hire services. It also supplied a number of coaches to a large UK tour operator and continues to do so to this day. Ian Warren believes the last few years have been a challenge for the industry as a whole and expects those challenges to continue into the near future. However, he has every reason to look forward positively as Bluebird Coaches continues to remain competitive in the market. “Our customers do remain loyal,” he says. “We are small enough to care and go that extra mile to get things right.” Today a day trip to Cheddar or Evening Mystery Tour might not hold the attraction that they did 50 years ago, with extended tours and continental travel now forming a large part of the company's operations, but Bluebird has adapted to meet the needs of today’s customer. Bluebird has always kept abreast of the latest trends in the coaching business, changing to suit the requirements and expectations of the travelling public meaning it is still at the forefront of coach travel in Dorset.

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Yelloway Coaches:feature 2 17/02/2014 12:17 Page 72

BUS AND COACHES: YELLOWAY COACHES

THE BETTER WAY TO GET AWAY elloway Coaches is a vastly experienced provider of holiday and day excursions throughout the UK and Europe. It also offers contract and private hire services such as school and college transport, airport transfers and corporate events. The company dates its history back to 1911 when a coach arrived in Devon full of excited holidaymakers - one of whom was a 13-year-old Gracie Fields. Growing over the years through acquisition the company has maintained its family-owned roots, with a solid belief in taking a very personal pride in serving customers well. Yelloway has secured its reputation thanks to a tailored approach that is flexible to client needs. Offering choice and value for money, clients have become accustomed to enjoying a first-rate service.

Crucially, passengers can expect to be safe when travelling with Yelloway. All vehicles are regularly replaced and well-maintained, and all staff are rigorously selected and trained. Detailed record-keeping enables the company to demonstrate instantly that it meets the highest safety standards required by law, by its customers and by common sense. For example, it holds membership of the Simply Safe scheme that campaigns for better safety measures on transport used by children. In fact, Yelloway is officially one of the most safety-conscious coach and bus operators in the UK – particularly when it comes to safeguarding children. It is one of only 30 operators nationwide qualified to hold Coach Marque, the UK coach industry’s ‘kite mark’. It covers every aspect of the business and includes a rigorous independent assessment of all safety measures.

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The company also consistently achieves ‘Green Zero’, the best possible Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS), measured at roadside checks by the Department for Transport’s Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA).This is in effect a vote of confidence in the roadworthiness of Yelloway’s vehicles. It’s a relative measure compared with other operators – so its high score means that most other operators have a much lower score. Moreover, drivers carry out a 30-point safety check before each journey; all vehicles are fully inspected every four weeks (40% above the VOSA best practice recommendation); and all drivers and customer contact staff are fully and regularly status and CRB checked. Plus Yelloway is a member of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT).

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Yelloway Coaches:feature 2 17/02/2014 12:17 Page 73

BUS AND COACHES: YELLOWAY COACHES

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Yelloway Coaches:feature 2 17/02/2014 12:17 Page 74

BUS AND COACHES: YELLOWAY COACHES

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Yelloway Coaches:feature 2 17/02/2014 12:17 Page 75

BUS AND COACHES: YELLOWAY COACHES

It’s fair to say that few other coach operators can offer anything like the Yelloway level of safety assurance. It requires resources that most simply haven’t got. For example, for school contracts, the following services are provided. Vehicles are fitted with seat belts and other safety features, GPS tracking monitors coach movements anywhere in the UK, and drivers are specially trained to meet the requirements of safeguarding children. Drivers must also have had an enhanced CRB check, and they will always be in uniform with a visible ID. Part of maintaining these qualities is through investing in staff. As a long-established major coach operator and surface travel specialist, Yelloway recognises its responsibility to train its people to the highest standards. It’s an investment it is happy to make because customers and colleagues benefit. This is all built upon Yelloway’s extensive experience. In over 100 years, the company has amassed a wealth of expertise that enables it to offer the most competitive prices, the widest range of choices and the highest service standards in the North West.

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Recently, the company invested in a new vehicle wrap for its shiny new Temsa 35-seat midi coach. This stylish, modern coach is perfect for regional tours or day excursions. It is now adorned with fantastic graphics while the coach has comfortable reclining seats, lap seat belts, air conditioning and lots of space for luggage in the hold below. This year,Yelloway has introduced 37 new excursions alongside its traditional favourites. It has also added an exciting range of tours for two to five day breaks to the seaside, London and special interest locations. The company has also introduced two new routes which include more local pick up points while its newest trips include dining. Now, on selected coaches, passengers can also enjoy free Wi-Fi. Certainly, Yelloway’s luxury coach excursions and tours are becoming increasingly popular thanks to the varied choices of destinations and the competitive price. Also, with an increased number of pick-up points, passengers don’t have to go far to enjoy the ride.

