SUSTAINABLE FUEL SPECIALIST SERAS IS UNDERTAKING AN OVERHAUL OF ITS FLEET AS ITS SEEKS TO FUTURE‐ PROOF ITS TRUCKS AND TRAILERS AND BOOST ITS BOTTOM LINE BY BROADENING THE RANGE OF LOADS IT CARRIES. BULK & TIPPER REPORTS.
Biomass fuel supplier Seras has embarked on a large‐scale renewal of its fleet of 100‐plus trucks and 125 moving‐floor trailers, already reducing its CO2 emissions by a fantastic 20‐25% in the process. The fleet replacement programme started last year, says Joe Sweeney, fleet and engineering manager at the company. “So far, we have close to 50 new units and 12 new trailers,” he says. “Alongside this, we have refurbished 50 of our existing trailers. We are now initiating the replacement of the remaining 50% of the fleet.”
The trucks are predominantly 6×2 tag Scania R460 Supers and Volvo FH 500s. Joe says that the Swedish marques are favoured not just because they are some of the best trucks on the market, but because of the whole package, including aftersales. Seras works with a variety of suppliers, purchasing trucks from dealers local to its operating hubs. The company has five processing and storage sites around the UK, including its head office in Widnes.
IF YOU’RE STILL RUNNING A BULK HAULAGE CONCERN USING PAPER AND PENS, YOU HAVE MUCH TO GAIN BY GOING DIGITAL, AS BULK & TIPPER FINDS OUT FROM THE BRAINS BEHIND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE PROVIDER HAULTECH.
In an age dominated by smartphones, social media and the potential of AI, it’s surprising how many family‐owned haulage companies still run their businesses using pens, paper and shelves full of overflowing box files. “Dad often does things in the way that grandad did things, and keeps track of everything in an A4 diary,” says Clare Chidlow, a director of transport management software specialist HTC Solutions – better‐known in the road transport industry as HaulTech.
The son and daughter often responsible for the day‐to‐ day running of the typical family haulage firm realise that things have got to change, and that suitable software‐ based systems need to be introduced to aid profitability and ensure compliance. However, they also realise that with their sceptical parents still involved, any change has to be implemented step‐by‐step. “Letting go of paper tickets can be really hard, so you have to deliver change in chunks,” Clare observes.
With 92 pages of first-class niche transport content, what more could you wish for? Click the appropriate link below to purchase your annual subscription, or an individual copy.
HARDWICK HAULAGE PROVIDES A WEALTH OF SERVICES, FROM NICHE INDUSTRIAL VACUUMING TO BULK TIPPING, GARNERING A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OVER MORE THAN 25 YEARS. THE BUSINESS HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A TIDY FLEET OF TRUCKS TOO, AS BULK & TIPPER FINDS OUT.
Hardwick Haulage has come a long way in the past 26 years. Starting out with a single truck, it now comprises a fleet of 50 and provides a wide range of services – some particularly niche – to its customers.
The company was formed in 1999, although it can trace its roots further back. It started with Anthony – known as Tony, of course – Richardson. He worked as a driver for quarrying company Singleton Birch, and when the company decided to outsource its haulage operation, he bought a Volvo F12, affectionately known as the Green Goddess, to take on some of the work.
When Tony decided the time was right to retire, his son‐in‐ law Andy Hardwick bought the truck off him and started Hardwick Haulage. Andy didn’t come up the usual route for the owner of a haulage company, however, starting out as a car mechanic and progressing to managing a garage in Lincoln.
IAN W BENTLEY BULK TRANSPORT’S LATEST XG 530 6x2 TRACTOR IS AN ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE INSIDE AND OUT, ORDERED TO COMMEMORATE THE COMPANY’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT IT HAS HARDLY TURNED A WHEEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 2023. BULK & TIPPER FINDS OUT WHY.
Bentley’s loyalty to Dutch brand DAF is evident. “We know they’re not properly British, but they’re built in Britain at Leyland, not far from Sandbach where they used to build our Fodens, so it feels right to us,” says Robert Bentley, son of the company’s founder Ian.
“Our first DAF was a used 07‐plate Euro‐5 and to be honest, it wasn’t a good one,” Robert admits. “Then we bought a new XF 460 in 2012, and that performed well. In fact, we only moved it on a couple of years ago. It had clocked up some serious mileage and it’s still going strong – it’s in St. Lucia nowadays, helping to construct a new airport.”
With 92 pages of first-class niche transport content, what more could you wish for? Click the appropriate link below to purchase your annual subscription, or an individual copy.
THE FRIEND FAMILY IN KENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ROAD TRANSPORT FOR DECADES, MAINLY RUNNING BULK TIPPERS BUT ALSO PROVIDING TRACTION SERVICES FOR SHIPPING COMPANIES AND TRAILER OPERATORS USING THE FERRY PORTS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY. BULK & TIPPER FINDS OUT MORE.
The Friend family runs two independent enterprises – GK Friend Haulage and MJ Friend Haulage – out of a single base at Eyethorne, in East Kent. The operations were formed by successive generations with slightly different business models, but work closely together to give increased capacity and maximum operational efficiency.
The original GK Friend operation was started by Graham Friend (known as Charlie) around 1980 as an owner‐driver, with a well‐worn Volvo tractive unit, working locally with other hauliers. Previously, Charlie had worked with the firm’s transport manager and long‐time colleague Phil Wheeler at another operator, their working relationship now spanning over 30 years. “I bought a Volvo F86 tractor; it wasn’t the best, but it was available, and I could just about afford it,” Charlie tells us.
With 92 pages of first-class niche transport content, what more could you wish for? Click the appropriate link below to purchase your annual subscription, or an individual copy.
