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25th August 1994, Page 34
25th August 1994
Page 34
Page 35
Page 34, 25th August 1994 — MINTHORPE TRANSPORT
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KENDAL, SOUTH CUMBRIA SPECIALTY: International work

en Milnthorpe Transport parks up its vehicles at continental truckstops on its weekly runs to Germany and Austria, foreign drivers gather round in amazement, registering their curiosity in loud murmurings.

They cannot believe what they are seeing, the Dutch drivers really like them," says Milnthorpe boss Alistair Johnstone, a softly spoken Scot who first came to the lakes to serve his apprenticeship as a truck mechanic and has somehow never returned north of the border.

What is so unusual about Milnthorpe's vehicles that attracts such surprise ? For a start they are ERFs, a rare sight on international work. "Dutch drivers have

never heard of them." And they are specially commissioned low-height 6x2 midlift units running at 960-970mm (about 39 inches) fifth wheel height: "I contacted ERF's managing director, John Bryant, and told him we were a 100% British user but were being forced to go elsewhere to get low height units to maximise volume—he came back to me in a week."

The tractors pull three-axle York 34-pallet Euro trailers fitted with Joloda shuffling floors ideal for unloading the rolls of newsprint which Milnthorpe delivers to Germany. The work came about two years ago when Milnthorpe was doing regular runs for a print company in Kent, loading newsprint to Middlesbrough. A customer in Germany had a requirement for newsprint and Milnthorpe's Joloda fitted trailers were ideal for the work. "We won the work in competition with Ferrymasters," says Johnstone.

This introduction quickly mushroomed to include other loads to the extent that international work now accounts for 70% of Milnthorpe's £1.7m business. The firm runs seven loads a week to Germany and three to Austria, including three trailers of industrial equipment for Hay Pollock, a customer with the twin virtues of providing regular work and paying on time.

An early problem was backloads but this has been resolved through a partnership with GB Spedition which supplies loads of textiles and car components from Germany.

As a result Milnthorpe bought nine new vehicles last year, all ERFs. "I believe hauliers should buy British," says Johnstone "We've just seen the industry fall away. Our ERFs run to Austria and do nine miles to the gallon. No one can say to me that's not good. We've something that can compete with the best on the Continent and we've proved it."

Early fears that ERF's patchy European service network would prove a problem have so far been unfounded. And for Milnthorpe's survival the continental work couldn't have come at a better time. Tissue manufacturer Scott at Barrow-inFurness is reviewing its distribution methods and is considering replacing small hauliers with a single large logistics company. Current distributors, such as Milnthorpe, have been given 90 days notice. "We have been doing bulk distribution to Tesco regional distribution centres—about five loads a day," says Johnstone, who reckons the loss of Scott's business could sink some small operators

At one time Milnthorpe also had a truck dealership under its wing. In the early eighties Johnstone set up Lakeland Commercials, which sold ERFs. This later became Trucks (Kendal) when the company became a main distributor for Bedford as well. Johnstone is not sorry to see the back of the enterprise— apart from the fact that not all hauliers are happy buying trucks from other hauliers, there was simple mathemathics: "It was completely unprofitable." He sold up and has stuck to road haulage ever since.

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