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Recession...
Page 16
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what recession.
B Taylor & Sons has been bucking the economic trend since its new warehouse opened. MD Alan Taylor and general manager Peter Bates reveal how.
Words: Kevin Swallow / Image. torn Cunningham
HAULAGE AND warehousing firm B Taylor & Sons. based in Mansfield. Nottinghamshire, says it is on course to post a 10% increase in turnover for the past financial year. Good news, but in the middle of a severe recession, it is a considerable achievement.
Alan Taylor, managing director, tells CM that the company, which has 62 trucks and 120 trailers on its domestic and international fleets, spread over six depots, has reversed the perceived notion that hauliers and operators are struggling financially in 2009.
However, he says. the path to growth has not been easy. He adds: "It's hard at the moment.We are under pressure for service, being cost effective, and running a well-maintained and modern fleet, including training drivers. "We have to work harder for less, but that's a decision you make when you're running your business to retain your customers and remain competitive."
While the company has yet to publish its accounts for the year ending March 2009, in the year ending 31 March 2008, it increased its revenue from £2.09m to £2.43m, while pre-tax profits rose from £308,546 to £431,438.
The stated growth in turnover for the financial year 2008/2009 is down to several reasons, reveals Peter Bates, general manager: "It's a mixture of new contracts that have been secured, plus extensive pallet operations, which is growing all the time, as well as expanding our European work."
Reducing empty running
B Taylor & Sons is a member of the pallet network Fortec, and also handles hazardous goods via the 40-member Hazchem Network.
Taylor reveals that the business has bought more Moffets [15 trucks and trailers with rear-mounted forklifts], roof-truss trailers, recycling, and high cubetrailers.
"We get approached by people to do all sorts of things," adds Bates. " If the contract was big enough, we'd do it."
As other firms in the sector focus on cost efficiencies and slashing overheads, Taylor says that the company has yet to make any redundancies. Taylor says: -Every day we have drivers knocking on the door for jobs. They're applying from further afield. It doesn't matter where a driver lives, it depends on what sort of work they want."
One key area that B Taylor & Sons works hard on is travelling with loads and reducing empty running.
"We have a team that makes sure the lorries are backloaded. We are always running with product on,"Taylor says. •