Operator news – Page 286
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MT Article
Subbie shortage puts squeeze on margins at Brit European
A shortage of suitable subcontractors contributed to a squeeze on margins at automotive logistics specialist Brit European Transport in its last financial year. Despite continued growth in sales in the year to the end of December 2014, the availability and cost of using subcontractors was “a major factor” in pressure ...
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MT Article
TNT sets the scene for improved performance in 2016
TNT said 2015 will continue to be a year of transition for the company after reporting third quarter turnover of €1.6bn (£1.2bn), up 2.3% year-on-year, and a €27m operating loss, compared with an operating loss of €51m for the third quarter of 2014.Tex Gunning, TNT’s chief executive, said the company ...
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MT Article
Whistl completes Post NL buyout deal
Whistl has completed its management buyout deal (MBO) from former parent company Post NL. The MBO was announced in July, when Post NL announced it would retain just 17.5% of the company, as opposed to the 100% it held until now, giving Whistl control of the remaining 82.5%.When the deal ...
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MT Article
Müller acquisition of Dairy Crest's dairy operation approved
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given the green light to Müller UK & Ireland Group’s purchase of Dairy Crest’s dairy operation – almost a year after the plan was first revealed. Under the approved proposal, Müller will pay in the neighbourhood of £80m for the Dairy Crest operation ...
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MT ArticlePalletways appoints new member and development director
Palletways has appointed Dave Walmsley as its member and network development director. Walmsley, who will oversee the network’s “continuous growth” in his new role, joins Palletways from Lyreco, where he held the role of commercial director for 25 years.He said: “Palletways has got a great reputation in the UK and ...
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MT ArticleWide customer base keeps ARR Craib in growth
Aberdeen-based ARR Craib Transport has said that the falling price of oil in 2014 did not stop its growth last year, as it leaned on food and drink and construction and building customers.In the year-ending 31 March 2015 turnover rose to £52.8, from £46.1m in the previous year, while pre-tax ...
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MT Article
DPDgroup UK trading in a "very strong financial position"
DPDgroup UK, which trades as DPD and Interlink Express, has seen turnover rise 26% and pre-tax profit increase 19.6% and said it is “well placed to deliver further growth”.In the year from 30 December 2013 to 4 January 2015 DPDgroup reported turnover of £872.5m, up from £692.3m in its previous ...
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MT Article
Profit continues to fall at TNT UK
Challenging market conditions in the UK and Europe combined with the loss of a major fashion contract saw pre-tax losses widen and turnover fall at TNT UK last year.Its annual results for the year to 31 December 2014 showed a 2.4% drop in turn-over to £725m last year (2013: £742m). ...
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MT ArticlePall-Ex welcomes trio of new members
Pall-Ex has welcomed three new members as part of what it describes as a “revision of delivery areas, aimed at lowering emissions and improving delivery times”. Rugby-based Exact Logistics has taken responsibility for the CV postcode area, and joins the network from Palletways.MD Adam Shuter said the company’s Pall-Ex membership ...
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MT ArticleStrong performance at Tuffnells boosts Connect Group revenues
Tuffnells Parcels Express contributed £114m of revenue and £9.7m of operating profit to its new owner Connect Group in the year to the end of August, group chief executive Mark Cashmore has revealed.The parcels firm - which Connect Group acquired in November last year and subsequently said was exceeding expectations ...
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MT ArticleAPC member celebrates 150th birthday
APC Overnight member G Thompson has celebrated its 150th birthday and the five generations of family that have seen the company through to the landmark. The company dates back to 1865, when founder George Thompson started to work as a freight agent for private rail companies.The London-based firm ceased to ...
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MT Article
R Swain & Sons acquires Gatwick Plant; sees pre-tax profit boost
Strood, Rochester-based R Swain & Sons has delivered a boost to its special projects division with the acquisition of specialist plant and services firm Gatwick Plant.Based in Horley, Surrey, Gatwick Plant runs a 12-strong fleet of specialist vehicles including low loaders, rear-steer trailers, crane-equipped vehicles and abnormal load escorting vehicles. ...
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MT ArticleHoward Tenens refreshes trailer fleet with Schmitz double-deckers
Howard Tenens has replaced eight 12-year-old trailers with new Schmitz Cargobull S.KO Cool tri-axle deep freeze trailers. The manufacturer said that the double-deck trailers' quiet refrigeration units, combined with Piek-certified floors, reduces noise emissions to less than 60dB, meaning they are ideal for loading and unloading in noise-controlled areas.The vehicles ...
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MT ArticleKnights of Old expands fleet with new MANs
Knights of Old has expanded its fleet of more than 200 vehicles with 34 new MANs. Six 26-tonne TGX 6x2 tractor units rated at 440hp, and a further six at 480hp, have already been delivered to the haulier’s Chichester and Northampton depots, along with 14 18-tonne TGM curtainsided rigids.A further ...
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MT ArticleDaf approves Goodyear's winter tyres for factory-fit
Truck maker Daf has become the first truck manufacturer to approve Goodyear’s new Ultra Grip Max winter tyres as factory-fit options. The Ultra Grip Max tyre range, available in both drive and steer axle versions, is claimed to provide up to 40% more snow grip when half-worn and up to ...
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MT ArticleDriver CPC and skills shortage hurt Aspray24
Willenhall-based express delivery firm Aspray24 has attributed a fall in profitability last year to the introduction of the Driver CPC and driver shortages. Turnover in the year to the end of December 2014 rose 8.8% to £35.9m (2013: £32.9m) but profit before tax fell just over 20% to £1.07m (£1.35m).MD ...
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MT Article
Fors member DWP (Recycling) at PI
Another member of quality benchmarking scheme Fors has had its wrists slapped in a public inquiry (PI). Records published by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner show that Westerham-based haulier DWP (Recycling) had its O-licence suspended for three days at a public inquiry held by TC Nick Denton on 11 ...
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MT Article
Government sells remaining 14% Royal Mail stake
Royal Mail’s privatisation is complete, after the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation (BIS) said it had sold its remaining 14% stake in the business. The government said it planned to sell off its £1.5bn stake in Royal Mail in June of this year, completing the privatisation it kick started ...
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MT Article
Parcelforce operations director takes role at rival UK Mail
Parcelforce operations director Peter Fuller is leaving the company after almost 20 years at the company, to take up the same role at rival UK Mail. He replaces Carl Moore who, according to a statement from UK Mail, has stepped down from the company board with immediate effect and has ...
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MT ArticleArgos launches same-day home delivery service
Argos has launched a same day delivery service for 20,000 of its products in a bid to get ahead of its competitors for the Christmas shopping season. The service, called Fast Track, will enable customers to choose from four delivery slots at checkout whether online or in-store.The slots - 07.00-10.00, ...