Jacobs launches Ontime parcels
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• Transport and shipping group Jacobs Holdings will launch a parcels and freight distribution subsidiary in January with a network of up to 120 franchisees around the country.
The subsidiary, Ontime Logistics, will be headed by Wayne Denton, formerly chief operating officer of Securicor Omega. The move follows Jacobs' 11.3m acquisition of freight forwarding company Horizon Holdings whose Bradford depot will become one of Ontime's three regional hubs. The other two will be at a threeacre site in Wellingborough and at Jacobs' Thames Europort site in Dartford.
Denton says 17rn was budgeted for the launch of Ontime, which already had 80 franchisees. "There are some same day operators, a mixture of smaller transport companies and some disenchanted franchisees from other firms," he adds. "Coming in now, the cost of information technology is tiny compared to 10 years ago."
Franchises cost 110,000, including IT, stationery and uniforms. Within a year Denton expects Ontime to be handling 12,000 consignments a night.