Liverpool turnaround times fall as Peel Ports improves road haulage efficiency

Truck turnaround times at the Port of Liverpool have fallen after owner Peel Ports said it had turned its focus to road haulage efficiencies.

It said October was a “record-breaking” month for its container operations with quayside and landside throughput exceeding all previous figures with year-on-year growth of 12%.

The port also said turnaround times for hauliers is now consistently below 40 minutes.

David Huck, Peel Ports MD said: “More businesses are realising that it makes more sense to ship products closer to their end destinations.

“For much of the UK container market Liverpool is the port that offers the shortest supply chain, helping to reduce costs, congestion and carbon emissions.”

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One local haulier who uses the port every day told motortransport.co.uk that, compared to 12 months ago, operations had “definitely improved”.

He said: “Overall I have no major arguments; they’re doing OK.

“They’ve made turnarounds better. They have trained more staff up, I am there most days and I see them training staff up. I assume crane drivers are being trained up too.”

However, he said that the port had reduced opening times on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, which had an impact on some hauliers, but he added: “There are a couple of small issues to iron out but I do think they have listened to us. Overall, I would say it’s definitely improved.”

Jon Whitely, MD at Bootle-based JWT Commercial, said: “The Port of Liverpool’s latest throughput figures prove that Peel’s focus on road haulage efficiency is working."