Yelloway Motor Services Ltd PO Box 632, Oldham OL1 9HN www.yelloway.co.uk Tel: 0845 045 0344

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:14 Page 76

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS

AWARD WINNERS The strides Perth & Kinross Council has been making in its fleet management has now been recognised with a top award

erth & Kinross Council’s fleet management team has been recognised with a top national award. The team won the title of Local Authority Fleet Operator of the Year 2014 at the Transport News Breakfast Rewards event held recently in Glasgow, attended by 650 transport industry sector manufacturers, vehicle dealers, suppliers, local authorities and other individuals and organisations involved in the sector. Nominated by their peers, 16 awards are presented with a panel of judges making the final decision on a winner in each category. Perth & Kinross Council has been making great strides in its fleet management in recent years, with a focus of environmental efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions. Driven by the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme (LACM), the Carbon Trust has provided councils, including Perth & Kinross, with technical and change management support and guidance to help local authorities realise carbon emissions savings. The primary focus of the work is to reduce emissions under the control of the local authority such as buildings, street lighting, landfill sites and of course the vehicle fleets.

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Fleet Manager Bill Morton accepted the award on the team's behalf, with the judges deeming that “Perth & Kinross Council make a habit of setting new standards in recycling and environmental matters. The Council is one of the few remaining Scottish local authorities that still recognises the value of a good corporate vehicle livery. This ensures the authority's fleet remain high profile in their locale, whilst being easy to recognise by residents in town or country. A great deal of time and effort is put into specifying vehicle and equipment purchases, to ensure they are tailored precisely to their intended roles or multi-use functions, thus delivering maximum use.” Environment Convener, Councillor Alan Grant said: “Congratulations to Bill and the team for their considerable efforts to deliver effective fleet management that meets the needs of Council services and our communities. I am delighted that their work is being recognised nationally in this way.” One of the ways Perth & Kinross has made significant environmental improvements in its fleet has been through the use of electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF. Perth & Kinross Council

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:14 Page 77

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:14 Page 78

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:14 Page 79

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS introduced a number of LEAF models to its fleets thanks to public sector grants from Transport Scotland, covering the electric vehicle’s initial cost. The council is constantly looking at different methods to reduce its carbon footprint and electric vehicles are a key focus for it. The Nissan LEAF was the only car available that fitted its needs of an upmarket vehicle with boot space and the range it needed. The general consensus is that it is excellent to drive and users have been very impressed by it. Bill Morton said that the decision to acquire four Nissan LEAFs has been crucial towards helping the authority meet its aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. As many councils have discovered, electric vehicles are proving to be an effective way to reduce both CO2 and fuel bills as well as other emissions. The UK's charging infrastructure is quickly expanding while the technology continues to improve meaning electric cars are replacing conventional cars in more and more vehicle fleets.

Indeed, electric vehicles have been proving a hit for many local authorities and public sector services in Scotland. In Dundee, employees at the City Council are now using four Nissan LEAFs which make up part of its car pool scheme. Elsewhere in Dumfries and Galloway, an additional two Nissan LEAFs have been added to the council’s pool car fleet. The council was the first in the UK to add a LEAF to its fleet last year and already has two charging points installed on its properties and is in the process of installing a further four. In addition to these, the council has committed to install a further 10 public charging points across the city including one Rapid Charger, which can charge the LEAF’s battery up to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes. Also, NHS Tayside is running two Nissan LEAFs for its health professionals. Sustainability Champion and Chairman of NHS Tayside Sandy Watson said, “Last year NHS Tayside spent over half a million pounds on fuel for its fleet of vehicles and money we save on fuel will could go towards other healthcare priorities. The timely delivery of these two new electric vehicles will

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 11/02/2014 14:14 Page 80

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS Customer Service Centre Perth & Kinross Council Pullar House 35 Kinnoull Street Perth PH1 5GD www.pkc.gov.uk Tel: 01738 475000

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help towards reducing NHS Tayside’s emissions as they create less pollution than petrol or diesel powered cars, and are an environmentally-friendly alternative, as well as being cost-effective.” Certainly, the council is committed to reducing carbon emissions in the local area and has encouraged the community to devise its own ideas how to do so. The Community Environment Challenge Fund has been set up to provide financing for viable projects. The fund enables groups to make sustainable improvements to land in their local community by receiving match-funding of between £2,500 and £10,000 – taking into account fundraising activities, in-kind support and cash contributions. Milnathort In Bloom received £10,000 of Community Environment Challenge Funding to implement improvements to a War Memorial and surrounding garden area. The group works closely with local school pupils, who are going to be part of the rededication ceremony of the War Memorial this year. The council is also recycling old, broken or unwanted bicycles, parts and accessories. Bicycles are refurbished by qualified mechanics and then sold back to the community at an affordable price for reuse. Any bicycles that are in too poor a condition to refurbish are taken apart by local volunteers and the reusable parts are separated out for building or repairing other bikes.

