TNT Newsfast expands and upgrades vehicle fleet
13 March 2006 - 12:18 CET
TNT Newsfast, incorporating TNT Network Logistics, has just taken delivery of the last of the 327 new vehicles it ordered as it continues to invest in its expanding business."We keep winning new contracts for our shared-user business so we need to add new vehicles to the fleet," says David Bermingham, Managing Director. Recent contract wins include Charles Wells brewers, Oxford Stationery and Wrigleys and the work for TNT Mail continues to expand rapidly.
The last batch of these new vehicles, totalling 188, have been fitted with the Masternaut vehicle tracking system which will feature on all new vehicle purchases over the next few years. This development is especially important to the publishing business, where TNT Newsfast is the market leader.
"There is nothing more time-sensitive than newspapers. The publishers have only one chance to sell a daily newspaper," says Mr Bermingham. "We deliver from the printers to the wholesalers every night and, through Masternaut, we will ultimately geo-fence every route.
"This means the wholesalers can be automatically alerted when the vehicle is a set time away and can ensure their staff are ready to unload as soon as it arrives. This pre-alert is proving highly valuable in a system where the schedules for delivery are so tight."
The vehicles - 44 tonne tractor units from MAN, Mercedes and Scania, and 18 tonne rigids from MAN and DAF - have been delivered over the last six months. There are about 800 vehicles in total in the fleet.
TNT Newsfast operates a policy of replacing the majority of its vehicles every three years. "Many of the vehicles are double-shifted, delivering newspapers at night and magazines and fmcg products during the day," explains Mr Bermingham. "Also, with the newspapers, we are running at maximum weight."
TNT Newsfast was established in 1986 for the delivery of newspapers and then magazines, and through TNT Network Logistics, expanded its business into stationery, packaging and books. With the acquisition of Taylor Barnard in 2000, the growth of the fmcg business for both manufacturers and importers and for the major supermarkets, increased substantially.
We know that if we can continue to satisfy the tough demands of both the newspaper publishers and the supermarket chains, we can operate an efficient, time-sensitive supply chain for anyone," says Mr Bermingham.
