Attracting new business from both airfreight and non-airfreight sectors. THE MANCHESTER DEPOT of CIRCLE EXPRESS, the preferred provider of road transport services to many international airfreight operators, is the second largest to Heathrow in the company's eight depot network.
Its daily operations cover a wide geographical area, ranging from the Scottish border in the north to south of Birmingham in the midlands, and from Aberystwyth in Wales to Skegness on the east coast.
It is also a designated depot within the Pallet Track nationwide network, which means it can offer customers guaranteed next-day delivery of palletised consignments not covered by airfreight regulations anywhere in the UK.
There is also a Same Day branded service which uses a fleet of ten diverse vehicles daily. It was piloted by Manchester, and is the company's biggest same-day operation. Ninety per cent-plus of the depot's operations relate to the collection and delivery of airfreight – involving both Manchester and Heathrow airports, but this ratio is gradually changing with the targeting of non-airfreight business at Manchester and Leeds/Bradford depots. Manchester numbers among its longstanding customers such well known companies as CEVA, DSV and UTI.
A new Customer-Liaison Unit, headed up by Andy Sadler, was recently introduced at Manchester, manned by specially qualified staff, to track and monitor customers' movements so that any problems which prevent their safe and prompt delivery can be ironed out swiftly and effectively..
Says Mike Banks, Circle's long-serving northern regional director, who has overseen the rapid growth and successful development of the Manchester depot: “The company celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year with a visit by The Princess Royal to our Heathrow head office. Over these past twenty five years, we have established a well-earned reputation for good, reliable service, and much of the new business we attract comes from referrals or recommendations by existing satisfied customers.”
Among several recent new customers who testify to this is Fred Olsen Agencies, the well-known ship-owner and liner agents. In recent years, they have developed additional services which include transport, logistics and forwarding solutions.
Says Maurice Van Hecke: “We knew of Circle Express by repute and invited them to come in and present some proposals, and were very impressed by what they had to tell us. As a result, we started using Circle for our road transport deliveries and collections, and have been very satisfied with the standard of service received”
Similarly, Vivalis, the Cosmetics and Toiletries manufacturer now uses Circle's Pallet Track facility for daily collections and deliveries UK wide. Says Andy Pealing: “We first started using Circle on a trial basis, following a recommendation, and found them to be very reliable, so this led us to place more ongoing business with them, and we are now very pleased with their services.”
Manchester depot manager, Brian Robinson, is one of Circle's longest serving employees, having started as a driver, and, since 2003, has been running the depot.
For further details, contact Brian Robinson on 0161-902-2020 or email: brian.robinson@circleexpress.co.uk