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Perth & Kinross Council:feature 2 17/02/2014 13:02 Page 81

COUNCILS: PERTH & KINROSS

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Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 11/02/2014 14:44 Page 82

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

GATEWAY TO

BELFAST Belfast International Airport has recently celebrated it’s fiftieth anniversary. John Doran, Managing Director, talks about the running of the airport and their future plans.

gala dinner in October 2013 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Belfast International Airport. The modest start in 1963 was followed by a period of steady growth that accelerated over the last thirty years. Activity hit a peak in 2007-8 with 5.25 million passengers annually and, although that’s dropped back a million due to the economic problems, growth is now back on the agenda. “We are looking at the passenger base growing by 3-5% per annum, so by 2030 we could have twelve million passengers going through the airport,” states Managing Director John Doran. “The first three years after publishing our master plan, we were running ahead of the projec-

tion. Then we had the economic downturn and it started to fall below the projections but, by 2016, we expect to be back on track. No big infrastructure works are required to support that until 2018-22, when we need to consider additional boarding piers.” The biggest capital expenditure recently has been a £7.5 million resurfacing of the main runway, the first time this has been done for thirty years. Future plans include improving the look and feel of the arrivals facilities, having completed a similar exercise on the departure area four years ago. Anything else won’t be needed until passenger numbers go above 7.5 million. The growth in passenger numbers has been accompanied by the success of easyJet. Its first flight through Belfast was in 1998 and it now

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accounts for 51% of all air passengers in the Northern Ireland market and around 3.2 million at Belfast alone, making it by far the biggest commercial carrier at the airport. Whilst passenger traffic is the biggest part of the operation, as John emphasises, it’s not the only one: “We are among the top five air cargo centres in the UK with all cargo to and from the island going by sea and by air. We handle about 50,000 tons of cargo every year and another 100,000 tons of freight are transhipped through the facilities in the airport. It’s a lifeline operation as far as the province is concerned because it enables the export and import of goods for Northern Ireland.” The cargo traffic makes the airport a 24-hour operation since, as passenger activity reduces in

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Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 11/02/2014 14:44 Page 83

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 11/02/2014 14:44 Page 84

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

“WE HAD UP TO FIFTY AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND AT ANY ONE TIME. IT WAS QUITE AN OPERATION AND, IF WE HADN’T HAD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE IT.”

the late evening, the cargo operation takes over. It’s supplemented by all Royal Mail traffic to and from Northern Ireland going by air, making it one of the busiest mail operations in the UK. Added to that are business and general aviation operations that include an air training school. They’re areas that have suffered in the economic downturn but where there’s scope for growth as the economy recovers. The smooth operation of the various activities is helped by the infrastructure, which John rates as second-to-none. “We have a 3,000 metre main runway running east to west, allowing unrestricted range for almost every aircraft type,” he explains. “In addition to that, due to our military past, we have a north-south runway of just under 2,000 metres. That gives us resilience, particularly as we have seen significant changes in weather patterns over the last few years with many northerly winds. There are times when every other airport on the island is shut and all the traffic ends up here because we have the

capability to handle it. Also, our navigational aids mean we’re rated as category 3B, which is basically a blind landing so we have all weather capability and that puts us in an excellent position.”

G8 SUMMIT Ensuring smooth and uninterrupted commercial operations was a priority when planning for the G8 Summit in 2013. That involved all interested parties and a security operation supplemented by officers from England, Scotland and Wales. It also required the movement of logistics traffic, military and head of state aircraft of all sizes plus helicopters ferrying delegates to and from venues. John says: “We had up to fifty aircraft on the ground at any one time. It was quite an operation and, if we hadn’t had the infrastructure, we wouldn’t have been able to handle it. It was reported back through the Foreign & Commonwealth Office that this was the smoothest and most peaceful G8 there has been in a long time. It all went extremely well.” In common with all European airports, Belfast has to submit environment management plans and has undertaken several projects to reduce energy use and emissions.These include replacing the ground lighting with LEDs as part of the runway resurfacing contract and a waste management policy to reduce landfill waste. The airport has also helped airlines reduce their fuel use by introducing a continuous descent approach. “When flying into an airport where airspace is congested, you come down to different levels,” explains John. “That’s because you can’t allow the pilot to fly in the flight path so it is controlled every step of the way. With a less congested air space, the extended centre line of

