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192 
OTAL VEHICLE ACCOUNTABILITY
Page 61
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There is a lot going on at Strawberry Hill Farm, but Z10 director Ryan Ennis says that congestion is not a problem. His four-strong fleet tends to be out on the road, earning ts keep.
Ennis and fellow director Mark Bucholtz worked for another caravan retailer before founding Z10 in 2001, and 75% of their work is taken up with transporting caravans from Hull. In the bid to win profits, clever planning is absolutely essential.
All the vehicles are double-manned and atypical week fora Z10 LGV would be:
• Coliect a caravan from Tenby on Sunday evening or early Monday morning
• Leave Wales and drop the caravan in the East Sussex/Essex/Kent area • Run empty to Hull and pick up a caravan for delivery to Cornwall; from there, pick up another caravan • Drop the caravan in North Wales • Travel back to Hull and take on a fresh caravan; from there, head to Chichester, drop the caravan, then pick up another from Bognor Regis • Take the caravan up to Skegness and drop it; pick up another from nearby Hull, and deliver it to Norfolk • Return to Hull with an empty truck, collect another caravan and take it to Tenby General manager Kiata Thomas's main job is to organise these complex schedules -and with four LGVs in the fleet, its no easy task. Ennis says 75% of movements are conducted for other customers, with the rest taken up shifting Z1 0's own stock.
The loads are light, but nearly all of them fall into the 'abnormal loads' category, which means Thomas has to notify a number of police forces before the trucks hit the road. Z10 has a brace of abnormal load escort vans, but also uses the services of third-party escort providers.
"If we've got return loads we can have a very profitable week," says Ennis. Z10 will be sticking with its current fleet, although if a large contract comes the company's way, it is prepared to expand.
There are seasonal peaks and troughs in this business. "Spring is a very busy time," says Ennis. "It gets very busy come July, but then it starts to pick up again in September, when new models are launched."
Ennis and Bucholtz insist on buying new LGVs. The double-manned trucks cover many miles each week and vehicle breakdowns would seriously disrupt the intricately planned schedules.