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QD runs 16 44-tanners 24/7, with three drivers to every
Page 18
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two vehicles, working shifts of six days on and three days off. The company has invested almost E2m in vehicles including another five, which are on order with the backing of Close Asset Finance, Axis Intermodal and sourcing its vehicles from Imperial Commercials.
"It is difficult to grow in a time of recession, but we have been so fortunate with lenders," says Simpson. For a company such as Close Asset to have backed us with £2m in 18 months is amazing."
Despite the credit crunch, he feels that risking capital is necessary. If you are scared of putting personal guarantees in place to secure finance or scared of hard work, then you shouldn't do this job," says Simpson. The company is fortunate to be able to use the land he and his wife own (OD shares with her equestrian centre) and they have put all available finance into vehicles and systems.
The operational data is kept on an off-shore server, which can be accessed from anywhere and, therefore, run by either director or the "200%-committed" planning officer Mervyn Henson. They also use Cybit's Fleetstar Truck 24, the first UK company to pilot it.
"It was designed in Germany, where operators want CANbus data more than tracking," says van Kerkhof. "They are expert at data analysis, and we are working towards an entirely paperless system."
He says exception reporting is essential, particularly since their drivers are rarely back at base. The trucks too are serviced remotely, by a fully equipped service vehicle