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Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 11/02/2014 14:44 Page 85

Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 26/02/2014 14:26 Page 86

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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Belfast Int Airport :feature 2 11/02/2014 14:44 Page 87

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT the runway is captured at a certain point and the pilot flies the aircraft down a continuous descent flight path. He isn’t continuously adjusting and readjusting the engine settings, which saves fuel.” One of the biggest issues facing the airport is air passenger duty, which is particularly problematic for Belfast due to many passengers flying to London on business and facing a £13 charge each way. That compares to a €3 rate for the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, a charge the government there has resolved to remove completely.

PASSENGER NUMBERS GROWTH Nevertheless, the expectation is that passenger numbers will resume their earlier growth. John says: “The British market is well served with connections to all major and many minor points down the mainland. We need to add more European services because Germany and Italy are virtually unserved.There are plenty Spanish resort destinations but, in terms of business destinations, we would like Madrid being on there as well.” Growth should be helped by Belfast International Airport being the principal gateway for the region, with the Northern Ireland Executive having an ambition to create a more outward facing economy. That’s all tied in with increasing the level of tourism and inward investment for the region. “Working alongside the regional government, we are developing a list of areas of the world that are important to get connections,” remarks John. “The more immediate targets will be the European mainland but we also need to look beyond that. We have a daily service to New York but want to expand into the southern states, the west coast and Canada. There are enormous target markets from the eastern hemisphere and we are working alongside the investment authorities here, with the airlines and the governments in those areas to bring together a package that will be interesting to establish routes. Over the next few years, the main target areas are inbound tourism and drawing inward investment. We have a lot of business set up in Northern Ireland that just wouldn’t have been here if we hadn’t had our New York service but now we need to replicate that with other areas of the world. It’s not only about increasing volume but is also about diversifying the mix of passengers.”

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Belfast International Airport Belfast BT29 4AB www.belfastairport.com Tel: 028 94484848

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Cranfield Airport:feature 2 13/02/2014 11:12 Page 88

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: CRANFIELD AIRPORT

A COMPETITIVE OPTION FOR LONDON Only 48 miles from Central London with a 24/7 capability, Cranfield Airport is the new London alternative

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nly 48 miles from Central London with 24/7 capability, Cranfield Airport is the new London alternative. The airport is based in the village of Cranfield southwest of Bedford and was originally a World War II aerodrome. The airport sees domestic flights operate out of it as well as training flights and is home to the Met Office research aircraft facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements. Fixed-wing and helicopter flight-training organisations operate out of Cranfield with recent years seeing an increase in general aviation, small business aircraft and private jets utilising the services at the airport. General aviation has been taking place at Cranfield since the 1940s. The airport is very keen to support general aviation as it sees the long-term benefits of having a solid base for flying training. Cranfield has therefore reflected its commitment by introducing a completely revised pricing schedule together with a loyalty card scheme. With a strong association with the flying training community, the services the airport provides has helped thousands of people achieve their dream of becoming either a private pilot or those that go on to become commercial pilots. Indeed, due to the

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Cranfield Airport:feature 2 13/02/2014 11:12 Page 89

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: CRANFIELD AIRPORT extensive facilities available and the excellent training given, trainee pilots at Cranfield have gone on to fly for the biggest commercial airlines in the world including British Airways, EasyJet and RyanAir. Over the years many Flight Training Organisations have used Cranfield to take advantage of its navigational aids, runway length and night flying capabilities. Its location near the M1 helps, as does its commercialsized tarmac runway with full lighting, instrument landing facilities and ATC. Business aviation is also important to Cranfield, particularly because of its close proximity to London as well as its 1800m runway. Coupled with new services, Cranfield is one of the fasted growing airports for business jet traffic. There are no airline operators to compete with, so business aircraft have priority, with no airport slot requirement and no delays when arriving or departing. For flights originating outside the UK, Cranfield Airport benefits from remote customs and immigration arrangements. Documentation is completed and submitted to UK Border Force before the flight with the result that passengers are cleared to proceed to their onward destination within minutes of arrival. In addition, there are no third party companies on site offering handling services. The FBO is managed exclusively by Cranfield Airport. This enables the airport to provide a first class personal service at all times at very competitive rates. The handling team at Cranfield Airport is dedicated to delivering the highest standards of service to each and every passenger. The airport understands the importance of discretion and the value in providing a friendly, courteous service. Facilities include a dedicated handling apron with airside access for passenger transport enabling a discreet airside service. Indeed, Cranfield Airport prides itself on offering the very highest standards of service and personal attention for its clients. Services are tailored to the needs of both the crew and passengers and the airport pays great attention to the small details, something customers appreciate and value. www.cranfieldairport.com Tel: 01234 758150

