Search Results for: haulage

The Salvatori Group has relocated its headquarters to the Aylesham Industrial Estate near Canterbury, Kent (UK).

The move is set to benefit the logistics company, part of freight network Palletways, by improving access to the A2, the port of Dover and Salvatori sites in Rochester and Les Attaques, Calais.

The £5.5m site is state of the art, energy efficient and tailor-made for the Group’s activities including heavy and palletised haulage, cold, ambient and palletised storage, commercial workshops and its newest division, upcycled furniture manufacture.

Over £1.3m has been invested to create one of the most bespoke and energy efficient cold storage facilities in with a total capacity of 2,500 tonnes. The site allows for pallet storage of 10,500 pallet spaces across 103,000 square feet with a further 130,000 sq. of space for ambient storage.

In addition to these new facilities, the Group has also invested in 10,000 sq ft of commercial workshop facilities to house its commercial repair workshops and growing upcycled furniture manufacturing business. 9,000 sq ft of fully air conditioned and modern offices are also based at the site to house the group’s administration, storage and transport operations staff.

The Group has been part of the Palletways network since March 2015. Over the past 21 years Palletways has developed a strategic network of more than 400 depots and 14 hubs and now provides collection and distribution services across 20 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

Roger Warnes Transport, the Norfolk (UK)-based bulk haulage specialist, has selected a package of TruTac fleet management software tools to ensure the highest level of compliance and efficient control of its 90-strong mixed vehicle fleet.

Operating throughout the UK from depots in Great Dunham and Kings Lynn, the company provides a diverse range of bulk transport services, using a mix of articulated and rigid tippers and walking-floor vehicles.

Following a recent due diligence review and as members of FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Roger Warnes Transport installed TruTac’s TruControl and TruLicence systems to manage tachograph analysis and driver licence checks – the combination of which provides the company with guaranteed compliance and helps to ensure best practice across the fleet.

For tachograph analysis, TruControl is a fully secure, web-based system which provides automated exception-based reporting across multiple depots. Reports can be prepared instantly and emailed to any transport manager or multiple users to suit any fleet size and it is fully compliant with the hour’s law and WTD (Working Time Directive).

To reduce administration and to help Roger Warnes Transport demonstrate a duty of care towards its drivers, TruLicence is an online checking and validation service which protects against employees driving without a valid licence. The unique application also guards against potential litigation in the event of accidents where a driver’s licence is found to be invalid.

Roger Warnes Transport is a VOSA-approved ATF (Authorised Testing Facility) incorporating a tachograph calibration centre and test facilities for HGV and PSV vehicles. The company is also a bulk storage specialist with the facility to store 20,000 tonnes of grain, oil seed and sugar beet pulp, using computerised stock control. Furthermore, automated grain sampling and temperature monitoring throughout, combine to achieve TASCC (Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops) standards.

Paul Cooling, a driver for J. Medler Haulage of Norwich, has attributed his wellbeing to the design and safety features incorporated in the Volvo cab of the FH tractor unit he was driving following a horrific road traffic accident on 22 March 2016.

The accident, which happened on the eastbound carriageway of the A14 near Welford in Northamptonshire, saw the nearside of the cab sustain heavy impacts to both front and rear as Paul jack-knifed against the central reservation on what is arguably one of the UK’s busiest sections of dual carriageway.

“After the initial impact I remember trying to jack-knife so as not to cross the central reservation,” says Paul. While his actions almost certainly prevented him from crossing into on-coming traffic, they also meant the cab took a significant blow to the rear from his own trailer, which at the time was fully loaded with Thermalite blocks.

“I have to say I was absolutely amazed at the integrity of the cab after such a big accident,” says Paul. “Before this accident I really liked Volvo trucks. Now I love them! They’re the best truck in the world and I honestly believe I’m still here thanks to the safe design and build quality of Volvo.”

The accident forced the closure of the A14 in both directions for several hours. The westbound carriageway was shut to enable the air ambulance to land in order to attend to Paul.

