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LOCAL ACCESS, GLOBAL NETWORK We talk to Mark Stuart, Operations Director at Highlands and Islands Airports Page 24
SPOTLIGHT ON: PALLET NETWORK PAGE 48
NELSON TRANSPORT
PROMPT
NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT
ALSO INSIDE: YELLOW BUSES – THE BRIGHTER BUS COMPANY PAGE 42
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THE STANDING START ROBOT SHIPS OF THE FUTURE ometimes what was unthinkable yesterday is tomorrow’s reality so it comes
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as no surprise that Rolls Royce is leading the way in unmanned vessels of various types. One consideration is the naval vessel. Plans proposed by Rolls Royce target, in the first instance, engine and equipment monitoring and some underwater operations in the offshore sector. Already, an increasing
number of vessels are equipped with cameras that can see at night and through fog and PUBLISHER: Noah Quirke
snow, and have systems in place to transmit large volumes of data. Given that the technology is available and in place, Rolls Royce is now asking the
EDITOR: Daniel Stephens
question: is it time to move some operations ashore? What is better – a crew of 20
MAGAZINE MANAGER: Shane Kelly
sailing in stormy waters in the North Sea or a team of five in a control room on shore?
FEATURE MANAGERS: Stefan Drakes Ray Clayton Eddie Hunt ART EDITOR: Steve Williams DESIGNER: Kate Webber ` CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Senior Liam Brown
Consider fleet optimisation as a key concern and the advantages become clear. For instance, the same member of staff can monitor and steer many ships. As conditions ashore are often preferred, it will also help retain qualified and competent crew, while health and safety is optimised. Many don’t realise that many of the systems on board a ship are there primarily to keep the crew fed, safe and comfortable. It goes without saying - eliminate or reduce the need for people, and vessels could be radically simplified. Of course, attitudes and ways of working will need to change, but safe operation is possible, particularly for vessels
PRODUCTION: Vicki Lindsay Lisa Pollinger
running between two or three fixed points.
ADMINISTRAT0R: Charlotte Lewis
shipping sector such as fuel, finance, cargo handling and crew. Rolls Royce propose that
ACCOUNTS: Nick Charalambous 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
An holistic approach to ship design could positively influence all concerns for the we should not think of a ship as a number of separate processes or systems, but as a whole where all aspects affect the other. This will require a great deal of innovation, such as converting ships to burn biofuels, developing more efficient hulls, and installing solar panels or wind propulsion to cut down on energy bills. In doing so we could see the shipping sector radically changed. However, ship-handling isn’t easy – far from it. Before these unmanned ships can set sail a lot of questions must be answered, not least serious safety questions about collision avoidance and other similar concerns. In addition, there are legal hurdles to get over such as responsibility for the ship and compliance with current and future
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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regulations. But if these vessels do see the light of day we could see shipping become a far safer and more efficient form of transport.
DANIEL STEPHENS EDITOR
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CONTENTS
INSIDE SECTIONS
NEWS LEGAL LOGISTICS ROAD HAULAGE FORS LOGISTICS OF BROADCASTING AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE CARBON EMISSIONS BUS AND COACH PALLET NETWORKS ANNIVERSARY TANKER REVIEW LOOKING BACK AT...
4 7 10 16 20 24 34 36 48 64 66 70
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HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIPORTS
FEATURES News The latest top stories
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Backhouse Jones Is once a year oil change enough?
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AAA Logistics Ltd Haulage services to suit all
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Newell & Wright An enviable reputation
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Rendrive Haulage and logistics solutions
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BBC A logistics ‘nightmare’
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Highlands and Islands Airports Local access, global outlook
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TNT Express ‘Sure we can’
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Walton’s Coach Hire ..good service and value for money
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Jeffs Travel Travel management solutions
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Yellow Buses The brighter bus company
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Milligans Coach Travel Comfort and safety
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ASE Couriers Fast and reliable
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Malco Freight Customer satisfaction
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George H Kime & Co. Ltd Transport, storage, distribution
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Prompt Transport On time delivery
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Newland Express Transport Ltd Luxury travel
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Nelsons Transport (Keighley) Ltd Looking ahead with optimism
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William C Hockin Transport Logistics solutions
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A & B Clark Delivering reliability
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Looking Back At... James Brindley
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Follow us on
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RENDRIVE @TandLMagazine
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CONTENTS
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YELLOW BUSES
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MILLIGANS COACH TRAVEL
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PROMPT TRANSPORT
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JEFF’S TRAVEL
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NEWS
SOLENT HAULIERS TACKLE DRIVER SHORTAGE A SECOND meeting of hauliers in the Solent region, who are hoping to create their own local solution to tackle the problem of driver shortages, took place on 24 February. Hosted by Southampton-based Williams Shipping at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, the meeting reunited the delegates that attended an inaugural get together in November 2013. This featured 11 of the region’s logistics companies and was hosted by Meachers Global Logistics, with chairing duties handled by Commercial Motor group news editor Chris Druce. It came in response to a dearth of new drivers joining the industry, and the collective will of delegates to tackle the issue at a local level. Defero Communications director Grant Woodall, who is acting as spokesman for the group, told CM that the delegates at the latest meeting were briefed that funding from Southampton City Council is available via several mechanisms, but it will need to be match-funded (if not on a pound-for-pound basis). Funding routes available include the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and City Deals (via the Local Enterprise Partnership).
The alliance has set up a working group consisting of Defero and transport consultant Clive Squire to provide more details and costings on the potential initiatives/options. At present, a driver training school supported by members remains a favoured option. The project group will also assess the potential for alliance members to launch a joint campaign to promote a career within haulage in the region. It will report back in a few months, at which time the members will reconvene to decide their next move. Jonathan Williams, director of Williams Shipping, said: “The driver recruitment issue is one that effects the industry on a national and regional level. We are keen to support this initiative and work with other regional hauliers, local government and education to work towards a positive outcome.” Clive Watkins, MD of Lambert Brothers Haulage, another alliance member, said: “Encouraging new drivers into the industry is vital to its future. We need to be smarter about how we attract new talent. It will be interesting to see how this project develops and if it can be used as a blueprint for other regions.”
PORT OF FELIXSTOWE CHARGES STOBART GROUP SELLS MAJORITY STAKE IN EDDIE STOBART FOR VEHICLE BOOKINGS THE PORT of Felixstowe has alerted users that it is to introduce a vehicle booking charge from March 2014. The vehicle booking system (VBS) fee will affect peak afternoon hours, between 1200-1700, and stand at £1.50 per VBS booking. VBS is a mandatory, web-based appointment system to be used by all hauliers wishing to collect and/or deliver containers at the Port of Felixstowe. It is designed to reduce the
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effect of the ‘peaks and troughs’ of hauliers arriving at the port during certain hours of the day. The charge will just affect hauliers, and is said to be “an indirect consequence of shipping lines not paying enough for service in the first place,” according to a haulier at the port. The amount is a mitigated level than the port was proposing to charge, and will be limited to afternoon access only.
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE
THE FORMER owners of TDG, Douglasbay Capital, have acquired a 51% stake in Stobart Group’s transport and distribution division for £280.8m in a move that will create a new private firm: Eddie Stobart Logistics. As part of the deal William Stobart becomes chief executive of the new firm, while Stobart Group – which retains a 49% holding in Eddie Stobart
Logistics – also retains the well-known brand via a licence agreement. William Stobart said: “I really welcome this investment from Dbay and look forward to heading up the new partnership as CEO. Dbay have a strong track record of working with existing management teams within businesses, as they will do with us, to help drive growth.”
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NEWS
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PIRACY THE LONG-TERM solution to piracy off the coasts of East and West Africa military intervention or armed security guards but economic and political support according to an expert in piracy matters. In a speech to WISTA-UK members held on Thursday 20 February at Tower Bridge House in London, Aleck Burrell, NYA International’s Maritime Operations Manager, said piracy was not about to go away in either region in the short-term. NYA International is a world leading crisis prevention and response consultancy and was invited to talk about the current piracy issues by WISTA-UK – the international organization of women working in the shipping
industry representing naval architects, ship engineers, brokers, lawyers and other maritime related professions. Held at the offices of Mazars, the audit, accountancy, tax and legal services firm, the event was chaired by Martin Brown, Senior Parliamentary Advisor (Africa) who stressed that armed intervention and security would not solve piracy issues. NYA International has a strong reputation in this field and they outlined the current measures they employ on behalf of shipowners worldwide. With the use of their MarTrack solution, which provides real-time vessel tracking and alerts they are able to offer clients a security blanket using the latest technology.
TRUCKERS TO BENEFIT FROM GREATER COMFORT EUROTUNNEL has unveiled its second generation ‘club-car’ which accommodates truck drivers crossing the Channel Tunnel on the freight shuttle. As part of a €1.2 million makeover and after 20 years of service, 11 of the club car carriages have been renovated from A to Z while the remaining eight, which had previously benefited from some improvement
work, have been re-decorated. The roll-out began last week and will continue over the coming months. The new-look club car includes ergonomic and more comfortable seating, with additional capacity, a spacious dedicated area for vending machines, redesigned toilets and passageways and overhead video screens which broadcast traffic and weather updates.
HENRY FORD’S GRANDSON, WILLIAM CLAY FORD SNR, DIES THE LAST surviving grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, has died at the age of 88. William Clay Ford Senior was a director at the company for almost six decades and owner of the National Football League's Detroit Lions. In a statement, the Ford Motor Company said that he was instrumental in influencing the designs
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of vehicles the company made. Mr Ford died of pneumonia at his home in a suburb of Detroit. “My father was a great business leader and humanitarian who dedicated his life to the company and the community,: William Clay Ford Junior, the executive chairman of Ford Motors, said in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him, yet he will continue to inspire us all.”
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NEWS
PIC CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO PREPARE FAST-CASUAL DINING FOR £24BN ROAD INVESTMENT ROADS Minister Robert Goodwill has today called on Britain’s road building companies to get ready for a massive increase in work ahead of the biggest investment in the road network since the 1970s. The government is tripling funding on the road network over the next eight years with more than £24 billion to be spent on upgrading and improving the network until 2021. By the end of the next Parliament, the government will be spending £3 billion
each year on improvements and maintenance for the strategic network alone. This locked-in funding commitment will support nearly 30,000 new jobs across the construction sector and at the same time deliver a safer, more sustainable road network that is fit for the 21st century and beyond. Speaking at the Institution of civil engineers, roads minister Robert Goodwill said: “Funding certainty is critical to the construction industry in planning for the future and that is exactly what the
government has delivered – with £24 billion secure investment over six years and £50 billion for the strategic road network over the next 15 years. “However, we need to make sure everyone is ready to deliver the massive programme of investment that we need to keep Britain’s roads moving. “To do that, we need to make sure we have the right people and equipment in place to deliver the 53 road schemes in preparation right now, plus the next generation of improvements over the next seven years.”
