MORE THAN £8 MILLION TO BE INVESTED INTO BIBBY DISTRIBUTION FLEET
6 July 2012
Bibby Distribution has announced that it will invest in excess of £8 million into its vehicle fleet this year. This will see the replacement of life-expired equipment and a transformation to the fresh new livery across all network trailers.
The investment forms part of the company’s move to enhance market visibility and ensure customers are getting the most suitable equipment to realise efficiencies in their operations.
Investment in 2012 will include more than 133 high-volume trailers, 12 teardrop trailers, 30 skeletal trailers, a combination of three standard and 36 intermodal tankers and three 15.65m extended length trailers. Whilst some equipment is already in place, it is anticipated that all will be running in the Bibby fleet by September.
“Every customer is different, and it is important to us, as part of our ‘continuous improvement’ ethos, that our fleet mirrors the diversity of activities we undertake on their behalf,” said John Finn, Fleet and Procurement Director for Bibby Distribution. “The equipment we use also represents our brand values out on the road; it should therefore epitomise the pride we take in delivering a first-class service.
“We are also reviewing our longer semi-trailer strategy and looking to implement them where it fits with the customer’s operational profile. For lighter products it can significantly reduce the number of loads by increasing the load capacity by four pallets,” added Finn.
All trailers in the Bibby fleet – totalling more than 1,500 – have also been fitted with trailer tracking and fleet management systems from Masternaught. The company claims that since this began to be rolled-out into the fleet during
March this year, significant improvements have been made in both fleet utilisation and trailer visibility.
“Bibby has never been a company to rest on its laurels; we have taken this opportunity to consult customers and look in detail at where we think improvements can be made. This has not been restricted to long-standing customers such as First Milk – which will have three new farm collection tankers and a new concept tractor and tank combination on the road in the next few weeks – but also to customers with whom we have won new business this year,” said Finn.
“It’s about innovation on behalf of customers and trying, wherever possible, to reduce empty running and increase load volumes. This is something we are currently working on with a major juice manufacturer as we move towards an intermodal option for transporting fresh juice.”
The company plans for further network trailers and milk tankers to be added to the fleet later in the year. It also hopes that by December the number of trailers on the road carrying the new ‘Logistics without Limits’ livery will exceed 600.
ends
Notes to editors:
As one of the top ten logistics providers in the UK, Bibby Distribution exists to enable other companies to drive value from their supply chain activities. The company specialises in providing contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, systems integration and added value services to a wide range of customers.
Bibby Distribution operates from 105 locations across the UK, employs 2,500 people and manages 2 million ft² of warehousing space.
The majority of Bibby Distribution’s business is based on long-term partnerships. Its diverse capability also means it can share best practice across the various industry sectors it operates in, from Automotive to FMCG.
The company is part of the £1bn-turnover Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, a 200 year old family owned business-to-business services specialist. It is involved in ship-owning and operation, shallow water accommodation, offshore oil and gas services, contract logistics, financial services, memorial parks, employment law, health & safety advisory services, specialist plant & equipment hire and retail.
www.bibbydist.co.uk
www.bibbygroup.co.uk
BIB/046/12
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