All Interviews articles – Page 3
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Article
Hellmann UK turns a corner despite difficult business environment
When MT last spoke to Hellmann UK MD Markus Fellmann back in 2021, the company was emerging from a management restructure and the Covid-19 pandemic in much better shape than five years earlier when the business was loss making.Hellmann Worldwide was founded over 150 years ago and is now a ...
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Article'Rising costs have forced us to diversify and reinvent ourselves...'
Shortly before French food logistics giant Seafrigo acquired Perishable Movements Limited (PML), MT spoke to the Kent company's MD Mike Parr (pictured). In an extended interview, he explains why the sector is becoming increasingly challenging and how he's reacted...Q&AQ: What are PML's biggest current headaches?A: Increased rates. Not for this ...
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ArticleSolid backing from parent bank gives Paterson confidence in Asset Alliance's future
Asset Alliance Group (AAG) has been a long-term supporter of Motor Transport’s annual state of the trucking nation report Industry Monitor, and in the 2022 edition CEO Willie Paterson described himself as an “optimist”, as 70% of operators said they planned to add extra trucks to their fleets this year.But ...
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ArticleElectra sees growing interest in electric refuse vehicles
At last week's Road Transport Expo, Blackburn-based electric truck maker Electra showed a full range of its battery electric vehicles between 12 tonnes and 27 tonnes GVW, and MD Ben Smith said that the company is working on a hydrogen fuel cell for higher weight trucks.A 12.5 tonner on show ...
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ArticleOperators and suppliers voice concerns over Direct Vision Standard phase 2
TfL is due to introduce phase 2 of its Direct Vision Standard in October 2024 and its consultation on the amended standard closed on April 3. Just before the deadline Motor Transport in association with Brigade Electronics held a roundtable debate with TfL and a group of leading operators to ...
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ArticleTwo hard-working lads from Sheffield living the dream at Stanton Logistics
Chris McGinley, left, and Chris Allender set up Stanton Logistics in 2007Motor Transport gets asked to interview many successful transport firms but when an invite came to meet one of the founders of Stanton Logistics in Rotherham, south Yorkshire it was hard to turn down.“We are one of the best ...
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Article“Truck prices are through the roof and volumes are not what they used to be…”
Alan Maher (pictured), MD of Archbold Logistics in Manchester, explains the difficulty of balancing dipping volumes with soaring tractor and trailer prices and lengthening vehicle delivery timesQ&A Q: How much is the general slide in volumes affecting Archbold?A: We’ve tightened our budgets a little this year. This means subbing out ...
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ArticleHeavier trucks, biofuels, affordability and recharging infrastructure all on the agenda for decarbonisation minister
Speaking exclusively to MT after his address to the Logistics UK Future Logistics conference, transport minister responsible for decarbonisation Jesse Norman MP did not rule out increasing the 44-tonne maximum weight limit for zero emissions HGVs to compensate for the additional weight of alternative drive trains.The DfT has just ended ...
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ArticleShareholder model puts Palletline in strong position to invest in the future
Palletline was the first pallet network to be established in the UK and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. It was also a year in which the business reached new heights with record volumes.The company’s recent announcement of a substantial programme of investment has been designed to ensure Palletline has ...
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ArticleMichael Holt: "I wanted a board that wasn't just seeing this as Tuffnells versus DX…"
Since returning to private ownership in 2020, Sheffield-based parcels firm Tuffnells has restructured, announced a new £7m investment to drive growth, and is now backing hydrogen for its future long-haul fleet. MT gets the full story from executive chairman Michael HoltQ&A Q: How’s business and what main lessons have you ...
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ArticleLesley O’Brien: “Costs are up, rates are being pushed down and everyone's fighting for mechanics…”
Lesley O'Brien OBE is MD of Halifax-based family haulier Freightlink Europe. A tireless ambassador for the transport industry, she highlights the key issues facing smaller operators - and the best ways to tackle themQ&AWhat are the biggest challenges facing hauliers right now?Everybody is pushing down on rates but our costs ...
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ArticleAddition of Doncaster site will free WH Bowker to go for growth in food distribution
Preston-based 3PL WH Bowker has taken an eight-year lease on a 165,000sq ft warehouse in Thorne, Doncaster to enable the business to attract new business in the food sector.WH Bowker director Bill Bowker said: “Our current warehousing estate has been operating at close to full capacity for some time. We ...
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ArticleTVS builds on Wilcox and McPhee heritage to launch innovative electric construction vehicles
Total Vehicle Solutions Group has rebranded as TVS Interfleet, as the CV bodybuilder positions itself to offer greener products to the transport industry.It has also launched a bespoke bodywork division called Purpose Bodies, which will build lightweight ambient vehicle products.TVS has collaborated with OEMs to develop lightweight e-tippers and e-mixers, ...
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Article
The road to net zero emissions is beset with fallacies and myths - but a solution is at hand
The definition of a fallacy is: a false or mistaken idea. This is a description that could very well be applied to the ubiquitous concept of achieving net zero CO2 emissions that the industrial world is now tasked with achieving by 2050, Dennis and Desmond Evans argue.Having co-authored a book ...
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Article
Will the brakes go on warehouse development in 2023?
Brexit and Covid-19 have had huge impacts on demand for warehousing in the UK, the evidence being clear from the number of large sheds springing up alongside major motorways. MT spoke to three experts in the field of logistics property development to get their views on prospects for 2023.Charles Binks, ...
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ArticleXPO gearing up for growth
UK MD Dan Myers expands on the company’s 42-year partnership with the Tour de France and his determination to navigate the challenging road aheadThe July morning is already scorchingly hot as I wait on the Champs-Élysées to meet XPO UK MD Dan Myers (pictured).We're here in Paris for the last ...
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ArticleZero carbon transport will need green electricity - lots of it and in the right places
Whatever the post 2035 road transport landscape looks like it is certain to involve the use of growing amounts of electricity to power vehicles as the 120-year dominance of diesel begins to decline. Whether trucks are powered by batteries, catenaries or hydrogen - or a combination - they will need ...
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ArticleNew brooms sweep clean as FORS gets a change of management
At the start of 2022 the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) had a complete shake up of its management team (see panel) following the appointment of £4bn a year European consulting, digital services and software development giant Sopra Steria as the new FORS administrator in October 2021 after a competitive ...
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ArticleAfter a decade as TC, Nick Denton says there is still a lot to do to educate operators on their responsibilities
TC Nick Denton (right) on a police HGV patrolNick Denton recently retired from his full time role as traffic commissioner (TC) for the West Midlands after 10 years regulating the road transport industry.Quite rightly, he takes immense pride in the quasi-judicial role of TC, which is a far from easy ...
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ArticleGreen Biofuels clears up some of the myths surrounding renewable liquid fuels
While the debate over whether zero emission HGVs will be powered by batteries or hydrogen or both, Green Biofuels is quietly getting on with helping operators including Hovis, Travis Perkins and CEVA Logistics cut their CO2 emissions by up to 90% and NOx emissions by 30% now by replacing standard ...