SHIPPING RATES INCREASED BY FEDEX FREIGHT FEDEX Freight, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, will increase shipping rates by an average of 3.9%, effective 31 March 2014. This rate change applies to eligible FedEx Freight shipments within the US (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), between the US and Canada border, within Canada, between the US and Mexico border, and within Mexico. It applies to shipments covered by the FXF 1000, FXF 501 and other related series base rates. Additional changes will include absolute minimum charges and accessorial rates and charges.
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The FedEx Freight fuel surcharge will remain unchanged and is reportedly one of the lowest in the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry. This shipping rate increase is less than last year’s when FedEx Freight applied an average rise of 4.5%, effective 1 July 2013, which was again less than the 6.9% increase on 9 July 2012. Freight is a highly competitive market and rates can fluctuate wildly. Due to the instability of the freight market over the last few years, many customers are trying to find cheaper shipping services, and the lowering of FedEx Freight’s year-on-year shipping rate increases reflects this.
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE
Revenue for the FedEx Freight segment for the financial year 2013 was $44 billion, compared with $43 billion the year before. The freight sector makes up about 12% of FedEx’s overall revenue. FedEx Freight provides LTL freight services across all lengths of haul, and the segment includes FedEx Freight, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Freight Canada. Customers will use LTL to ship small loads as it is cheaper to hire space on a truck than paying to rent the whole truck for a small shipment. FedEx also previously announced increases to shipping rates for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground, which were effective 6 January 2014.
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LEGAL LOGISTICS
IS ONCE A YEAR OIL CHANGE ENOUGH? T hose of you who operate a Light Van Fleet alongside a Heavy Goods vehicle (HGV) fleet will be aware of the onerous compliance systems underpinning the Goods Vehicle Operators Licensing regime. You need to ask yourself the question “why is such a heavily enforced regime in place?” The answer is obvious; “to improve road safety by improving the condition of large and therefore potentially dangerous vehicles on the road”. The light van may do as many, if not more miles, than their larger cousins – often with less experienced drivers racing against strict time tables. Yet historically, many operators of light vans have only “serviced” these vehicles once, or if lucky, twice a year which is normally instigated by waiting for warning lights to start flashing, drivers to start complaining or even an incident to occur before pulling the vehicle in to have that specific item repaired. In other words there has been no general structured approach to ensuring that these heavily used vehicles are actually maintained in road worthy condition throughout the year other than for the next MOT. Sooner or later, organisations using this type of model are going to have a serious incident or accident. When this happens and the vehicle is found not to be in road worthy condition, fingers will start to be pointed. The driver is always responsible for the condition of his vehicle but others within the organisation, who should and could have done something about it, will also find themselves under the Police spotlight. Corporate Manslaughter suddenly becomes very real and it is designed to potentially ruin the company which is prosecuted. VOSA’s guidance gives a very straightforward checklist that they recommend an
Jonathon Backhouse looks at at Goods Vehicle Operators Licensing regime and why it’s so heavily enforced operator implements. These include a daily walk around check system carried out by the drivers before going on the road; this should include rectification where necessary. The vans should be serviced at the minimum in line with the manufacturers guidelines, which will almost certainly have mileage allowances on them. Where vans are doing demanding work or operating in a demanding area, increased frequency of checks on items like brakes and tyres is strongly advised. To defend yourself against criticism when the Police officer knocks against your door, it is advisable to keep records of all the maintenance carried out for at least 15 months prior, including evidence of driver walk round inspections and rectification work. If you train your drivers to look after your vehicles and properly take responsibility for their condition on the road, then you can point the finger at them if they let you down and that is the cause of the incident. The Police will blame the driver in any event and furthermore if they haven’t been trained they will start to blame you; quite rightly so. The purpose of the spotlight slowly turning towards the van operator is to bring the same degree of professionalism now seen in many Large Goods and Passenger vehicle operators to this unregulated sector with the ultimate aim of further improving road safety and putting compliance before commercial interest.
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: AAA LOGISTICS LTD AA Logistics is an experienced provider of haulage services with extensive capability to meet a variety of needs. Established in 2005, this family run business is a specialist in the movement of machinery so if you are looking to relocate a single machine to a new location within the UK or Europe, then AAA can help. In its short lifespan the company has established a well-respected reputation for attentive service, quality standards and courteous staff. Customers welcome the attention to detail AAA pays to their needs, often developing bespoke solutions to individual requirements. It is this level of service and enduring quality that has seen AAA list a number of high profile clients in its contact book. Its fleet encompasses ADR compliant Hiab vehicles, truck mounted forklifts, and all-terrain Moffetts. Distribution services include national and international haulage of light, part and full loads, with customers recognising and returning to AAA’s professional and reliable offer. Proud to be able to supply the same drivers to contracted customers, AAA has grown strong relationships with those it works for, operating successfully 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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HAULAGE SERVICES TO SUIT ALL
AAA Logistics Ltd has built a reputation for being a friendly, helpful and and reliable company to customers nationally and internationally
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HAULAGE: AAA LOGISTICS LTD
AAA Logistics has built up a reputation for being a friendly, helpful and reliable company to customers nationally and internationally, striving always to improve the welfare of the company to ensure that customers receive a better service. Proudly, all vehicle operators are fully qualified as ADR drivers. And to ensure the service remains at a high standard the company is constantly adding to and updating its fleet of modern vehicles. Significantly, AAA is a specialist in spot hire. To ensure that customers are left feeling satisfied after using its services they are supplied with AAA vehicles and drivers on a contract basis, which means that customers enjoy the benefit of a tailor-made vehicle suited to their business, without the hassle of running their own vehicle. As specialists in logistics AAA’s extensive array of Hiab vehicles are ideal for loading, unloading and moving large-scale heavy equipment, machinery, plant or materials for industrial and commercial needs. AAA’s
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vehicles are efficient and a cost effective way of providing machinery removals. Whether customers want a lorry-mounted crane that can lift heavy machinery or interested in a Hiab vehicle the company has a range of vehicles in stock to suit all business uses. Additionally, all AAA vehicles have trackers fitted and run with Euro 3 or above engines, compliant with the “low emission zone”. As the company looks positively to the future, it hopes to develop its secure storage capability which is available to customers on request, and continue to grow at a steady, controlled rate
The Paddock farm Leicester Road Kipworth, Leicester LE8 ONP aaalogisticsltd.co.uk Tel: 01162 796 688
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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
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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 group’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 group’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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Rendrive Haulage :feature 2 10/03/2014 16:53 Page 16
FORS: RENDRIVE
HAULAGE AND LOGISTIC SOLUTIONS Rendrive have a long history of providing logistic and transport solutions to the construction and distribution sectors.
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FORS: RENDRIVE consequence of the economic downturn was prices and margins were put under pressure, forcing many haulage companies to take on unprofitable work. The management at Rendrive decided that wasn’t sustainable and sought an alternative, choosing to concentrate more on the construction sector it already served and undertake less general distribution. The decision coincided with the retirement of the firm’s founder and increased investment in London’s infrastructure by Transport for London and others. That, as Managing Director Tony O’Malley recalls, entailed fundamental changes: “We re-organised the company management and took a strategic decision to concentrate on construction and do everything required to meet the demands that placed upon us. We spent our reserves to make sure we complied with everything because hauliers who
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don’t do it can no longer work in that sector. “Unless you are FORS registered and your vehicles are LEZ compliant, you cannot work in London and a lot of the markets are no longer available to you. The market is changing and hauliers who have invested and accepted the new standards can work in construction while others no longer have that option.” Rendrive’s management experience convinced it that involvement in infrastructure projects was the way forward due to the need for haulage to support them. It therefore undertook substantial investment in the fleet to meet the needs of the industry, concentrating on carbonefficient and fuel-efficient vehicles in a variety of formats that include flatbeds, curtain siders and artics, some with vehicle-mounted forklifts, to meet differing demands and restricted access in parts of London. “Vehicle types are decided depending on the needs of our customers,” explains Tony. “Legislative requirements are
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placed upon us by Transport for London, the government and the EU so we have to respond to them and our attitude and strategy are to spend money to meet those demands.”
SKILLED WORKFORCE Allied to the acquisition of new vehicles has been an investment in training, including a workshop apprenticeship scheme, to produce a skilled and certificated workforce through undertaking Transport for London and other training courses to gain qualifications such as NPORS, ALLMI, ITSSAR and CPCS. A crucial element of the strategy is FORS membership, which started at bronze level with a simple requirement to adopt best practice but, as Tony recounts, has since moved on: “We now have an external audit by FORS auditors and many main contractors require bronze to work on their sites. Silver is much more in depth, requiring us to record what we do and use the data to improve our methods,
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FORS: RENDRIVE
“WE DON’T WANT TO BE BIG FOR THE SAKE OF IT BUT NEED TO DEVELOP OUR BUSINESS SO WE CAN RESPOND TO EVER-CHANGING NEEDS”
teams, auditing of the entire operation and every vehicle being checked physically before we were allowed to work with them.”
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Pioneer Works Crabtree Manorway South Belvedere, Kent DA17 6AH www.rendrive.com Tel: 0208 3122444
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demonstrating compliance and a culture of continuous improvement.” Attaining silver required the installation of vehicle tracking systems to provide the necessary data and a change to the way road traffic accidents are recorded. One contractor has stipulated its supply chain has at least to have started the silver accreditation process and so Rendrive is ahead of the game and one of the few companies in the freight industry to have reached the standard. Although the intention is to go for gold eventually, there are other issues currently taking priority. The investment and changes have enabled Rendrive to be included on the supplier list of many companies, a process Tony describes as ‘a long and arduous task’ He says: “Companies can no longer use anybody they want; their own systems require them to use only approved hauliers. It took up to five months to get onto suppliers’ lists, requiring site visits from audit
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Rendrive now has over 400 clients, including major contractors such as Carillion and Select, specialist sub-contractors and manufacturers who supply the materials to site. A major part of the service is managing the supply chain from factories all over Europe, using its warehouse facilities for off-site storage, transshipping, inspection and modification, so site logistics teams can prepare materials before they go to site. Those materials include M&E equipment, plant, curtain walling and steel, and Rendrive is now the haulier of choice out of construction logistics centres that serve the London area. The process has been a successful transition and justified the time and money invested. Nevertheless, as Tony emphasises, the company isn’t standing still: “We don’t want to be big for the sake of it but need to develop our business so we can respond to everchanging needs. Our strategy has proved successful but that doesn’t mean it will always be so we need to make sure we meet the needs of the industry. We will look for other opportunities outside of construction but whatever we do must be at sustainable costings. We cannot go back to the bad days of working at unprofitable rates, as some hauliers do.”
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FORS: RENDRIVE
Saunders TRAINING CENTRE
Saunders Training Centre Certified Industrial Truck Training Nationwide
Providing certified training for all types of industrial vehicles from forklifts to diggers for over 50 years The right training could deliver valuable skills for your business. Whatever route you decide to take – when using Saunders Training Centre – as your industrial truck training provider we will deliver the right training to fulfil your skills needs. Because different sized businesses face different challenges, the help you receive reflects the needs of the buiness. We can provide up to date information when refreshers are due, what machines require specialist training etc. We come to your business and carry out on-site training to minimise the cost and interruption to your working day. With Saunders Training Centre, getting valuable skills for your employees is simple. Just contact us for expert, one-to-one skills advice. We'll help you organise a full training packages tailored to your business.
