MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
Express parcels carrier City Link has signed a three year framework agreement with Fraikin to replace its entire fleet of 222 double deck box trailers with a new double dropframe curtainside trailer specification.
This major trailer replacement programme will allow City Link to fine tune its hub and spoke operation using 236 purpose-built Don Burr trailers which will offer the best operational service, efficiency and performance. These factors are critical to City Link’s operation, with the company being the only carrier in the UK to offer a pre-7:30am next day delivery service to major UK cities.
Commenting on the new strategy, Phil Duckworth, Operations Director at City Link explains: "Switching to curtainsiders allows us to use larger cages which can be loaded and unloaded exclusively by forklift truck. In comparison with our existing box trailers this will cut loading times by around 70 per cent, whilst also delivering further health and safety improvements as staff will no longer have to manually roll the cages on and off the trailers by hand.
"Fraikin’s ability to help us make such a radical change to our fleet highlights the flexibility of our relationship, which began in 1997. Despite this being a complex exercise, we’ve been able to work quickly together to ensure the new fleet began entering service this autumn, with each of the new trailers being supplied on six year full service contract hire agreements," he adds.
The trailer delivery has been split into two phases, with delivery of an initial batch of 80 trailers due to be completed by the end of the year. A further 156 new trailers will be built and delivered into service by Fraikin during 2010.
The specialist nature of the new trailers requires regular servicing and maintenance, which will be managed by Fraikin as part of the new contract hire agreement. This will include the provision of tyres and comprehensive breakdown support, giving City Link a cost-effective solution that’s inline with its revised transport and security strategy.
Fraikin has also taken over the fleet management responsibility for 119 trailers previously maintained by another supplier.
All of the double deck box trailers being de-fleeted during 2009 and 2010 will be prepared for sale by Fraikin’s in-house used asset team, with trailers ranging in age from two to six years.
