Operator News

From third-party logistics to own-account operators Motortransport.co.uk has it covered: we report on all 3PLs, from DHL Supply Chain to Eddie Stobart Logistics, and from XPO Logistics to Wincanton. We also cover the UK home delivery and parcels market from Royal Mail to DPD and from Hermes to Yodel. We have all the latest news from own-account operators, including Tesco Distribution, Travis Perkins, Bidvest and the latest developments from pallet networks including Palletways and Pall-ex.

Podfather helps Stormking boost vehicle utilisation and cut customer calls

October 23, 2023 Carol Millett

Building components supplier Stormking has improved vehicle utilisation by 10% after replacing its paper-based processes with a Podfather delivery management system. Stormking, which is part of the Epwin Group, manufactures over 3,500 glass reinforced plastic (GRP) items each week at its Tamworth site and makes over 400 deliveries a week to over 250 housebuilders located around the UK, […]

Welsh haulier HF Owen sees fleet double after joining Pallet-Track

October 23, 2023 Carol Millett

A North Wales haulier HF Owen, which recently celebrated 50 years in business, has nearly doubled the size of its fleet after becoming the newest member of the Pallet-Track network in July this year. The Caernarfon-based haulier, which was founded in 1972, has built its business on traditional long and short-haul deliveries across the UK, […]

Pall-Ex harnesses AI to help improve delivery rates

October 23, 2023 Carol Millett

Pall-Ex has partnered with transport optimisation specialists The Algorithm People to deliver its new NexusETA project which harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor buying behaviour, peak management and self-serve options, and provide real-time information. The network said NexusETA will also offer a two-hour delivery window for palletised freight and improved route optimisation, […]

Barfoots of Botley and IPP shift one million pumpkins in four weeks

October 23, 2023 Carol Millett

Barfoots of Botley and its supply chain partner IPP have delivered over one million pumpkins to supermarket stores across the country in just four weeks. Paul Chilton, Barfoots head of logistics and planning, said the UK’s growing love of all things Halloween has led to year-on-year growth for pumpkin deliveries during its eight-year partnership with […]

Pallet-Track blames economic uncertainty for slide in profits

October 20, 2023 Chris Tindall

Latest figures from Pallet-Track showed that the network made a pre-tax profit of £4.7m last year, down from almost £7m in 2021. Revenues also slipped by £2.3m to £132m from almost £134m the year before. However, Pallet-Track said its hub revenues grew by 3% during the period, primarily due to an increase in hub transshipment […]

Administrator set to rescue struggling haulier with CVA

October 20, 2023 Chris Tindall

The administrator for a Somerset haulage firm is trying to rescue the business through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) after a review of its financial position showed that it was still solvent. Insolvency practitioners at Leonard Curtis said S C Lyons Haulage had “strong outgoing cumulative net cash flow projections” and was solvent on a […]

Fox Brothers wins £70m funding package to help drive further growth

October 20, 2023 Chris Tindall

Haulage and plant hire company Fox Brothers has received a £70m funding package from two banks to increase its fleet and pursue acquisition opportunities. NatWest and HSBC UK have provided the asset-based lending (ABL) facility to the North West business to enable it to ‘future proof’ its position in the sector. Paul Fox, chief executive […]

GE-BE opens new Swaffham HQ

October 20, 2023 Chris Tindall

GE-BE Transport has opened its new 435,600sq ft Swaffham HQ, which it said paved the way for the Norfolk firm’s future growth. The £5m facility accommodates GE-BE’s fleet of over 70 trucks and 100 trailers as well as its 100-strong workforce and it also provides warehousing, pick and pack and undercover docking areas for the […]

Evri invests in sustainable vehicles for peak season

October 20, 2023 Chris Tindall

Parcel firm Evri said it had invested more than £3m into its fleet in preparation for the peak period, which included its first ever electric HGV and bio-CNG alternatives. The DAF XB eHGV will be in operation before Christmas; it has a range of up to 350km and can go from a 20% to 80% […]

GXO extends Waitrose delivery deal

October 19, 2023 Chris Tindall

GXO Logistics said it had extended its contract to deliver produce into Waitrose stores across the UK. The deal means GXO continues to operate two distribution hubs at the supermarket chain’s Milton Keynes depots in Magna Park and Brinklow. Gavin Williams, GXO UK and Ireland MD, said: “We look forward to deploying our expertise in […]