Tel: 01268 545032
www.tandlonline.com
COURSES 4Basic/Novice 4Experienced & Semi - skilled operators 4Re test Refresher 4Conversion 4Familiarisation 4Train the trainer courses 4CPC Courses
15 Fletchers, Basildon, Essex SS16 25TU Email: elaine@saunderstraining.co.uk Web: www.saunderstrainingcentre.co.uk
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LOGISTICS OF BROADCASTING: BBC
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LOGISTICS OF BROADCASTING: BBC
A LOGISTICS ‘NIGHTMARE’ With 48 matches in the first 15 days in a country 30 times bigger than the UK, the coming world cup represents a huge challenge to outside broadcasting
he football World Cup in Brazil is just around the corner. All the matches will be televised live in Britain via the BBC and ITV with matches taking place between 5pm and 11pm BST. While home fans sit nervously awaiting England’s fate, the BBC in Brazil has to navigate the logistical challenge of televising every game. Bear in mind that Brazil is 30 times bigger than the UK with matches split across 12 stadia and two different time zones. As soon as England’s qualification was secured, the BBC’s production teams were busily honing their plans and addressing the many challenges they face. The broadcaster isn’t making it easy for itself with an aspiration to deliver a 24-hour service, personalised according to whatever device or platform that audiences want to use – from the smart TV to the Ipad. The BBC’s TV coverage will be led by Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker, with Mark Pougatch presenting 5 Live’s extensive coverage from Rio. The coverage on BBC News will be led by sports editor David Bond, while BBC World Service will be linking up with their colleagues in BBC Brasil to cover all the international angles of the World Cup. Barbara Slater, director, BBC Sport, said: “There are 48 matches in the opening 15 days, so it represents a huge logistical challenge for our planners – an effort outweighed only by the privilege and sense of pride that comes with covering a World Cup in Brazil.
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“With over six million requests for tickets from more than 200 countries around the world, the excitement is building ahead of the tournament. The World Cup is the highlight of the international football calendar and next year’s tournament will most likely be watched, or listened to, by over three-quarters of the UK population. We believe the quality of our production must do justice to that level of national interest as well as the significant investment required to acquire the broadcast rights.” As with Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, the BBC will be basing its main TV studio at the heart of the World Cup, this time in central Rio. “We have learned over the years that audiences value being immersed in the atmosphere and surround-sound of a World Cup, which can only be delivered through teams on location. We are delighted to have reached agreement with FIFA to take-up one of their 10 international TV studios in a purpose-built block they are constructing in Rio. It is a cost effective way for us to present the TV coverage that captures the colour and buzz of this iconic Brazilian city. BBC Radio and BBC News will also be relying heavily on this infrastructure to support their presentation plans. “The BBC’s broadcasting of the London 2012 Olympics set a new benchmark for digital coverage of a major sporting event – and audiences have told us they expect the BBC to raise the bar in the future. What better opportunity than one of the
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LOGISTICS OF BROADCASTING: BBC
THE BBC’S BROADCASTING OF THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS SET A NEW BENCHMARK FOR DIGITAL COVERAGE OF A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT
www.bbc.co.uk Tel: 020 7580 4468
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biggest sporting events on the planet taking place at its spiritual home?” The BBC would have learnt from its recent coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics that online coverage proved very popular. “Traffic to the Winter Olympics website helped drive record BBC Sport audiences with over 20 million unique UK browsers in a week – the highest number outside of the Olympics in 2012. We also introduced a new responsive service during Sochi, giving audiences with the same user experience across PCs, tablets and mobiles, as we know how audiences love to follow the action wherever they are,” said Slater. “It was a huge privilege for all involved – presenters, commentators, reporters, producers, technicians, engineers – to cover the Games. In Sochi and at our base in Salford, production teams have been working
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around the clock, providing content for BBC Two, BBC One, 2 Red Button channels, up to 6 online streams, BBC Breakfast, BBC News, BBC Radio 5 live, and Alan Davies Apres-Ski. Everyone will have their favourite moments – perhaps Lizzy Yarnold’s gold run, last stone dramas in the Ice Cube or even the high adrenalin racing in Ski and Snowboard Cross. “We have experienced high volumes of audience feedback about our coverage, which is again testament to the level of interest in the event. One topic that divided opinion was the style of commentary at the Snowboarding Slopestyle event, with some people questioning our approach but over four times as many people praising it and asking for more. The Winters have offered a great opportunity to bring newer voices into the BBC Sport family, all experts in their field and we feel that overall we got the balance right in bringing both the technicality and the excitement of these high adrenaline sports to our audiences. All the feedback is hugely valuable and helps inform our approach to future events.” It has been a fantastic start to 2014 for BBC Sport, and there’s a lot more to come. With the Six Nations in full swing, its attentions are now firmly on the major events of the summer which, as well as the football, also includes Wimbledon, Open Golf, Glasgow 2014 and next season’s FA Cup.
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AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS
LOCAL ACCESS GLOBAL OUTLOOK
Highland and Islands Airports Limited is a public corporation wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers and operating and managing 11 Airports hilst the eleven airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports might not be the biggest and busiest, they’re certainly very varied in terms of the services they provide. “We have Royal Mail flights from Inverness out to a number of destinations including Stornoway and Benbecula,” explains Operations Director Mark Stuart. “Some freight goes on passenger aircraft but we don’t have a huge freight network and we are conscious this is an area we want to develop. “Scheduled traffic depends on the airport with Inverness having the largest route network with destinations such as Amsterdam, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Jersey, Geneva, London Luton, London Gatwick and Manchester. Inverness also serves as a hub for island flights to Benbecula, Lewis, Orkney and Shetland. Other key destinations for our airports away from Inverness include Aberdeen and the Scottish Central airports of Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are also flights from Dundee to London Stansted and from Sumburgh to Bergen. In addition, there is an extensive network of inter-island routes. “A key remit of our operations in the remoter regions is to maintain the airports to support air ambulance services for the local communities. Oil and gas related traffic including helicopter movements features heavily in Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Wick and we have search and rescue bases located in Sumburgh and Stornoway, with a fur-
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ther base under construction in Inverness and due to become operational in 2015. In Dundee, the airport hosts a flying school. Furthermore, there is considerable ferry flight traffic through Wick John O’Groats Airport, handled by Far North Aviation, which acts as a staging post for aircraft on the way to their ultimate destination. It is a fair mix across all the airports and it varies between locations.”
MAINTAINING LIFELINE SERVICES Highlands and Islands Airports is owned by Scottish Ministers and its biggest objective is to serve the health, social and economic interests of the remote locations of Scotland. This requires HIAL to maintain lifeline services to the islands and remote locations, ensuring communities have access to healthcare and emergency services. In addition, HIAL is a key facilitator of business development that includes enabling islanders to fly to worldwide destinations and encouraging inward investment. That, as Mark emphasises, often includes working with other organisations: “At Wick John O’Groats, for example, we work closely with the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, local Chamber of Commerce and Dounreay (Cavendish Nuclear) to encourage business to use the airport and grow the local economy. Our airport is key to providing access and the same applies for all our airports supporting local communities. It is very important that connectivity remains,
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AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS
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AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS especially for the remoter regions that need it to get businesses in and out of the area.” In addition to those organisations, the company works with other agencies such as the Scottish Council for Development & Industry, other local Chambers of Commerce and Highlands and Islands Transport. However, many island routes are inherently fragile and it works closely with Scottish Government to maintain those routes, which include the provision of Public Service Obligation routes to destinations such as Barra, Campbeltown and Tiree. Energy is a key sector and HIAL currently supports the booming oil, gas and renewables industries. “Support for the oil and gas industry is mainly through Sumburgh but last year Wick John O’Groats stepped up to provide essential support to Chevron operations,” comments Mark. “They very successfully handled 359 days of incident-free activity in support of Chevron in response to their requirement for helicopter operations following the grounding of the Super Puma Helicopters. It was a short notice start-up but the staff in Wick pulled out all the stops and supported Chevron throughout the year to get workers out to the Captain oil field.” Both Wick John O’Groats (36%) and Sumburgh (26%) Airports experienced significant growth in 2013 as a result of increased oil and gas activity. Largest of the eleven airports is Inverness, which accounts for half the passenger
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traffic and acts as gateway to the Highlands, as well as being vital to the city’s prosperity. In common with other HIAL airports, it offers an attractive alternative to Aberdeen for the oil and gas industry, acting as an important hub to the growing number of oil, gas and renewables businesses located around the Moray Firth area. Highlands and Islands Airports is required to maintain safe and efficient operations and safety is never compromised. The company was recently the first airport operator in the UK to secure tier three fire training status for fire service recruits after bringing the initial training
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Air BP supporting the Highlands and Islands Airports
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ir BP provides a versatile and flexible fuelling service to an expanding network of international airport clients. The UK-headquartered company offers solutions that enable airports to operate a refuelling service that best supports their business needs. An airport’s re-fuelling may be Air BP operated so fully serviced by Air BP at all levels; or a self-operated airport where Air BP product is purchased, but the airport’s own operations team handles fuel provision. In this instance Air BP can provide technical support with operations, maintenance and equipment. There are also variables of these models which can be tailored for individual airport clients. In the highlands and islands of Scotland, Air BP serves four of the principal airports working closely with airport owners Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL). Inverness on the mainland, Kirkwall in the Orkneys, Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles and Stornoway on Lewis, are all Air BP operated sites. For these remotely located airports, communities rely on aviation and maritime transport for all provisions. Air BP understands the need for safe, unbroken product
supply and recently demonstrated its reliability by keeping these airports supplied despite issues with secondary transport strikes, and refinery product quality issues. Ensuring on-spec airport fuel is available is critical and Air BP uses its flexibility and knowledge to respond to altered supply demands. The Air BP operated HIAL airports, also benefit from Air BP’s in-depth understanding of the technical demands of aircraft refuelling and how to minimise and manage re-fuelling risks. Engineering excellence ensures site facilities are fit for purpose, easy to operate, compliant, efficient, built to last and able to expand as an airport develops. The Air BP standards and systems are implemented at all operated sites and ensure that the on-airfield team operates to the highest standards. With a long heritage Air BP is an expert in safe, reliable delivery of aviation fuels and all staff are fully trained to deal with any unplanned occurrences, minimising the risk of damage or delay to customers who are after all the most important part of the business. In addition Air BP has strict product quality and handling procedures with a fuels quality team available 24/7 to diagnose and resolve any issue
that may emerge so minimising or eliminating customer disruption. This team also contributes to shaping aviation standards through their participation in industry bodies. Customers at the HIAL airports represent the full spectrum of aviation. FlyBe runs scheduled leisure flights, whilst Logan Air provides one of the principal connections between the islands and the mainland. The essential search and rescue teams require safe and reliable fuel service at a moment’s notice, whilst those providing transport to the energy services such as Bond and Bristow Helicopters are regular customers. These locations also accept Air BP’s Sterling Card which streamlines fuel purchasing for General Aviation customers by removing the need for an advanced fuel release; provides access to the interactive ‘eNabler’ paperless electronic invoicing system; and a dedicated account manager. The Sterling Card strengthens Air BP’s relationship with customers as it is used worldwide and allows airports, and Air BP to better understand customers’ requirements. The provision of fuel is vital to the islands’ economy and Air BP’s combination of product quality, safe delivery and security of supply ensures this is the case every time.
