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Quick turnround for trucks at new ICD

2nd June 1972, Page 33
2nd June 1972
Page 33
Page 33, 2nd June 1972 — Quick turnround for trucks at new ICD
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• One of the biggest advantages claimed for the inland freight clearance centre just opened by Freightflow International at Lenham, Kent, (CM May 26) is that vehicles do not have to wait while their cargo is cleared. Trucks may be unloaded in the main transit shed, which is under customs surveillance, and the goods may be left for customs clearance — and subsequent distribution — while the vehicle is on its way with an outgoing load.

Since Freightflow is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lenham Storage Ltd, whose site it shares just off A20, 32 miles from Dover, 25 from Folkestone and 45 from London, it has the use of over 400,000 sq ft of covered storage, from which Lenham Storage runs daily local distribution and regular national trunking services.

The new clearance depot has a big marshalling area for trucks, which are called forward one by one to enter the main transit shed for unloading or clearance. If the goods are clearing on wheels, they do not leave the vehicle. There is a high-security lock-up for valuable consignments, set in one corner of the transit shed. This is separate from the 27,000 sq ft bonded store on the same 13-acre Lenham site.

Freightflow has built a row of well-equipped offices for freight agents, these being off the transit shed. Customs offices, permanently staffed, are at the same end of the main shed.

All duty-paid goods removed from the transit shed go to store or to under-cover dispatch areas; one of these is designed for van loading, the other for palletized freight going mainly by flat trailer.

Telescopic belt conveyors New telescopic belt conveyors are used for van loading, saving one man out of a previous team of three on this work. The conveyors are made by Newland Engineering Ltd, of Birch Lane, Dukinfleld, Cheshire, and can be progressively extended by up to 1Sft, the belt compensating automatically. By placing the main conveyor section progressively farther into, say, a 40ft conveyor and using the full extension, goods can be carried right to the loader working at the far end. In a 20ft container, the extension alone is sufficient to feed the loader where he stands.

The new ICD is especially well equipped to do break-bulk and groupage work.

As mentioned in CM last week, there are vehicle servicing and repair facilities on site, and new driver accommodation and catering buildings will soon be going up.

Prominent among early users of the new facility are the Skoda artics and drawbar units of the Czech state CSAD transport organization, and French transport representatives at last week's opening ceremony told CM they foresaw extensive use of the ICD by Continental operators, especially when the new motorway from the Channel ports is completed.

The address of the depot is Freightflow International Ltd, Ham Lane, Lenham, Kent (tel: 062 75 441, telex: 96452).

Tags

Organisations: CSAD
People: Birch Lane
Locations: London

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