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Used Mercs on the move
Page 70
Page 71
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When a demobbed Edwin Pearson started his own business after the First World War he became a coal merchant, relying on a horse and cart for his transport. Like many other coal merchants he soon diversified into the delivery of building supplies and furniture, with the latter eventually taking precedence.
Today Pearson International Move Managers is run by its third generation family, directors John Pearson and Brian Pearson director Frances Reed.The company employ 77 people including 30 drivers, 35 porters, an on-site mechanic and admin staff.
It's part of the UTS Group, set up by Pearson 10 years ago, which includes nine other removal companies in the UK,110 on the Continent and a further 170 worldwide. The company can deliver anywhere in the world.
Transcontinental shipments are delivered by air or sea but most of the work is into main land Europe using a Mercedes-Benz-based fleet.There are 23 trucks on the go, comprisin 10 tractive units, eight 18-tonne rigids (three kitted out as drawbar prime movers) and five 7.5-tonners: plus a Mercedes Sprinter van. Brian Pearson's vehicles are often away or 10 days away at a time,primarily in Spain. aermany and the Benelux countries. While domestic removals play a part the :ompany does a lot of work for military and :orporate clients.
He sources his 4x2 tractors from the rsed market—in )articular from Vlercedes-Benz ;ignature Used armmercials in 3arnsley. In the )ast five years re has bought 18 =aides there.
Brian's criteria are simple: he looks for two ir threeyear-old two-axle tractors with less han 250.000km on the clock that have been yell looked after inside and out and can be lownplated to 28 tonnes. Other factors are a .000-litre fuel capacity, a double-bunk cab tad a 350-400hp engine. M-B's recent Club 8-35 ad campaign was targeted at companies Ike Pearson. Brian believes buying new would be a waste of money as the firm's vehicles are not heavily used, averaging about 70,000km a year. "They can spend two days parked while the drivers unload, followed by a day's travel then two days' loading up again," he points out.
This is not work for the faint-hearted — it's nearly all handballing, and occasionally trucks will meet up to help the unloading process.The vehicles are double-manned and the ferry out of Teesside is the preferred route to northern Europe, giving the drivers time to unwind, as well as saving on vital driving hours. "We have fitted a pod on the top of the cab of several vehicles to make a three-berth truck for work that has extensive unloading," he adds.
The company has started to use specialist bodybuilders James of Stokesley in North Yorkshire to swap pantechnicon bodies onto replacement chassis-cabs."Expenditure on the body is high so we replace the chassis-cab when it gets old with new:' Brian explains."We'vr started using James of Stokesley. It's very cl If we need to check on something we can le into the car and drive down there."
Choosing the right jobs is important toc the directors will only take on work that h. reasonable margins. Brian is optimistic foi the forthcoming year: "The housing mark, is holding up, but it's getting more expensi to invest in the UK with the taxes and curr policies. It means more direct work for usi Europe," he says.
When Edwin Pearson ditched coal for removals in the 1930s there was a significa housing boom with people relocating acrc the country and new businesses spring up over the place.
Although 'country' has been replaced b 'Europe' Brian still follows Edwin Pearso buying policy for prime movers: the first III Edwin bought 87 years ago would have be second-hand too. • • Contact www.utspearson.co.uk