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AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS
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in-house. It’s also recently launched a training partnership between Kirkwall Airport and Orkney College of the University of Highlands and Islands to provide safety training in support of the maritime sector, utilising the airport’s fire training ground. Mark says: “It’s most important to us to manage the risks associated with operating airports and we need to do that efficiently. We look at ways to become more efficient in running the business, whether through technology or improved processes, in order to maintain the connectivity with the regions but at best value to the taxpayer. Super fast broadband is to be rolled out to the Highlands and Islands but not necessarily to our airports because they aren’t always close to population centres.
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“We have to take into account when operating our airports that many are in remote locations and the efficiencies of scale generated at large, single centre airports are not the same for a network of remote airports. However, we can do some things more efficiently, such as bringing initial fire-fighter training in-house, and technology advances will also help. Although we look to make the business more efficient, that’s not at the expense of safety. Safety and security in aviation are the main objectives but we must also continuously look at efficiencies and how we achieve them.” Along with safety, environmental issues are a high priority and the company takes its electricity supplies from renewable sources and is exploring the use of anaerobic
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digesters to supply some airports as part of its carbon reduction programme. It’s also faced the challenge of a struggling economy post-financial crash that caused traffic volumes to drop. These have now returned to pre-2008 levels due to an upturn in the economic situation, with HIAL enjoying a record year in 2013 handling 1.35 million passengers, a year on year increase of 5.3%. Much of the growth was attributed to the increased helicopter traffic for the energy companies and proactive efforts to make organisations aware of how Highlands and Islands Airports can help them do business. That’s produced a new five-year deal with easyJet at Inverness to support connectivity into the South East, a close working relationship with Flybe to support its growth ambitions at Inverness and continuing a long, close association with the largest single customer, Loganair, in support of the remote communities.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS As part of its aims to provide airports that meet regulatory standards and support essential transport connectivity around the region, Highlands and Islands Airports has strategic, corporate and operational plans. These are reviewed to take into account government thinking such as the current Aviation Policy Framework and the company has contributed to the Airports Commission, in particular with regard to regional connectivity, which is due to report in 2015. Infrastructure development is key and HIAL has eleven airports to maintain in support of the communities. Recent work includes a £2.6 million project to resurface the runaway at Inverness, the work being done out of hours and requiring close working with
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AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER Cooneen At Work, a leading Corporate Clothing specialist, is proud to have supplied HIAL for 10 years with an integrated ʻend to endʼ clothing management solution. We are now providing our complete managed service for PPE, uniform and workwear to the Fire Service, Security (AMSL) and Motor Transport Engineering staff. From initial design concepts to account management, forecasting, stock control and individual wearer delivery, we have the essential skills and expertise to meet the challenges of delivering a completely customer focussed service. Cooneen At Work, based in Salisbury, is part of the Cooneen Group of Companies – one of Europeʼs leading providers of design lead and highly technical clothing including corporatewear, workwear, military and protective wear.
To find out more, please contact the Cooneen At Work Team on 028 895 21401 or email sales@cooneen.com
www.cooneenatwork.com
Tel: 01492642201 Mob: 07710806139 Fax: 01492641992 Email: Eagle@danline.co.uk Web: www.eagleairfield.co.uk
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EAGLE AIRFIELD EQUIPMENT Ltd. is very proud to be associated with Highlands & Islands Airports over for many years, suppling their major snow equipment and after sales services including refurbishment of older machines. We look forward to this continuing and the introduction of our latest products into an user friendly airport groupand the future operations.
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airline operators and stakeholders to ensure it was completed within budget and on time. The work also included a taxiway extension linking to the Inverness Airport Business Park to open up the area for future development. The company is a shareholder in the Inverness Airport Business Park, which is designed to develop the area around Inverness Airport leveraging the air links from Inverness. In addition HIAL is currently involved in an exciting new initiative to establish a Tourism BID for Inverness and Loch Ness. Whilst HIAL is a key enabler in economic terms, it views Air Passenger Duty as a key constraint and will continue to lobby with industry for a review of this tax. “We have to retain the ability to react positively in terms of short term requirements,” states Mark. “For example, we wouldn’t have been able to predict the issue with regard to the recent grounding of the Super Puma and what that meant for Wick John O’Groats Airport and its future importance to the oil and gas sector. However, we were able to respond and provide the service.The recent increase in activity at Sumburgh means we are focused on the growth potential at the
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airport and have a £2 million redevelopment plan over the next 15-18 months. In addition, there is a major £12 million refurbishment of the part of the Sumburgh runway that extends into the North Sea and the introduction of a new fleet of state of the art, environmentally efficient, fire appliances at a cost of £7 million. “We have to be flexible in where and how we are going to invest our money.With eleven airports around the region, we need to be able to respond to events as well as having an overarching capital plan to keep our airports open and maintain the lifeline links for those airports. At the same time, we’re a taxpayer funded organisation and need to put forward our plans with regards to what we see as the development potential of the airports. One of the key pillars of the 2015 Airports Commission is regional connectivity from the South East and we need to be prepared to maintain those links as well as developing and building on our existing international routes from Inverness. HIAL is committed to maintaining safe and efficient operations, supporting the communities that we serve and ensuring that every penny of investment delivers a return for the business and provides a platform for growth.”
www.hial.co.uk Tel: 01667 462445
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TNT:feature 2 09/03/2014 12:01 Page 34
CARBON EMISSIONS: TNT EXPRESS NT Express, the UK’s leading businessto-business express delivery company is to install new technologies across its vehicle fleet, designed to improve fuel efficiency, driver safety and the overall speed and performance of its wider delivery network. Following a successful pilot the company is now rolling out the use of in-cab black box camera systems to a further 500 vehicles across its fleet. The presence of RoadHawk Black Box Vehicle Camera Systems, and later analysis of data they capture, is designed to encourage safer and more fuel efficient driving, while also enhancing driver security. TNT Express has been trialling the use of the cameras in vehicles operating from its Rotherham Depot over the past nine months, with 56% of drivers stating the camera’s presence had caused them to change their driving behaviour for the better and 75% stating they felt the cameras improved their personal safety and security. Alistair Cochrane, managing director of TNT Express UK & Ireland, said: “Any technology which helps us optimise the efficiency with which we transport consignments around our network in order to meet customers’ deadlines, and further improves the fuel efficiency of our vehicles while doing so, can only bring benefits to the businesses we serve.” The RoadHawk technology comprises a CCTV camera with a wide angle lens placed in front of the windscreen of the vehicle, which films the road ahead. In the event of an incident, it captures events on a
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“SURE WE CAN”
TNT Express is to install new technologies across its vehicle fleet, designed to improve fuel efficiency, driver safety and the overall speed and performance of its delivery network
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TNT:feature 2 14/03/2014 09:32 Page 35
CARBON EMISSIONS: TNT EXPRESS memory card, which provides a full video display with GPS overlay on Google Maps to identify the vehicle location, speed and G-Force. RoadHawk managing director Mark Nelson, said: “RoadHawk black box cameras are discreet recording systems, easily fitted to sit behind the vehicle’s rear-view mirror. Once installed, automatic recording begins when the vehicle is started. It records in a constant loop and automatically triggers ‘event’ files when the G-Force sensors are activated.” Adoption of the Roadhawk system will coincide with greater use of GPS trailer tracking systems, linked to Google mapping, across the company’s trailer fleet. The system will come in particularly handy given that the company has recently introduced a fleet of new collection and delivery vehicles. Featuring a more aerodynamic body design, the 300 new vehicles provide reduced fuel consumption without impacting the volume of goods being carried. The fleet renewal programme began in late July 2013 and over a two-month period the new low-carbon vehicles replaced old vehicles on a one to one basis as they came to the end of their operating life. A total of 261 7.5 tonne vehicles were ordered from DAF, MAN and Iveco, with a further 39 12 tonne vehicles purchased from Iveco. Alistair said, “This £12 million investment is testament to our commitment to increased fuel efficiency resulting in reduced environmental footprint. We can now service our customers in a manner which has less impact on the environment.”
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The revision in body design has resulted in a sleeker, more aerodynamic body which reduces drag. The introduction of plastic to the body construction has also reduced the overall weight of the vehicle by 200kg. These improvements in both reduced drag and body weight will result in improved fuel consumption on a like for like basis.
“THIS £12 MILLION INVESTMENT IS TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT TO INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY RESULTING IN REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT” Use of the new 7.5 tonne vehicles, which will operate mainly in and around town and city centres, means that customers can expect their goods to be delivered to the exact standards which they have come to expect from TNT Express, whilst reducing the impact upon the environment. With such attention to detail it comes as no small surprise to see TNT Express win two major awards at the prestigious Global Freight Awards 2013. Beating off competition from across the industry, TNT was named 2013 Express Operator of the Year, whilst James Moody, a product of the company’s graduate management scheme, was named Young Freight Forwarder of the Year.
www.tnt.com Tel: 0800 100 600
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walton:feature 2 10/03/2014 11:00 Page 36
BUS AND COACH: WALTON’S COACH HIRE
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BUS AND COACH: WALTON’S COACH HIRE
Walton’s Coach Hire are a family run business that strives to maintain the traditional values of...
...GOOD SERVICE AND VALUE FOR MONEY alton’s Coach Hire was established in 1982 by Peter and Mary Walton. Based in Freckleton, near Preston, the company has remained family run, maintaining the traditional values of good customer service and value for money. Growing with its customers, the company has acknowledged the diverse demands of the market, adapting to change and being proactive in its approach. Customers have therefore become accustomed to attentive service and the highest quality coach travel where comfort and safety is of utmost importance. The fleet is made up of a variety of vehicles. On offer are mini coaches (16 and 22 seats), an ambulance coach with side lift (which can accommodate a number of clampdown wheelchairs), luxury coaches (35 and 53 seats), executive coaches (49 and 53 seats), and buses (76 seat double-deckers). Safety features include fitted seatbelts on all coaches and single-decker buses plus first aid kits. The company also operates an extensive day excursion service and has recently begun to compile itineraries for weekend breaks.
