Drivers' jobs lost as Ontime depot closes
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A Scottish Borders haulage depot is to close with the loss of 20 jobs following a multimillion-pound takeover by a former competitor.
The closure of the Ontime Logistics depot at Langholm was announced after the overnight delivery specialist Fastrack Parcels acquired the company in a deal worth 14.8m.
The acquisition nearly doubles Fastrack's turnover to £50m, and expands its UK network to more than 70 depots.
The Langholm base will close because Fastrack has a depot in nearby Penrith, Cumbria. Fourteen of those being made redundant are drivers; the remainder are clerical and warehouse staff.
Wayne Denton, managing director of Wellingboroughbased Ontime Logistics, says: "It's a huge disappointment to us that Langholm had to close. They are the most dedicated group of people in the business.
But we're already in talks with other companies to find alternative positrons for as many people as we can," he adds. 'I'm hopeful they'll get other jobs. Ontime was looking to make a quantum leap in coverage for its client base and the Fastrack acquisition will supply this."
Fastrack Parcels currently has more than 50 depots. compared with the 26 operated by Ontime Logistics. with a 120vehicle fleet. Denton reports.
-We were busy getting a lot of franchises in place but we were trying to compete nationally with people who had much bigger franchise businesses than us," he concludes.
The Langholm depot was set up as John Young's site. It was taken over by Hudson Shepherd before being bought by Ontime Logistics in January 1999.