F or one of Geoff Lewis Transport's many timed deliveries, a
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late delivery could land the company in a sticky situation. It collects jam jar lids from a manufacturer and delivers them to food producers ranging from the Nestles and RHMs of this world down to small honey farms. "You have to make sure you get to the farms on time if they are boiling the honey" explains transport directorJason Lewis.
Three quarters of the firm's work is timed deliveries, mainly for supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury. Founder of the operation, Geoff Lewis, says the 19-vehicle fleet offers a daily service through most of the UK with the addition of Scotland three times a week.
It makes full use of 5,100m2 of warehousing: storing and picking orders for customers, ranging from shampoo brands to household cloths: "We carry and order pick up to six weeks stock," says Geoff. Sponge maker Spontex accounts for one third of Lewis's revenue while OP Chocolates, which
bakes own-brand biscuits for supermarkets, turns in one fifth.
Supermarket delivery demands means that Lewis's warehouse is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It enables them to offer an unusual service to other hauliers: "If they can't meet their collection times for a full load, we will collect and store and they can pick up when it's convenient, such as 4ain the next morning," explains Jason. The whole fleet runs at 17 tonnes, which Geoff reckons is more suitable for multi-drop distribution: "And more economical on fuel." Three are artics, the rest are high-volume curtainsiders, with chassis' extended to carry 16 pallets.
"The days of just having a lorry and picking up are gone. Our vehicles do up to 10 drops a day. You have to have consolidation," he adds. Recruitment is not always easy, however. Some drivers dislike multi. dropping bemuse of the hanging around and the abnormal hours demanded by the retailers: "They might have to come in at 6pm to do a midnight drop to Tesco Stroud," explains Geoff.
A recent pay increase of 5% went son way to keep the drivers on their side wi gross pay, including night allowances, no reaching £400. The firm is rarely interest4 in backloads because its fast-movir business means the vehicles mu concentrate on their principle clients: "1 w take a backload if I get it," says Jason, "but lot of the time it's not worth it, it's just bi and pieces. You go to a freight depot in ea London, wait two hours and then you ha' to tip in Cardiff." Whatever tl circumstances, unless it's a regular custom he insists on the going rate: "If they want cheap run back to Cardiff, forget it. It's n worth the hanging about"