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Countrywide Farmers:feature 2 12/02/2014 08:37 Page 90

TANKERS: COUNTRYWIDE ertainty of supply and dependable deliveries are the aims of most transport operations. But while a late parcel might be no more than an annoyance, failing to deliver a customer’s heating fuel in winter is something that can’t be countenanced. Countrywide’s business is about providing products and services to rural communities. That’s handled partly through a retail operation where customers buy products in the stores, through a catalogue or online, with the company’s aim being for customers to use multiple channels. There’s also an agricultural business where products such as animal feeds, chemicals and fertilisers are shipped from the supplier to the customer and an amenity business that provides products for golf courses, public parks and sports pitches. A significant part of the Countrywide business is energy that provides LPG to farms, domestic properties and commercial firms. In essence, the company can delivery anything from a 44 tonne trailer of animal feed to a small parcel and has a diverse fleet to enable that. “We have twelve mini bulk LPG tankers and two LPG articu-

SUPPLYING THE RURAL COMMUNITY By offering quality and value for money, supported by expert knowledge and a personal service Countrywide aim to be the leading business in the supply of products and advice to the rural community

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Countrywide Farmers:feature 2 12/02/2014 08:37 Page 91

TANKERS: COUNTRYWIDE lated tankers,” recounts Operations and Compliance Manager Darren Moor. “The entire fleet is 88 vehicles and trailers, made up of 3.5 ton Transit panel vans, curtain siders, articulated lorries, curtain side trailers and two draw bar units. We have bespoke vehicles designed for delivering our gas bottles with a cage on the back and a tail lift and we also have a Hiab vehicle we use for installing LPG vessels at customers’ premises.” The operation covers mainly central, south and south west England, going as far north as Wrexham, across to Ashbourne in Derbyshire, then down through Mid and South Wales to the south coast at Southampton. As Darren explains, the service is supported by a network of shops and logistics centres: “We have a central distribution operation in Worcestershire where the majority of the vehicles are based and where all the stores are delivered to our warehouse facility. “That depot also has our LPG bottling facility and all of our cylinders are supplied from there to the various operating centres for delivery out to customers. We have three LPG depots, in Mid Wales, the South West and Worcestershire, where our tankers are based. There are five smaller gas bottle delivery depots, all the vans are based at various hubs around the Midlands and South West and we have fourteen operating centres within our trading area.”

IN-HOUSE TRAINING Due to the nature of the products it carries, Countrywide employs a core base of drivers for most of the work and fills in as necessary with sub-contract staff from approved agencies. Any hazardous consignments are handled totally in-house and all drivers, whether employed or agency, are fully trained in the company’s processes. Some of the training is undertaken in-house although ADR and CPC training is provided externally and SAFED courses were given a few years ago, the need for updates being constantly under review. Darren’s role is to ensure the whole logistics operation runs smoothly and correctly. He says: “I am the O licence holder, the Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and I manage the entire commercial vehicle fleet as

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Countrywide Farmers:feature 2 12/02/2014 08:37 Page 92

TANKERS: COUNTRYWIDE well as overseeing the legal requirements regarding the LPG side of things. That covers engineering, health and safety regarding the LPG business, our LPG depots, bottling plants and storage facilities.” One of the biggest challenges over the last few years has been the Working Time Directive that can make scheduling very difficult. That’s particularly true for the tanker operation, which is very seasonal and

“WE SET OURSELVES TARGETS FOR SERVICE LEVELS, BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, AND WE MEASURE OURSELVES AGAINST THOSE”

Countrywide Farmers plc Countrywide House Asparagus Way, Evesham Worcestershire WR11 1GN www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk Tel: 01386 429500

where predicting the English winter can often be an impossible task. “So far, winter hasn’t arrived whereas twelve months ago the whole of the UK was under six to ten inches of snow,” recalls Darren. “We can put a plan in place for the drivers’ hours and working times and then winter changes its pattern, which throws us completely out. We are not in a position where we can bank hours with drivers to use some in the winter because we are then into another reference period.” The advent of the Euro 6 engines and the requirement for vehicles to have AdBlue all increase the operating costs and require the installation of AdBlue pumps in addition to fuel pumps at filling stations.