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Weekend breaks include Scarborough and Whitby, Glasgow, Legoland, Harry Potter at Warner’s Studios, Cheltenham and Prince Charles’ Highgrove Gardens, Farnborough Air Show, Bedord and Matlock Illuminations. Upcoming day trips include Bury, Oldham and Rochdale for shopping, St Patrick’s Day in Manchester and the Manchester Histories Festival. Walton’s has also organised a day trip to Dunham Massey. This Georgian house provides a wonderful backdrop to a stroll along treelined avenues in the deer park.The day includes a guided walk to discover more about the park's wildlife, long history and stories of the family who lived there before an afternoon meal at the Stables Restaurant. And more shopping can be had at Boundary Mill. This is the largest quality mill store of its kind in the UK offering customers quality branded goods at discount prices up to 75% off recommended retail price. Exampling the company’s consistency and longevity, Walton’s celebrated a thousand visits to Bury’s famous market in 2008 and received an award as recognition. Jill Atherton received the award on behalf of the company where she
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BUS AND COACH: WALTON’S COACH HIRE
Walton's Coach Hire Limited Willow Brook, Naze Lane East Freckleton, Preston PR4 1UN waltonscoaches.co.uk Tel: 01772 634563
received a certificate in recognition of the 1000th visit. The company arranges frequent trips to the market from the Preston and Blackpool region. Councillor Farook Chaudhry, mayor of the metropolitan borough of Bury, who presented the certificate, said: "Walton's Coaches have been big supporters of the market, so this award is rightly deserved.” Jill, on accepting the award, said, “Bury Market has some of the friendliest stallholders around, and it’s an excellent place to shop. The market is ideally situated in the heart of Bury town centre, is only minutes away
from the motorway network and has plenty of convenient coach parking.” Also present was Leonard Green from the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), who was visiting Bury to make an assessment on the facilities for coach companies and their drivers. A spokesman from Bury Council added: “Bury Market really does try hard to provide a pleasant and enjoyable day out for group travel. Walton’s Coaches have been big fans of the Market, and we trust that our association with Walton's will continue for many years to come.” Walton’s also undertakes contract work, school and church outings, corporate events, theatre trips and will be happy to quote customers for any private or contract hire work. Its enthusiastic, well-trained and friendly office staff will be happy to handle any enquiries customers may have. The coaches are operated from the company’s purpose built garages and offices situated in the quiet village of Freckleton close to the city of Preston and within easy reach of the motorway network. Walton’s experienced drivers are helpful and courteous and are well presented in the company uniform. Remaining innovative and forward-thinking,Walton’s has introduced a customer loyalty scheme called Wallie Miles. For each £1 that a customer spends on any excursion, theatre trip, short break or holiday, they are rewarded with 1p equivalent in their loyalty account. This has proven to be successful and popular.
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Jeff Travel :feature 2 08/03/2014 10:01 Page 40
BUS AND COACH: JEFFS TRAVEL ince the late Jack Jeffs bought his first coach in 1958, the name Jeffs has been respected in the coach travel and holiday industry. Today the all new Jeffs Travel Ltd provides coach travel from its Helmdon depot to local schools, colleges, businesses and private groups with its comprehensive range of coaches from 29-seat midi coaches to 53-seat full sized vehicles including its new 49-seat full executive coach. As the company looks to innovate and grow, it is now launching a range of coach holidays at very competitive prices that will appeal to young and old alike. The company originally operated day trips but quickly took on school and works contracts. Jack Jeffs was the driver and he was helped at weekends by his son John who had served his apprenticeship at Daimler and then worked at Self-Change Gears in Coventry. He returned to Helmdon at the weekends to help his father run the business. In 1959, Jack obtained planning approval for a coach garage and also purchased his second coach. The company continued to grow and develop over the years, remaining family run until Jack’s elder son sold the business in 2005. However, the company continues to run from its Helmdon home to this day.
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TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Jeffs Travel doesn’t begin and end with coach travel. Their expertise and experience means that they can offer total travel management solutions
Jeffs Travel Limited 1 Station Road, Helmdon, Brackley Northamptonshire NN13 5QT www.jeffstravel.co.uk Tel: 01295 768292
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Jeff Travel :feature 2 08/03/2014 10:01 Page 41
BUS AND COACH: JEFFS TRAVEL
Employing 19 full time staff and 10 part time casual staff, Jeffs Travel has access to a grand fleet of 28 coaches. It runs two XMQ6127 King Longs and two XMQ6129 King Longs as its front line, 49-seat coaches. It then complements these with six Jonckheere Mistrals as the middle range of the fleet with a range of Caetano Algarve’s running the school contracts and private hire. In addition, Jeffs Travel has an XMQ6800 29-seat King Long, and a 21-seat midi coach. Maintenance of the vehicles is carried out in-house. Four new King Long coaches were brought into the fleet in 2012 to increase capability and make general improvements while about £4000 has been spent on the Mistrals to refurbish the interior and carry out a full re-trim and re-spray. To further aid the service, innovations have included the use of modern technology to provide text alerts to parents whose children use Jeffs Travel’s school bus service. These messages notify parents of any breakdowns, scheduling or delays caused by weather. The company has also developed a new website and launched a brand new holiday brochure. Jeffs Travel has plenty of experience on its side and benefits from a good standing within the industry. Indeed, its enviable reputation has allowed it to remain competitive in a tough market. Part of its success is ensuring staff take pride in their work and maintain the standards the business is known for. Importantly, the managing director, operations manager and traffic manager will make themselves available to answer customer queries and always strive to find the right solution for any need. The service is complemented by well-trained drivers who are monitored on a daily basis and given in-house training on all new coaches, rules and regulations. Along with a driver’s PCV licence, they also have a full drivers CPC licence which has the added benefit of increasing the skill level of drivers to ensure customer’s get even more comfort when they travel with Jeffs.
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Yellow Buses:feature 2 08/03/2014 10:45 Page 42
BUS AND COACH: YELLOW BUSES
THE
BRIGHTER
BUS COMPANY Yellow Buses has made great strides in recent years getting people to ditch the car in favour of public transport
ellow Buses, a public bus service operator based in Bournemouth, has made great strides in recent years getting people to ditch the car in favour of public transport. Its vibrant yellow livery has become synonymous with the region, helping it stand out on increasingly congested roads. But it has ensured its bright, light and sun-kissed brand is underpinned by sound customer service, competitive pricing and quality standards. Indeed, the company has developed a number of initiatives to simplify bus travel for the passenger, making it easier and more accessible than ever before. Operating bus services throughout Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and East Dorset, the award-winning Yellow Buses competes with the Go Ahead Group and its Go South Coast subsidiary, for custom in the region. Head of Marketing Jenni Wilkinson says the competition has proven beneficial because it means Yellow Buses is always looking to innovate and improve. “We have another quality operator in the area with similar vehicles, routes and fares, so we have to stand out. Our livery gives us a visual presence on the roads – our bright, light yellow has a vibrancy that is synonymous with our beachside resorts – but it’s ultimately about providing exceptional customer service,” she says. “There has to be a reason for customers to choose us over a fellow operator so we work very hard at achieving the best possible service for our passengers.” Part of Yellow Buses’ success in recent years is due to its innovative proprietary smartcard system called Glo Card. The card provides benefits to both customer and business. Firstly, the card is easy and convenient for passengers, allowing them to top-up the cards and use
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them as passes or instead of cash to purchase tickets and use the bus service. Added incentives allow cardholders to gain money off at local businesses, while fares are better value when purchased through the Glo Card. The card is also vital to Yellow Buses in its own development. Jenni explains that unlike many retail and commercial businesses, a public bus service that traditionally took cash-only purchases couldn’t get to know its customers’ buying habits intimately. “In the past we have been able to analyse where passengers have been travelling but we haven’t been able to access individual passenger trends. Through the Glo Card we can interact directly with our client base. We can provide them with offers and news about the service, and make their journey more interactive. But we can also better tailor our service – from routing to scheduling – based on the information we gain from the Glo Card’s use.” Passengers also gain a more personalised service and have further options available to them. This is complemented by Yellow Buses’ online presence which provides customers with information about the service, routes, and journey times, while customers can easily top up their cards. Indeed, the company was one of the first UK bus operators to provide next-day top-ups to cardholders. This means Glo Card users can top up their account as late as midnight the day before travel and the credit will be available to them the following morning. Electronic reminders are sent out to customers if they are running low on credit. Customers can also set up an account to manage a number of Glo Cards which is ideal for families who may travel separately. This is all part of Yellow Buses’ dedication to going further for its customers to provide a service they want
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BUS AND COACH: YELLOW BUSES
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BUS AND COACH: YELLOW BUSES
“IT ISN’T ALL ABOUT LEATHER SEATING AND WOOD-EFFECT FLOORING, IT IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE VEHICLE INTERIOR AND THE COMFORT FOR PASSENGERS”
Avenue Road Bournemouth BH2 5SH www.bybus.co.uk Tel: 01202 63 61 10
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to return to. Exampling its success so far, the Glo Card won Best Smartcard Service at the 2013 MasterCard Transport Ticketing Awards. This is in addition to Yellow Buses’ Shire Operator of the Year accolades in 2009 and 2010 and runner up in 2011. The only reason it hasn’t featured in the Shire awards since is because it hasn’t entered. Elsewhere, the public transport service provider has gone to great lengths to improve driver skills, enhance safety and security on board buses, and increase comfort for passengers. CCTV is installed on all buses, for example, while driver CPC training is added to by additional skills development such as in customer service. Driver performance is also monitored through on-board tracking which looks at speeds, braking, acceleration and other factors. Any issues can be addressed through the company’s inhouse driver CPC school. The modern fleet of vehicles
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is also providing advantages to passengers such as increased legroom and the aesthetic qualities of leather seating. Yellow Buses also aims to be more transparent. This is most recognisable in its light, bright branding which is reflected in the interior of the buses. “It isn’t all about leather seating and wood-effect flooring, it is about improving the vehicle interior and the comfort for passengers. In the past, buses had dark interiors so that if they weren’t clean you couldn’t tell. We want to show the levels to which we will go to ensure the customer gets the best experience possible. One way to do that is highlighting the efforts we go to make sure the buses are clean and tidy,” remarks Jenni. Yellow Buses is ideally positioned to continue its growth in the next few years with ambitions to further improve its services and encourage more people to favour the bus rather than the car.
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BUS AND COACH: YELLOW BUSES
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Milligans Coaches :feature 2 08/03/2014 09:27 Page 46
BUS AND COACH: MILLIGANS COACH TRAVEL hen you think of coach operators in South West Scotland you think of Milligans. The travel company is one of the largest providers of luxury coaches in the region having long established a reputation for customer service, comfort and value. Established in 1948 by William Milligan, the company is now enjoying its third generation of Milligan family ownership which has been key to its success. Remaining family run has meant passengers always get the personal touch which, believes the company, makes the difference between a “good tour and a great one�. Operating within the UK, Milligans offers an array of coach services. Over the last decade the range of tours and excursions has developed alongside the growth of the business, increasing from 27 in 2000 to nearly 50 today. These excursions are added to throughout the year by additional trips such as to the-
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Loan Garage, Mauchline Ayrshire KA5 6AN www.milliganscoachtravel.co.uk Tel: 01290 550 365
atres or one-off events. Within the offering is a short break programme which recently included a one week tour to St Annes. The programme occupies one vehicle full time throughout the year and two vehicles during the summer. Operations manager Morag Milligan says the company benefits from loyal customers who come back each year.That means the business is always on its toes to keep the tour offering fresh and innovative. Alongside its own tour work, Milligans provides coaches for other operators too and offers intermittent private hires. For example, it runs football supporter transport services for Rangers, Celtic, Kilmarnoch and Liverpool football clubs. The company also runs a number of schools contracts and is a member of BUSK (Belt Up School Kids) which means Milligans provides seatbelts for passengers and maintains a high standard of safety. Safety and comfort is synonymous with the company as Morag
COMFORT AND SAFETY Milligans Coach Travel is one of the largest operators of luxury coaches in the South West of Scotland.
