Track 29 seeks 21 agents
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• Track 29, British Rail's guaranteed overnight freight service, is set to add 21 hauliers to its network of 33 UK agents.
The service, which was launched last year (CM 2-8 Aug), is growing at 11% volume a week, says Track 29 managing director John Lidderdale.
He says that recent adverts seeking new agents for the service attracted hundreds of replies from hauliers.
Track 29 responded by sending out detailed questionnaires: 130 of these have been returned and it plans to appoint the new agents by March.
Track 29 says it is reducing the size of its territories because some agents cover such large areas: "Most agents are relieved when their area is carved into smaller pieces," says Lidderdale.
Not all the original agents have proved a success.
However, successful agent Archer Van and Truck Hire's consignments have grown from 20 to 1,000 a week and it expects 1,500 week by March, according to sales director George Archer. The Old Kent Road, London-based firm is agent for South-East London.
Archer runs liveried Track 29 vehicles and installed mobile phones at its own expense. "We run two box lorries and a Luton van on the service and the ground floor of our warehouse is dedicated to Track 29," says Archer, who runs the business with his brothers Stephen and William. He says he is winning customers from Parcelforce and Federal Express by "targeting firms in our area. The hardest part is persuading them to give us a trial period."
New customers in other Track 29 areas include English Sewing and HMSO publications.