Paul returned to work just three weeks later with a scar running from above his left eye up across his forehead the only sign of the horror that struck that afternoon. “I’m as fit as a fiddle now,” he says. “I had thirty stitches to tidy up the wound to my head, but the scar’s already healing over and I’m just glad to be back at work.”

Paul’s boss and Managing Director at J. Medler Haulage, Dean Medler adds: “I have to say I was surprised that Paul walked away with comparatively minor injuries after such a serious accident. We were all delighted when he returned to work within just three weeks. I believe this accident has reassured me and our drivers that Volvo trucks are indeed the safe choice and I am therefore glad that our entire fleet bears the iron mark!”

“Despite the severity of my accident, the cab of the nine-year-old Volvo FH stood up to the impact sufficiently well that, once my seatbelt was released, I was able to exit the cab via the offside door virtually as normal,” says Paul.

As for advice following his accident he adds: “Always double-check that you’re wearing your seatbelt properly and drive a Volvo!”

Port Salford National Import Centre, the UK’s first Tri-modal logistics facility, has opened with the Culina Group as its first occupier.

Great Bear Distribution, now the ambient division of the Culina Group after its acquisition last month, will be managing warehousing and distribution of a range of ambient brands from the showpiece 280,000sq ft. facility.

The new Port Salford facility will be fully branded as Great Bear and offers 45,000 pallet spaces, 30 loading doors, 30,000 sq. ft. of contract packing and 130 trailer parking spaces whilst also creating 280 jobs in the area.

“Port Salford is a truly cutting edge facility, and one that Culina Group and Great Bear are really proud to be initiating”, said Thomas Van Mourik, Culina CEO,

“This development is not just changing the dynamics of UK Transport and Logistics by dramatically improving direct supply chain routes across England and Scotland, but it’s also resulting in significant carbon emission reductions and environmental savings,”

“Port Salford is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it’s our great people who are going the make it a success. These are really exciting times for all of us.”


From the outset General Mills (UK/Ireland) is in situ as a Culina Group / Great Bear client. Its brands such as, Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty Crocker, and Nature Valley, will be arriving by short sea freight from Europe, saving a significant amount of road haulage miles per year whilst at the same time providing a “future proof” solution to market trends.

Port Salford is a massive investment by Peel Ports Group, which will create 1,600,000 sq. ft. of warehousing. Its unique location will allow direct vessel access from the new Liverpool2 Terminal at the Port of Liverpool, due to open later this year.

This is all part of the bigger global plan by Peel Ports to develop Liverpool as a deep water container terminal and a key Atlantic Gateway.

Warren, a UK carton and graphical board and paper stockist, has responded to the twin challenges of significant sales growth and the changing nature of the UK’s independent haulage sector by taking delivery of its first Warren-branded vehicles.

The new DAF CF curtain-sided 18 and 26T rigids have been taken on long-term rental from local truck supplier Alltruck plc and are liveried with the unmistakable Warren branding that includes Warren’s distinctive rabbit mascot, Starsky.

Operations Director, David Whitaker, explains, “From day one, forty years ago, we were known as a national rather than a regional merchant. Own-vehicle operation was impractical and instead we partnered successfully with a number of independent hauliers throughout the UK to provide customers with the service they required. In recent years a combination of factors has contributed to the fragmentation of national haulage. Very few hauliers provide national groupage services these days and depend instead on pallet networks, which don’t always suit our products or – more importantly – our customers.”

As an ISO14001 certified company, Warren takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. “Given the current controversy surrounding diesel emissions it was essential that we operated new, rather than second-hand, trucks,” commented Dave Whitaker. “Both are Euro6 compliant so meet the latest and most stringent emissions regulations and we do our best to ensure that the vehicles are loaded and routed for maximum efficiency.”

The decision to develop its own transport operation in the Midlands followed the introduction late last year of Warren’s logistics partnership agreement with North-East based Tyneside Express. Warren trunks overnight to Tyneside in order to provide its expanding paper and board customer base in the North East region with an improved next-day service and Warren’s operations team see this as a model that they’re likely to replicate in other parts of the country over the coming months.