Hastings Freight, part of Palletways, Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network, have made significant investment in updating their forklift fleet.
Hastings Freight, based in Barlborough, South Yorkshire, has taken delivery of five Yale VX LPG Counterbalance trucks, supplied by Forkway, one of the UK’s leading materials handling specialists. All feature techtronic transmission and an auto deceleration system (ADS) which automatically slows the truck when the throttle pedal is released. This action minimises brake usage, operator fatigue and reduces associated brake costs. The VX model also boasts improved tyre and fuel costs through controlled direction changes and most importantly, an anti-rollback feature, which was crucial for Hastings as the trucks will be used on an incline between two marshalling areas.
Alan Hastings, Managing Director at Hastings Freight, said the company is growing at a rate of around 22% per year and the new forklifts will help the firm cope with increasing demand from their domestic and European freight customers. He comments:
“We process some 1,400 pallets every day on behalf of our customers and have ambitious plans to increase this figure over the next few years. The fork lift investment is one of a number we have made over the past 12 months. We have built a new truck park, extended our warehouse to 40,000 sq ft, we are increasing the size of our offices and also need to recruit 11 new members of staff. This new fleet from Forkway will help us improve on what is an already efficient operation and we will continue to invest in our premises, plant and machinery for the benefit of our customers.”
Service support was also a key factor in the decision making process. Consumer spending has changed dramatically over the last few years with next day deliveries now becoming the norm, so any unplanned downtime could have a major impact on the distribution of the goods. Regular meetings with the Forkway Service Support Team, and assigned Service Technicians who have gained invaluable knowledge of the site and operational requirements, ensure the smooth running of the Hastings Freight operation. Damian Hardy, Area Sales Manager at Forkway, added:
“We’ve worked with Hastings Freight for more than a decade. Our long-standing relationship with the operational team at Hastings Freight means we have been able to get under the skin of the palletised freight network business to fully understand the nature of the work and match them with a truck that’s going to meet their high intensity, demanding operation.”