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Milligans Coaches :feature 2 08/03/2014 09:28 Page 47
BUS AND COACH: MILLIGANS COACH TRAVEL
Proud to support Milligans Coach Travel
explains. “We have a bespoke health and safety policy, we do risk assessments, every coach is seat-belted, they all have CCTV, and the drivers check everything and sign to say they have checked every belt.” Milligan’s has unfortunately lost some schools contracts due to competitors undercutting their prices. This disappoints Morag who feels others don’t take health and safety as seriously. “It’s frustrating that we put so much effort into quality and when it comes to kid’s safety, it’s not given the priority it should be. There’s not enough emphasis on quality now, it’s all down to price.” Yet, the business has sustained itself thanks to its reputation, its range of operations and the quality inherent in its services. “We’re still busy because of the quality of the coaches and there’s still plenty of work to go around,” says Morag. “We have a good team and we don’t have a huge turnover of drivers. They tend to stay with us.” Milligans’ fleet includes 14 coaches, 11 of them Scania, and all but one with Irizar Century bodies (the other has a Van Hool body). In addition, the company has two 70-seat Volvo B10M Alizees and a B9M Berkhof Excellence 37-seater. Milligans also now offers coach conversions. This was inspired by tenders coming out a few years ago calling for 67-seat vehicles. This saw the company lose out to operators running double-deckers so it converted a smaller vehicle to carry 70-seats. The inhouse conversion was so successful Milligans decided to offer this service commercially.
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ASE Logistics :feature 2 08/03/2014 11:29 Page 48
PALLET NETWORKS: ASE COURIERS
FAST AND RELIABLE
Ase Courier Services Ltd is a local business with a long history of providing high quality courier services locally and throughout the UK, the Irish Republic and the Channel Islands. se Couriers was established in 2002 in order to service local companies with a same-day courier service. Growing its reputation over the last ten-plus years, Ase utilises the expertise of its vastly experienced founder Tim Smart to provide high quality courier solutions to clients throughout the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Tim knows the industry inside out having been a transport specialist for over 25 years and recalls that from the outset, emphasis was on finding the right solutions for clients based on their individual needs. “The objective in the early days was to grow with our customers and develop an understanding of what was required by them regarding transport and logistics,” he says.
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Unit 7 New Rock Industrial Estate Chilcompton, Radstock BA3 4GE www.asecouriers.co.uk Tel: 01761 233 311
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“The business then developed into more of a dedicated transport company rather than just same day deliveries. We started working with a national company delivering and collecting parcels in the BA postcode and trunking them back to a central hub in the midlands to be distributed around the whole of the UK. We now offer a one-stop shop for our customers from one parcel delivery up to full 26 pallet artic loads.” Ase works with a variety of clients in a number of sectors. Examples of its diverse work includes delivering trade stands to exhibitions for charities, time-sensitive tenders for large building contractors, and items to site shops for English Heritage. However, one of its largest sectors is the leisure industry which sees Ase
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ASE Logistics :feature 2 10/03/2014 12:51 Page 49
PALLET NETWORKS: ASE COURIERS deliver fitness equipment to gyms and sports centres as well as to domestic home users. “As a business our strength is that we understand the customer’s needs. Importantly, we will find the right solutions and carry out services with attention paid to every detail including timing, handball, pick and pack, pallet and wrap. We also understand that we are an extension to our customer’s business and must deal with their clients. It is therefore even more important that we act in a professional, attentive manner,” explains Tim. Presently, the company runs 16 vehicles made up of car-derived vans, MWB vans, large panel and Luton box vans, rigid trucks running 7.5 tonne, 18 tonne and 26 tonne. Ase also operates 44 tonne artics on its general haulage and overnight work. The vehicles are mainly Mercedes but the fleet also includes Volvo, Iveco, Citroen, Ford, Volkswagen and MAN. The company favours Montracon for its trailers but does operate a number of Crane Fruehauf and Boalloy. Tim feels part of the company’s success is through employing experienced drivers. “We like to employ drivers who have a good knowledge of the industry and most of our van drivers are ex-HGV operators. We also like to promote from within giving van drivers the opportunity to progress to larger vehicles as they gain experience.” Of course, the economic climate hasn’t made things easier. “We feel as a business the best will survive and that we are good at what we do but will not under sell ourselves to obtain work. The business has grown in the present climate which has been encouraging but we have to keep a strict hold on all aspects of the business and monitor cost and credit control regularly.” It helps, however, that clients know the managing director is on hand when needed. “I think my customers appreciate that I, as MD, still make myself available at all times and will respond personally to any problem that might be encountered.” Being part of UK Pallets has helped the company grow in recent years and Tim is hopeful the growth will continue. “As a partner in UK Pallets it also allows us access to other UK haulage companies, so we’re building strong links throughout the country and making Ase Couriers better known throughout the transport industry.”
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Malco Freight :feature 2 09/03/2014 14:11 Page 50
PALLET NETWORK: MALCO FREIGHT
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PALLET NETWORK: MALCO FREIGHT
CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION For the past 30 years Malco Freight has developed a set of principles which guarantee the best possible service and the highest level of support available fficiency and flexibility are the watchwords of Malco Freight with a business model based on providing whatever the customers wants in the most cost-effective way. “We are not general hauliers but see ourselves more as logistics providers,” says Managing Director Alison Jeffrey. “We have trucks to do some jobs but we minimise our own mileage by putting our efforts into pallets systems, having a number of trusted local hauliers and using the Haulage Exchange. Whatever a customer asks me to do, I will do regardless of what it takes.” The company started almost by chance in 1977 with a need to ship test equipment safely from Germany after previous attempts had resulted in damage. Alison’s father hired a truck for the job and did it so successfully he was offered a contract for further shipments, forming the company on the back of that. However, Alison joining the company twelve years ago prompted the change that’s moulded Malco Freight’s approach to business. She recalls: “We decided to diversify, were introduced to The Pallet Network and saw an ideal opportunity to distribute customers’ goods at cost effective rates all over the UK with other like-minded hauliers who cared about what they were doing. Since that time, we have grown a diverse market with them and
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deal with many different customers and goods.” The principle has grown to the extent of using trusted European hauliers to handle consignments across the continent. Capabilities expanded further with the acquisition of a 22,000 square foot warehouse with drivethrough facilities enabling the unloading and storage of goods in dry conditions. As a result, Malco Freight can now handle a company’s complete logistics needs using its own fleet and the resources of various supply partners. The company now carries anything nonhazardous that goes on a pallet and the European work includes shipping optical scientific equipment. There’s also a contract for premium turf supplies that started with a trial for residential deliveries and expanded to supplying landscaping businesses using an artic with a Manitou forklift.
APPROPRIATE FLEET The business model means the fleet is relatively small, comprising four rigids mainly for pallet collection and delivery, two artics that handle the trunking and three 7.5 tonners. All have full height cantilever tail-lifts and include two additions to the fleet, an 18 tonner and 26 tonner, the larger vehicle acquired to handle the increased pallet weights that are common. Alison says: “For the collection and delivery vehicles, we want safety for drivers and
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Malco Freight :feature 2 13/03/2014 09:39 Page 52
PALLET NETWORK: MALCO FREIGHT
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Malco Freight :feature 2 13/03/2014 09:40 Page 53
PALLET NETWORK: MALCO FREIGHT
it’s much easier to effect a delivery with a full height tail lift.” Malco Freight has faced the challenges of the economic situation but nevertheless increased its fixed overheads three years ago with the opening of the warehouse facilities.That turned out to be a good move since it enabled the company to secure particular contracts and its flexible business model proved a real benefit.“The pallet system has been recession proof although many full loads have disappeared,” states Alison. “That’s because companies aren’t keeping the same level of stock but are buying in smaller quantities, so using the pallet system is much cheaper than sending a half-loaded truck. In recent years, competitors have possibly struggled and have been concentrating on volume rather than margin. That will have a detrimental effect because service levels are compromised but we aim to do a good job for a decent profit and guarantee, once we’re given something, we will take responsibility and manage it all the way through to the end.”
“WE ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP THE BUSINESS ON THE FIRM FOUNDATIONS WE HAVE SET, ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND AIMING FOR STEADY, CONTROLLED GROWTH”
WORK FOCUS The company has taken the conscious decision to steer clear of certain work, particularly seasonal contracts, price-sensitive business and consignments where finding a backload is difficult. Instead, The Pallet Network affords continuity, with two trunkers going to the hub every night, sometimes three in summer, and always coming back full. The rest is handled through its own vehicles or using various haulage partners, so there is tremendous flexibility, the comfort of fixed costs and a business built on customer service. Alison is convinced of the old adage that people buy from people, a situation helped by the company having many long-serving drivers and staff members with whom customers are familiar. “The formula we have works well for us,” she remarks. “We have seen growth and certain key account customers have big plans for this year. So we will see growth there and will support them to ensure we can fulfil all their distribution needs. We are always actively looking for new accounts and have increased the fleet with the flexibility of another trunker. We are looking to develop the business on the firm foundations we have set, are always looking for new opportunities and aiming for steady, controlled growth.”
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Malco Freight Ltd Unit 56A Lancaster Way Business Park Ely CB6 3NW www.malcofreight.co.uk Tel: 01353 666848
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Kimes Transport:feature 2 08/03/2014 12:31 Page 54
PALLET NETWORK: GEORGE H KIME & CO. LTD eorge H Kime & Co. Ltd., based in Lincolnshire, is a well-established provider of distribution and storage solutions with a reputation for attentive customer service and exceptional standards. Benefiting from over 80 years in the business, Kimes has the experience and the expertise to give clients bespoke solutions to their individual needs. This has seen it develop long-term relationships with a variety of customers from sole traders to large blue chip companies. The business has a strong standing serving the fresh food industry but has expanded in recent years to encompass a wide spectrum of customers internationally. Indeed, it now has a significant presence in the pet food market and is a major distributor of pet foods to supermarkets and independent suppliers nationwide.
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Head Office Main Road, Wrangle, Boston Lincolnshire PE22 9AW www.georgehkime.co.uk Tel: 01205 870282
Founded by George Kime in the 1930s, the company was initially set up to provide a dedicated transport service, making deliveries nationwide for the wholesale market. Growing from these humble beginnings, Kimes has developed a loyal and trusting client base which has become accustomed to consistent levels of excellent service alongside attention to every detail. Its head office and large distribution centre, complete with two sunken load docks for ground level loading, is based in Wrangle, near Boston in Lincolnshire.The company also opened a new depot two years ago in Lincoln which is proving to be a real success.This 15,000 square feet distribution centre is benefiting from the company’s association with The Pallet Network which handles 12,000 pallets a night in and out. Its comprehensive services include an all-encompassing and modern approach to distribution and storage.
