DHL International and ECM Vehicle Delivery recorded some of the most notable increases in fleet numbers over the latest reporting period, while several major operators reduced vehicle and trailer totals, according to MT’s Fleet Data analysis.
Car transporter specialist ECM Vehicle Delivery posted one of the sharpest rises, adding 70 trucks and 70 trailers to reach a total of 667 of each. DHL International also expanded its fleet, increasing truck numbers by 20 to 790, alongside a matching rise in trailers to 629.
Gregory Distribution Holdings saw its truck fleet increase by 20 to 2,078 with trailers rising by 27 to 2,795. Arla Foods also boosted capacity, adding 20 trucks and 35 trailers, while Dnata Catering increased its truck fleet by 24.
More modest gains were recorded at Fowler Welch, which added four trucks and four trailers, whilst MKM Building Supplies increased its fleet by six trucks and two trailers, and Farmfoods Distribution grew both its truck and trailer numbers by another 10 vehicles. Aldi Stores expanded its trailer fleet by 20, while FedEx Express UK Transportation also added 20 trailers.
Halcyon Tankers also saw an uplift, increasing its trucks by 16 to 153 and its trailers by 23 to a total of 190. Greencore Prepared Meals and Sunbelt Rentals posted smaller increases, with the former adding six trucks and 10 trailers and the latter boosting its fleet of 284 trailers by two.
Warrens Warehousing & Distribution reappeared in the rankings with 192 trucks and 220 trailers specified on its licence.
However, the data also shows a number of operators scaling back fleet numbers. GXO Logistics reduced its trailer fleet by 62 to 6,506, while Great Bear Distribution cut 22 trucks and 48 trailers.
Menzies Distribution Solutions reported a combined reduction of 20 trucks and 50 trailers, and Schenk UK trimmed 30 trucks and 44 trailers. Moran Logistics also reduced both trucks and trailers by 20 each.
Among other declines, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets cut 40 trucks and 55 trailers, while Reed Boardall reduced its fleet by 10 trucks and 20 trailers. Booker and Huws Gray posted smaller decreases in truck numbers, and Travis Perkins Trading reduced trailers by 20.
Royal Mail recorded one of the most significant changes overall, reducing its truck fleet by around 500 vehicles, although it partially offset this with an increase of 63 trailers.
Fleet Data is Motor Transport’s listing of the UK’s largest third party and own account HGV fleet operators.
Based on the weekly O-licence updates issued by the Office of the Traffic Commissioners, Fleet Data identifies operators in each of the eight traffic areas based on the number of vehicles on the licence and type of operator.
The data includes details of over 1,000 of the UK’s fleets with O-licences for 75 or more vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW. These fleets together have licences for over 300,000 trucks and 240,000 trailers – more than 540,000 commercial vehicles in total.
Fleet Data pulls together the data for larger operators with several subsidiaries to give an overall picture of the group fleet size, while still breaking the data down for each subsidiary.