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Nevertheless, there is a wish to grow and improve the business, with the tanker fleet expanded in the last twelve months so the company isn’t reliant on third parties for primary haulage and is better able to guarantee supply. “We are continually looking at our services and how they can be improved” says Darren. “We set ourselves targets for service levels, both internally and externally, and we measure ourselves against those. Our prime objective is to give the best customer service for the best price while still maintaining the required level of health and safety, high standards and complying with all the legislation. We want to utilise the fleet to deliver the best and most cost-effective service we can but still maintain a high level of customer service and customer focus. At Countrywide, we pride ourselves on our customer service and that’s one thing we intend to maintain. “For the tanker operation, we are delivering a utility that isn’t available on the grid and so people are reliant on it. It’s not like ordering a product where it doesn’t really matter if it turns up two or three weeks later. Customers are ordering their LPG in the winter because they need heating, hot water or to be able to cook, so if we don’t deliver to them on time, they are vulnerable. We are putting our customers at risk and that is something that we don’t want to do. The supply chain has some effect on that as well because, if the refinery is out of the product, it is down to us to manage the products we have to make sure we deliver to the customers in the best possible way.”

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Countrywide Farmers:feature 2 26/02/2014 14:36 Page 93

TANKERS: COUNTRYWIDE

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Askin Haulage :feature 2 13/02/2014 12:02 Page 94

TANKERS: ASKIN HAULAGE

THE GO-TO A TANKER SERVICE PROVIDER Askin’s modern fleet enables it to serve the varying requirements of customers with reliability, environmental efficiency and cost effectiveness 94

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skin Haulage, based in Huddersfield in the county of West Yorkshire, provides comprehensive tanker services to a range of clients. Its modern fleet enables it to serve the varying requirements of customers with reliability, environmental efficiency and cost effectiveness. This has allowed the business to develop a strong relationship with many long-standing customers, making it the go-to tanker haulage service provider in the local area. Part of the company’s success is knowing what types of vehicles will provide the best results. Items for consideration are obviously fuel efficiency, safety and operational effectiveness. That’s why Askin Haulage has made use of Volvo’s robust and trustworthy FH range. These well-known heavy truck models were first produced by Volvo in 1993 and have gone on to become one of the most successful truck series ever produced, selling more than 400,000 units worldwide. It helps, of course, when you can rely upon Volvo to update the tractor units in line with the demands of the modern haulier. Askin Haulage has benefited from the latest innovations such as the larger cab redesigned in the early 2000s to improve air intake and provide a flat floor. New rear view mirrors were

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Askin Haulage :feature 2 14/02/2014 12:32 Page 95

TANKERS: ASKIN HAULAGE introduced to reduce blind spots and improve air flow alongside new headlights and front side marker lights, new split sunvisor and new wider front steps.The interior also had a makeover with its redesign incorporating more rounded edges around the dashboard and new seats with integrated seatbelts. Safety was also enhanced with the introduction as standard of the FUPS system – Front Underrun Protection System. This prevents smaller vehicles from being wedged under the front of the truck in the event of a frontal collision. Volvo also updated key elements “under the hood” resulting in increased power output to 500hp equipped with turbo compound technology which utilises more energy from exhaust gases after the turbocharger has activated. The cooling system was also upgraded thanks to advances in electronics for the engine management system with electronically controlled cooling fan as it could now be fully controlled by the engine ECU resulting, importantly, in a reduction of fuel consumption. In addition,Volvo incorporated I-shift transmissions, a concept of manual transmission with computerised gear change control. Askin Haulage has been sporting Volvo’s impressive FH13 500 up and down the country. The company has found numerous benefits from using this reliable truck including its driver comfort and acceptance, safety, Euro 5 engine credentials, fuel consumption and reliability alongside Volvo’s renowned build quality. Tel: 01484 544 107

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GCA

Domestic:feature 2 12/02/2014 14:59 Page 96

TANKERS: GCA DOMESTIC roup Charles André has a long legacy providing transport and logistics services, having been operating over eighty years. That hasn’t prevented continued development and diversification, as GCA Domestic’s Sales and Development Manager Karen Wentworth outlines: “The business on the whole has developed massively in terms of diversification in the last ten years from being predominantly a French-based company with its roots in road tanker transport. “We now operate in three main divisions in sixteen European countries: Automotive Logistics including car transport, spare parts distribution and logistics services; Bulk Logistics covering road transport both French domestic and the rest of Europe, port logistics, logistics services, warehousing and intermodal services; Cleaning Services where we operate ten cleaning stations throughout Europe. “In addition, in 2013 GCA took over the operation of Novatrans (French rail freight)

which includes seven freight handling terminals across France. This strategic purchase is a key factor in the continued development of our intermodal business. Our attitude to diversification has definitely attributed to the Group’s financial strength and ability to weather the storm in recent years in light of the economic downturn within Europe, which is our main operating area.”