TRANSPORT STORAGE DISTRIBUTION
George H Kime & Co. Ltd has grown because of their commitment to providing an excellent service and subsequent trust from valued customers
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Kimes Transport:feature 2 08/03/2014 12:31 Page 55
PALLET NETWORK: GEORGE H KIME & CO. LTD
Kimes can provide customers with on site ambient and temperature controlled storage facilities with full supporting stock control and recording systems. Goods-in-transit or cost effective aggregation of part loads are handled in-house, while it has experience of accepting containers or fridges from other parts of the world for de-stuffing and palletising to a required specification. This service is complemented by experienced distribution expertise which makes use of a sophisticated computerised traffic management system. This system provides an efficient service, cuts costs and speeds up response times, which means customers receive competitive prices and quick turn around. The modern fleet consists of 7.5 tonne, 18 tonne, and 26 tonne curtain-sided vehicles, 44 tonne tractor units and 45-foot curtain-siders, double-deckers and temperature controlled trailers. The company has recently added five new T Range Renaults to the fleet which make use of Euro 6 engine technology. This has not only added reliability to the fleet but better fuel economy which is complemented by eco-driver training to enhance the ability of Kimes’ driving staff. Fuel efficiency has been crucial in this tough economic period.The company has remained competitive in the marketplace but pressure on pricing has been eased through measures to tackle rising fuel costs. Maintaining a modern fleet is vital but through enhanced eco-driver training, miles per gallon have been reduced by 10% in recent years. Yet, importantly, service levels have never been compromised. Drivers know what is expected of them and enjoy developing their skills through company training while technology such as Masternaut tracking further enhances the service for both the business and the customer. Complementing this is the appearance of Kimes’ trucks and trailers. The company’s distinct livery and attention to its presentation plays a very important part in the running of the business. The fleet is therefore constantly being monitored and regularly upgraded.
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Prompt Transport:feature 2 08/03/2014 13:04 Page 56
PALLET NETWORK: PROMPT TRANSPORT rompt by name, prompt by nature. Mark Williams founded the business in 1985 with a single van in order to provide a service customers could rely on. Prompt Transport, based in Bristol, has grown its reputation over the last 29 years to be the service-provider-of-choice for many satisfied customers in the region. Today, it provides a comprehensive range of distribution and logistics solutions including haulage, warehousing, storage and nextday courier services. Proud of its ability to bring new and innovative ideas to the table, Prompt has developed a loyal customer base, many of whom have utilised the services of the business for many years. Weathering the economic downturn, Prompt has maintained its position as one of the leading logistic companies in the South West of England. Its attentive service ensures customers get the service they desire by meeting exacting needs, while its prime location approximately five miles from the M32/M4/M5 interchange provides ease of access to the major UK road network, resulting in fast, efficient deliveries of packages big and small.
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ON TIME
DELIVERY With operations strategically placed in Bristol, Prompt Transport Ltd provide a comprehensive range of distribution services throughout the United Kingdom Prompt Transport Ltd Southway Drive, North Common Bristol BS30 5LW www.prompttransport.com Tel: 0117 9671600
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Prompt Transport:feature 2 13/03/2014 09:44 Page 57
PALLET NETWORK: PROMPT TRANSPORT
Importantly, when the recession hit hard, the business made the decision to restructure and invest. Shaun Gray was introduced to the company as an experienced general manager in 2009 to oversee this investment and the business has seen extensive growth ever since. Major new national and international contracts have been established which has led to the development of new office facilities, warehousing and the addition of vehicles to the fleet. Now, Prompt can offer over 175,000 square feet of warehousing and has access to a wide ranging fleet that includes cars, sprinter vans, 7.5 tonne rigids and 44 tonne artics. The vehicles are predominantly DAFs with some Iveco. The company gains great after-service support from both DAF and Iveco and has found both manufacturers provide exceptional fuel return and reliability. Complementing the fleet’s capability is the use of SupaTrak software which monitors a vehicle’s whereabouts, its fuel efficiency and the driving style of its operator. This has proven to be an invaluable tool, particularly in reducing the company’s overall carbon emissions and increasing fuel economy. Furthermore, it has been used to reward drivers for good performance which has produced even better fuel efficiency levels. The software also monitors idle time and traffic updates to avoid unnecessary standing time. In addition, Prompt updates its fleet regularly, not only to promote its image but to make sure it uses the most eco-friendly modern engines to reduce its carbon footprint. The current plan is to replace 57-plate Euro 5 trucks to 2014 Euro 6 trucks. The modern fleet is certainly one of the ways Prompt stands out over competitors but this is coupled with services, such as round the clock collection and a 24-hour contact line, that goes above and beyond customer expectation. The company is also a proud decade-long member of Pallet Track meaning it can offer fast and effective pallet distribution within the UK and outside of it. Emerging from the recession stronger than ever, Prompt Transport has every reason to look forward to the future.
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AJH CLEANING Commercial & Fleet Vehicle Cleaning Sanitisation of Food Trailers Industrial & Commercial Building Cleaning
BEFORE
AFTER
Tel: 07715 903 070 Email: andy.ajssouthwest@gmail.com
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Newland Express :feature 2 10/03/2014 14:25 Page 58
PALLET NETWORK: NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT LTD
LOOKING AHEAD WITH OPTIMISM
NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT LTD IS BASED IN HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, AND IS A LOCAL COMPANY EMPLOYING LOCAL PEOPLE TO COLLECT AND DELIVER PARCELS AND PALLETS NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE FOR ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES ttentive, informed and personalised customer service is at the heart of Newland Express. Based in Hull, the company has over 15 years experience on its side, developing in that time a reputation for the highest standards and customer satisfaction. Proudly employing local people, the company collects and delivers parcels and pallets across the UK and worldwide for all types of business. Running 13 company-owned vehicles and employing 14 skilled drivers, Newland’s ideal location just off the A63 with easy access to the M62 provides it with a perfect route onto the UK’s major road networks. Newland Express has been part of TPN (The Pallet Network) for over a decade and can therefore provide customers with the benefits of this vastly more efficient form of pallet distribution. Fast, reliable and cost effective, Newland Express provides a range of services for customers requiring the movement of pallets – from single to multi-pallet consignments – all
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over the UK, Ireland and Europe. Options include guaranteed next day delivery within the UK, a 48-hour economy service, reverse collections and timed deliveries with the added benefits of online proof of delivery images and tail lift capability at no extra cost. In addition, services include specialised parcel deliveries for local businesses alongside nationwide guaranteed next day pallet deliveries. These services are complemented by competitive prices, track and trace, and full proof of delivery. Same day haulage is also available which can accommodate everything from an envelope to a full 26 tonne load within the UK and Europe. The capability of the company has developed alongside its customer base, and the business has grown with them. Maintaining long term relationships and gaining new work primarily on recommendation highlights the standards delivered by Newland Express and a consistency
Newland Express :feature 2 10/03/2014 14:26 Page 59
PALLET NETWORK: NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT LTD
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PALLET NETWORK: NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT LTD
LEADING MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER OF HIGH QUALITY AND COMPETITIVELY PRICED COVERAGE AND CANVAS PRODUCTS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS.
WE UNDERTAKE ALL TYPES OF BESPOKE WORK
TRUCK & TRAILER SERVICE AND REPAIRS
> SPORTS COVERS
> TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION COVERS
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> INSULATION COVERS
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> ADVERTISING AND SIGNAGE > BESPOKE VEHICLE COVERS
Tel: 01482 223 550
JK COMMERCIALS Freightliner Road, Hull, HU3 4XL
Tel:01482 223 550
30 WILLIAMSON ST, HEDON ROAD, HULL, HU9 1EP TEL 01482 226970 MOB: 07857 891098 FAX: 01482 327218 Web: www.cjcovers.co.uk Email: sales@cjcovers.karoo.co.uk
The Network of Choice
The Pallet Network model is proven to be one of the most efficient forms of transport, reducing not only costs but carbon emissions as well – making TPN a cost effective and green solution to your freight distribution requirements. TPN handles in excess of 55,000 pallets a week through its state of the art, purpose designed 367,500 square foot Hub based in Minworth, West Midlands. TPN boasts a Membership comprising over 100 of the best independent hauliers in the UK together with 23 companies who are part of TPN Ireland, with an Irish Hub based in Dublin. TPN and its Members prize quality, not quantity and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to loss or damage of your freight.
T: 0121 313 4000 60
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W: www.thepalletnetworkltd.co.uk www.tandlonline.com
Newland Express :feature 2 10/03/2014 14:26 Page 61
PALLET NETWORK: NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT LTD of quality over many years. The company has therefore successfully grown organically, generating and maintaining an enviable reputation in that time. Newland Express’ fleet of 13 vehicles includes mainly Renault rigids and five 44 tonne artics, which have been bought based on reliability and price. It also helps that the local Renault dealership is just a stone’s throw from Newland Express’ base. But the company also runs a Vauxhall Vivaro and a Volkswagen Crafter. JK Commercials confidently handles the maintenance of the vehicles, and has played a crucial role in Newland Express’ success, ensuring the fleet is always ready for the road. The company also has its own 12,000 square feet of warehousing that is racked out. It has the option of adding a further 20,000 square feet of warehousing which is something Newland Express is currently looking at as part of its ongoing growth. Success is not easy to come by but the company is committed to ensuring it maintains a high level of service year on year. Ongoing training aids this endeavour with drivers undertaking periodic DCPC assessment with additional focus on areas such as fuel efficiency and health and safety. Modern vehicles enhance the company’s ability to be both reliable and cost efficient, while the inclusion of Euro 5 trucks, and soon the addition of Euro 6 replacements for older vehicles on the fleet, means the company is as environmentally friendly as it can be. It is also making use of the latest technology to aid its service capability. Through constant communication with clients, Newland Express encourages them to provide feedback on the service level they are receiving. If there are ever any issues these are resolved promptly. Managing director Stewart Norris has enjoyed encouraging signs throughout the recession that Newland Express is primed for growth in the near future. He stresses, however, that this is down to ensuring you never take your customer for granted. “We do everything we possibly can to ensure our customers get the right solution for their needs at a competitive price,” he says. “Customer service is the overriding attribute of our business and that is what makes us stand out, it is something our reputation is
“THE AMBITION IS TO GROW ORGANICALLY IN A CONTROLLED MANNER THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH, WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF OUR BUSINESS COMES FROM.”
built upon and the biggest reason behind our growth and success.” Indeed, Newland Express grew significantly throughout the recession. “I’ve always looked at a recession as an advantage if, importantly, you can maintain the qualities of your business and remain effective during the economic downturn you’ll be in a much better position when the recession ends. For instance, I started this company in a recession, and have built it throughout two recessions. We did take a dip in 2008 and early 2009, but since then we have grown between 10% and 15% every year.” So the company has every reason to look ahead with optimism. “We are looking to continue our growth but at a realistic rate. It is the easiest thing in the world to buy business and grow at an unrealistic rate but a lot of people have done this and fallen by the wayside. So the ambition is to grow organically in a controlled manner through word of mouth, which is where most of our business comes from.”
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Newland Express Transport Unit 2, Carlton Business Park Carlton Street, Hull East Yorkshire HU3 5JA newlandexpress.com Tel: 01482 575475
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Nelsons Transport :feature 2 11/03/2014 16:23 Page 62
PALLET NETWORK: NELSONS TRANSPORT (KEIGHLEY) LTD
LOGISTICS
SOLUTIONS
Nelsons Transport provide our customers with a high standard of collection and delivery services throughout the UK and Ireland elsons Transport provides a complete collection and delivery solution covering the UK and Ireland. Services include both distribution and warehousing with clients benefiting from the company’s wealth of experience, highly qualified drivers and attentive customer service. The company was established in 1970 and has developed a successful reputation for expert service and attention to the finer details. Nelsons’ clients are accustomed to distribution and warehousing capabilities that take individual needs into consideration. Situated in Keighley, West Yorkshire, the company is ideally located for access to the country's motorway network, while its out of town premises leaves it less susceptible to delays caused by traffic congestion. Remaining family run, the ethos of the company has always been on customer service, providing the right solutions for client needs built around them.
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Nelsons Transport (Keighley) Ltd. Bocking Farm, Cross Roads, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 9BG nelsonstransport.co.uk Tel: 01535 642097
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Part of its success has been through ensuring it has the best possible staff available to deliver on its promises. The drivers are in possession of a range of driving qualifications from class I to III, and these are put to good use in the wide variety of vehicles that Nelsons currently operates. These include curtain-sided trailers, with or without a tail lift, curtain-sided rigid (some with rear wheel steering), and three vans. The company also has a Manitou forklift truck which can be mounted on a six-wheeler rigid or trailer. Nelsons Transport's dedicated hard work since it started in 1970 means it welcomes the future with a very positive outlook. The company states: “There is definitely room in the market for a company as professional as Nelsons Transport. Whether the requirement is local, national or across Ireland, we are confident of our ability to provide a quality service for all your transport and general haulage needs.”
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Nelsons Transport :feature 2 11/03/2014 16:23 Page 63
PALLET NETWORK: NELSONS TRANSPORT (KEIGHLEY) LTD Indeed, everyone from the drivers to the warehousing staff are trained to the highest possible standards. This training ensures each member of staff can carry out their duties to the best of their ability. This training also encompasses health, safety and security so that customers can rest assured their high value goods are handled in a safe and secure manner. “We pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the requirements of the individual customer, always maintaining complete professionalism and delivering the best service possible. We are a member of the Road Haulage Association so you can be sure that through our experience in the trade we can provide the right service for you,” states the company. The key to successful operation is being in the right place at the right time, that’s why Nelsons has a regularly maintained fleet of modern vehicles. To supply a full service to its customers it has 1,800 sq metres of modern insulated warehousing space where it can handle cartons, rolls, pallets, drums, hanging garments and bulk timber up to 2.5 tonne lifts. The facilities also accommodate the loading and unloading of containers. The company aims to meet the needs of all businesses, whether they require single or multi drops or return jobs, through a fast, cost-effective and reliable service that is built upon competitive pricing and professional standards.
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william c Hockin Transport :feature 2 08/03/2014 13:23 Page 64
ANNIVERSARY: WILLIAM C HOCKIN TRANSPORT
ill Hockin established the business in 1974 as a general haulage provider with just one truck. He has overseen it grow steadily over the years to where it is today with two depots and over 100 tractor units and trailers. A fleet of mainly tautliners, flats and trailers carries a range of goods around the UK, including building materials from the manufacturer to builders’ merchants and dry foods to supermarkets’ regional distribution centres. Three years ago, a fuel distribution business was acquired because, as Bill explains, it presented an opportunity at a difficult time: “I bought the fuel business because that’s more specialised, it’s highly regulated and I thought it was a business I could take forward.”
B After forty years of trading and expansion William C Hockin Transport has still kept...
...THE PERSONAL TOUCH
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COMMERCIAL WORKSHOP That added several tankers to the fleet and a second depot, with the vehicles distributing fuel from refineries to supermarket petrol stations and bus depots. The latest part of the business, a commercial workshop, was opened in July 2012. It undertakes commercial vehicle repairs for the company’s own fleet as well as for other companies and, because it handles the fuel tankers, is equipped to deal with the risks involved.
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william c Hockin Transport :feature 2 13/03/2014 09:47 Page 65
ANNIVERSARY: WILLIAM C HOCKIN TRANSPORT
The outcome is a diverse, well-established business with a good reputation. Like all transport companies, it hasn’t avoided the effects of the economy or rising fuel costs. Bill’s active involvement with the Road Haulage Association, as Chairman of the North Devon district, Vice Chairman of the regional council and on the main board, does put the company in a better position to deal with the problem. Not only can he try to influence the government on future policy but he’s built up a range of contacts during the 47 years since he started the company, which helps ensure vehicles don’t run empty. “We load every vehicle back and very rarely fail because we can’t afford to run one way,” says Bill. “Companies ring us if they want something delivering to the South West but we don’t just load directly back to here. We might have a load going up to Inverness and not get backloads all the way home. Typically, we’ll get a load going down to Colchester or even to Manchester and then get another load for the South West.”
He recounts: “It was time sensitive deliveries and, if you arrived late, they’d turn you away. So you’ve got to give service that is second to none. I did that but my customer didn’t realise how good a service he had until he tried somebody else. Two months later, he rang me and I got the business back because the service wasn’t there. He had thought what I was doing was normal but it was much better because I was
LOYAL WORKFORCE
always there and my transport team are on call 24 hours a day.” Bill is proud of the fact customers receive personal service and can contact him directly if they need to talk about anything. “You’ve got to deal with people,” he remarks. “I’m very passionate about the business because I built it from nothing to where we are today.”
The situation’s helped by a loyal workforce that’s prepared to work away for much of the week carrying loads around the country. That illustrates the company’s policy of competing on good service rather than necessarily on price. Bill cites the example of a customer that provided 25% of his business but went to another haulier offering a cut-price deal.
“YOU’VE GOT TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE, I’M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUSINESS BECAUSE I BUILT IT FROM NOTHING TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.” BILL HOCKIN
RIGID/TRAILER MANUFACTURE • PARTS, SERVICE & RENTAL
William C Hockin Transport 4th Floor, Centre Heights 137 Finchley Road London, NW3 6JG www.williamchockin.co.uk Tel: 01271 372945
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A & B Clark :feature 2 12/03/2014 16:47 Page 66
TANKER REVIEW: A & B CLARK
DELIVERING RELIABILITY A & B Clark Began carting neighbouring farmer’s produce in an ex-army lorry and now provide amongst other things, traction-only services pulling tankers for Omex Agriculture
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& B Clark is a North Norfolk based family run haulage company. The original business was solely based around farming, beginning in 1947 by the current Managing Director’s Grandfather and Great Uncle when they ran an ex-army lorry carting their own produce. They then began carting neighbouring farmers’ produce and ran two Ford Thames Traders under the trading name of Clark Bros in the 1960s. The trading name was changed to A & B Clark in 1990 and this is when Charles Clark began driving for the company. “I started to increase the haulage business securing work with grain merchants, initially with H Banham Ltd., and also began working with a neighbouring farmer, J W Perry-Warnes, carting sugar beet,” says the Managing Director. “They later gave up haulage to concentrate on farm contracting leaving us the haulage of sugar beet and grain for local farmers. I then began haulage of bagged fertiliser for local fertiliser company Payne Bros Fertiliser Ltd. “We now also provide traction-only services pulling tankers for Omex Agriculture. Other work includes hauling lime for British Sugar and Keith Mount Liming, and we also turn to hauling aggregates when other work is slow.” The A and B Clark fleet, supplied mainly by Payne Bros, consists of six vehicles which includes five artic
A
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A & B Clark :feature 2 12/03/2014 16:47 Page 67
TANKER REVIEW: A & B CLARK
units (four MAN and one Scania), three bulk trailers and one curtain-sider. In addition, A and B Clark has a specialist vehicle for moving bulk feed bins, and operating as ‘Raptor Farm Services’. “This is a Mercedes flat bed converted to lift the bulk feed bins and has a generator on board to enable us to install the bins ready for use,” says Charles. “The bins can be anything from three tonne hoppers to 25 tonne hoppers up to 40 feet high (which is a bit nerveracking to erect but we have an understanding insurance brokers with Alan Boswell.” All maintenance is contracted out. The MAN units are maintained by Smiths Mechanical Support, the Scania by J Hilton Commercials and the Mercedes by A & R Commercials. Charles adds that contrary to popular opinion on training in small haulage companies, A and B Clark is ahead on CPC training having been organising its own courses, using instructors from The Training Association with around 20 drivers on its training list. “We try to use courses to improve skills and help provide a wider range of services, such as ADR, Epic and telescopic handlers. With the use of local drivers and much local knowledge, some having operated their own haulage business, they bring many years experience (with 22 years driving experience I am the youngest) allowing us to provide not just haulage but a quality service. By having an excess of drivers and vehicles we strive to never let anyone down and therefore hopefully provide natural growth, as we have no plans for explosive expansion.” Tel: 01263 587318
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lookingback:feature 2 09/03/2014 14:26 Page 68
Looking back at...
JAMES BRINDLEY 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
ames Brindley became one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century thanks to his work on some of Britain’s first modern canals. Born in Derbyshire but spending much of his life in Staffordshire, Brindley played an essential role in shaping the way canals were built during the Industrial Revolution. Brindley was responsible for the first English canal of major economic importance when he was hired to build a 10-mile stretch of canal to transport coal from the Duke of Bridgewater’s mine in Worsley to the textile-manufacturing site in Manchester. Brindley conceived of creating a subterranean channel, extending from the barge basin at the head of the canal into the mines, and the Barton Aqueduct, which carried
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the canal over the River Irwell. Brindley's genius called for minimising the amount of earth moved by developing the principle of contouring. This recognised and alleviated the challenges faced because of primitive methods of earth-moving at the time.Therefore, Brindley preferred to use a circuitous route that avoided embankments, and tunnels rather than cuttings. However, most recognise his greatest contribution to canal building was the technique of puddling clay to produce a watertight claybased material, and its use in lining canals. The success of Brindley’s canal for the Duke of Bridgewater encouraged similar projects such as the Grand Trunk Canal, which penetrated the central ridge of England by the Harecastle Tunnel. Brindley oversaw the building of canals in
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Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Coventry, as well as elsewhere. In total, he was responsible for a network of canals totalling about 360 miles. Miraculously, he undertook all his works without written calculations or drawings, meaning his legacy is immortalised in the canals themselves.
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ISSUE 144
TRANSPORT &LOGISTICS T H E
I N D U S T R Y
F O R WA R D
ISSUE 144
D R I V I N G
LOCAL ACCESS, GLOBAL NETWORK TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE
We talk to Mark Stuart, Operations Director at Highlands and Islands Airports Page 24
SPOTLIGHT ON: PALLET NETWORK PAGE 48
NELSON TRANSPORT
PROMPT
NEWLAND EXPRESS TRANSPORT
ALSO INSIDE: YELLOW BUSES – THE BRIGHTER BUS COMPANY PAGE 42