CHEMICAL TRANSPORT The Group has 85 subsidiaries in sixteen countries, employs 7,000 staff and is still predominantly a transporter of bulk chemicals. One subsidiary is GCA Domestic, a medium-sized UK domestic road tanker operator with a mixed fleet of GP road tankers and specialist equipment for the carriage of hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals, fuels, powders and gases. This allows it to offer a service across a broad spectrum of products and customers. GCA Domestic prides itself on its relationships with customers, many of whom are blue

chip companies in the chemical sector such as Shell, Dow, Ineos, Solvay, Cepsa and Lyondell. As most consignments are chemicals, much of the work is concentrated in the traditional chemical manufacturing hubs of the North East, North West and Humberside, although there are customers throughout England, Scotland and Wales. There’s a fleet of 65 semi-trailer tankers and 45 motive tractor units supplemented by up to twenty sub-contract vehicles on a daily basis. “The optimal solution to get the maximum utilisation from the fleet is to gear it to what we believe our core levels should be,” comments Karen. “Our peaks in demand are managed by utilising our long-term sub-contracting partners because, if we were try to meet the highest demand with our own resources, our fleet would have to be in the region of a third bigger than it currently is. Sub-contracting can also offer a level of flexibility geographically that we can’t necessarily satisfy with our own fleet.” That flexibility extends to fleet maintenance, with the head office in Billingham providing

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Group Charles André has a long legacy providing transport and logistics services, having been operating over eighty years

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GCA

Domestic:feature 2 12/02/2014 14:59 Page 97

TANKERS: GCA DOMESTIC garage facilities for any vehicle based there and out-based equipment maintained by selected partners.

SAFETY ETHOS As a Group, GCA takes its commitment to quality, health and safety, security and the environment very seriously and spends around €9 million on training per annum. It operates its policies and systems in tandem with those of the its major customers, ensuring that it is at the cutting edge of development in respect to this. The whole subject of training is a big one for Group Charles André and so, as Karen outlines, applies equally to GCA Domestic: “We are targeted on a whole host of KPIs across our business with regards to training, including spending a certain percentage of turnover doing so. We invariably exceed this because the training of drivers and staff is a heavy focus for this business. “That’s partly because of the nature of what we do and partly because our customers take us down that route. Our industry is increasingly

AS A GROUP, GCA TAKES ITS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY, SECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT VERY SERIOUSLY AND SPENDS AROUND €9 MILLION ON TRAINING PER ANNUM being brought in line with the practises more usually seen in the distribution of mainline fuels. This initiative is driven by several of the major chemical producers that have activities in both chemical and fuel market sectors in an attempt to align standards.” Some of that training assists with fuel efficiency by improving driver performance, which is constantly monitored. “We have a league table of performance and publish weekly charts on all staff notice boards in depots, providing a regular source of conversation between us and drivers,” recounts Karen. “It’s one of the key KPIs the business sets each subsidiary as, along with wages and the cost of equipment, it is our biggest expenditure. “There is a fuel incentive bonus based on performance and, if we find a driver is continually at the bottom end of that table, there are two routes we can go down. We firstly take into

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account the driver’s profile of work because vehicle performance is not the same depending on what they are doing on a daily basis. Secondly, we check if the vehicle needs attention because it may be caused by a mechanical issue rather than driver behaviour. “Failing that, the driver may undergo several levels of retraining on fuel efficiency and behaviour-based safety with our dedicated driver trainer based in Billingham. He will spend time with the poorest performing drivers to improve their fuel efficiency and general driving safety.We find that, if someone is not getting particularly good fuel usage, there could be several aspects of their driving behaviour that need attention. So we look at it as a whole package of training for that particular driver.” Any saving of fuel not only cuts costs but also reduces the company’s emissions, which is important for the Group. It reduced emissions

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GCA

Domestic:feature 2 26/02/2014 14:39 Page 98

TANKERS: GCA DOMESTIC

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GCA

Domestic:feature 2 14/02/2014 12:40 Page 99

TANKERS: GCA DOMESTIC by 3% in 2009-11 and targets the same level of decrease for 2012-14. That’s all tied in with driver training and continually trying to operate the most fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition to this, there is a programme of carbon offsetting with initiatives such as the fitting of solar panels to many GCA-owned facilities and a programme of tree planting. The whole process, as Karen explains, is supported by the company’s use of IT: “A lot of GCA’s systems are bespoke as opposed to off the shelf packages. We have trackers in the majority of vehicles in the UK and a system that goes alongside that to help us manage the performance of the drivers with data we get from it. We have a plethora of KPIs to measure driver performance, fuel consumption and behaviour.”

PRICE OF INNOVATION 2014 will see the impact of Euro 6 emission standards, which actually started in December 2013. Indications are operators will see an increase in the cost of a vehicle of about 10-12% compared to Euro 5 vehicle prices. In addition to this, the next generation vehicle is more complex so maintenance costs may increase. The news doesn’t get any better in terms of fuel consumption either, early indications being the new vehicles could be up to 200 kilos heavier than Euro 5 and up to 8% thirstier on fuel consumption. GCA has orders in place for Euro 6 trucks

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arriving in Q2 2014 and, while it embraces the changes in technologies and the benefits it brings to emissions and carbon footprint, it’s an additional and possibly unwelcome challenge in the current economic climate, effectively increasing overall costs by somewhere in the region of 4%. The reality of the situation is that, as the industry starts to feel the full impact of these changes over the coming months and years, operators already working on very low margins will have no alternative except to increase rates.

FUTURE CHALLENGES As the country moves out of recession and activity is picking up, the continuing issue surrounding the shortage of drivers will no doubt worsen and accentuate the need to hold on to existing employees after investing in their training amidst heavy competition from other operators to lure them away. Any recovery will also, believes Karen, bring other challenges: “There has been some return to the level of activity prior to the recession but certainly the margins aren’t where they were so we are working just as hard for less, which is always a challenge. “We have issues that are particular to our sector. One such challenge is the industry standard requirement for experienced and well trained drivers versus the competition felt from other market sectors, who may have less chal-

lenging working conditions. These sectors are taking experienced drivers out of the bulk sector. Others, of course, are the issue of declining volumes due to the downturn in UK manufacturing and the constant pressure on rates. We have a responsibility as an industry to plan for the future in terms of QHSSE, training and the provision on up-to-date, well maintained equipment regardless of the economic climate. Others may take a more short-term view and try to grab work because it can give a shortterm boost to volumes, and we see market prices reflect that. However, we don’t feel that this is a sustainable long-term strategy for the industry as a whole. It is quite challenging to stand by our principles and do the right thing.” “Nevertheless, we feel the future is bright. In line with Group strategy, we are actively pursuing other opportunities outside of the bulk tanker sector whilst maintaining our drive and ambitions within the core business. We are currently involved in some significant projects which would represent major diversification for us if they are landed. We have ambitious growth plans for the coming years to further develop our logistics services and do not rule out acquisitions in the UK to assist with our ambitious targets.” www.charlesandre.com Tel: 01642 202450

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lookingback:feature 2 12/02/2014 16:25 Page 100

Looking back at...

THE DARTFORD CROSSING In our regular column we take a brief look at some of the great pioneers, innovators and technology that has helped shape Britain’s transport system

he Dartford Crossing combines two underwater tunnels and a bridge to connect Dartford in the south and Thurrock in the north across the River Thames. The three parts of the “crossing” were opened intermittently between 1963 (when the first tunnel was put into use) and 1991 (when the Queen Elizabeth II bridge opened to complement the east tunnel which was opened in 1980). When the bridge went into service, built to the east of the two tunnels, the “crossing” got the name we recognise today. Previously it was known as the Dartford Tunnel. The Ministry of Transport first proposed a tunnel crossing in 1924. A pilot tunnel was completed but the Second World War put a halt to proceedings meaning it wasn’t fully completed until 1963. The single tunnel serviced the transport needs of the time but as road travel became more prominent the need for expansion grew. The second tunnel allowed the flow of traffic to be separated across the underwater routes and is recog-

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nised as one of the earliest examples of a Private Finance Initiative. Under the DartfordThurrock Crossing Act 1988 control of the crossing passed from the county councils of Kent and Essex to Dartford River Crossing Limited in 1988.The company would go on to fund the construction of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge and take on the remaining debt from construction of the tunnels. The tunnels and the bridge carry approximately 160,000 vehicles every single day with the crossing playing an important role in London’s orbital route – the M25. Today, southbound traffic crosses the four-lane bridge while northbound traffic uses both the two-lane road tunnels. During the government’s spending review of 2010, it proposed new actions to improve traffic flow. These included suspension of charges in the case of severe congestion and a review into additional capacity at either the Dartford Crossing or via a new crossing of the Thames. Other proposals include the intention to remove existing toll booths, replacing them with new payment technology.

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