motor transport top 100 2012
TRANSCRIPT
In association with
Who is the biggest and
best of 2012?
9.7.12 9.7.122 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 3
Laura Hailstone reviews the movers and shakers in this year’s tables and what it took to get there
Performance does matter
Are you a key player?In association with
MAN Truck & Bus UK has always kept a sharp focus on the total cost of ownership for operators: all those things that can make a real difference to an operator’s bottom
line. And that means we have always understood the value of honest and efficient measurement of a fleet’s true performance, which is why we are delighted to be supporting the Motor Transport Top 100 again this year.
It’s also why we have invested so much time and expertise into developing what has become one of the finest driver and vehicle performance reporting systems on the market, MAN EcoStyle. With fuel accounting for about 40% of total oper-ating cost, with the truck just 10%, we all know that any truck will only ever deliver the economy and performance the driver allows.
You have to start with fuel-efficient trucks to begin with, of course, and MAN has a long record of consistent efficiency in that regard, but real-time management of how they are being driven and how they are performing is the real art to transport executive ‘sanity’.
Today, with the effects of the recession still
Data compiled by Laura Hailstone Editor Steve Hobson Production Clare GoldieAdvertisement production Jasmine Jahromi Editorial director Justin StantonSales director Vic BunbyManaging director Andy Salter
To email us: [email protected] office Road Transport Media Ltd, 2nd floor, NINE Sutton Court Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4SZ. Free copies MT is available free to specified licensed operators under the publisher’s terms of control. To apply visit: www.rbisubscribe.com/cc/mts or email: [email protected] Existing readers can update their address details and renew their free copy at www.rbisubscribe.com/renewfreeSubscriptions Tel 01444 475635, visit www.rbisubscribe.com/sub/mts or email: [email protected] Published by Road Transport Media Ltd, 5 The Courtyard, Timothy’s Bridge Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9NP. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper. ©2012 Road Transport Media Ltd. ISSN 0027-206 X
Motor Transport Top 100 supplement is free with the 9 July issue of Motor Transport
Contents4
12
67
8
10111415
Largest 100 companies (by turnover)
Sales per employee
Return on sales
Profit per employee
Notes
Top 100 data Features
Cost, credit and complianceMAN Truck & Bus UK chief executive Des Evans looks at the three big issues facing operators
Growth in turnover
Growth in profit
Profit is not a dirty wordFowler Welch MD Nick Hay says keeping customers happy helps it remain a regular in the MT Top 100
Steve HobsonEditor Motor Transport
Turnover up, profit down, but surviving
Top 100 averagesTurnover latest £162,467,912Turnover previous year £149,630,499Profit latest £1,432,650Profit previous year £4,779,970Employees latest 1,956Employees previous year 2,016Sales per employee £109,313Profit per employee £3,964Change in profit per employee -56.33Return on sales 0.86%
The first numbers that jump out of the Top 100 2012 are the rise in average turnover – up 8.5% to £162.4m and the even bigger decline in average profit – down 70% to just £1.4m. This means an industry that is essential to the UK economy is surviving – just – on margins of less than 1%. That is clearly not sustainable, as such a low level of profit makes it extremely difficult to
invest in fleets and other assets needed to merely stay in the game, never mind move the industry forward.
The increase in average turnover is probably more due to takeovers and mergers than significant organic growth among the leading players. Kuehne+ Nagel’s acquisitions added more than £100m in turnover, Yodel (still trading as Home Delivery Network in its last set of published accounts) virtually doubled in size with its acquisition of DHL’s Day Domestic arm, and Norbert Dentressangle’s spending spree helped to add £160m turnover.
The low levels of profit will come
as no surprise to many. Costs – especially fuel – keep on rising and, in a market that certainly feels like it is in recession even if the official numbers are showing weak economic growth, stiff competition means it is nigh on impossible to increase rates to keep pace with costs.
But it is not all doom and gloom. There are still plenty of good, well-run firms out there managing to turn a decent profit. And a key figure that better reflects financial health is return on capital employed (Roce). This is not included in the Top 100 because the move to off-balance sheet funding of assets such as vehicles and warehouses makes it hard to calculate for many
operators. But a spot of number crunching on the
accounts of CM Downton – the 2012 MT Haulier of the Year and undoubtedly a very successful firm – reveals that while it makes a much more respectable than average 7% pre-tax profit margin, its Roce is 15%. That is not just respectable in haulage – it stands comparison with some of the most successful companies in Britain, including Tesco and Easyjet (both 13%) and Barclays Bank (7% return on equity).
For the fourth consecutive year I have spent the best part of two weeks poring over the financial results of the biggest and smallest operators in road transport, and everyone in between. Compiling the Top 100 is a labour of love and it’s always satisfying if a smaller operator has expanded signifi-
cantly to make it into the rankings for the first time – so welcome to Bedfords, which has boosted turnover an impressive 77% from £12.4m to £22m; and Birds Groupage, which has reported turnover up 28% from £13.4m to £17.2m this year.
And while we know that running a successful transport operation today, and one that will last the distance, is not about boosting turnover but retaining and hopefully boosting profit, the Top 100 Largest 100 companies (by turnover) table (p4-5) provides a snapshot of who the key players
are and how they’re faring. Unsurprisingly, the big boys in the top 10 remain the same as last year. But there has been a slight re-jig of positions with Yodel (listed as Home Delivery Network) rising five places to take the 5th spot this year. This is largely due to Yodel’s accounts including the first full year of trading since it bought the domestic B2B and B2C businesses of DHL Express, in March 2010.
Next year’s top 10 however, will look very differ-ent as UPS’s deal buying TNT will be complete and, according to our calculations, will give UPS a UK turnover of approximately £1.3bn – placing it above Wincanton to become the second largest operator.
Eddie Stobart’s acquisition of Autologic (await-ing final shareholder approval) will see it overtake Norbert Dentressangle next year, with the deal boosting its turnover to about £583m.
DX Group will also rise up the ranks next year
once it amalgamates the revenue derived from its acquisition of Nightfreight this year.
The cut-off point for entry into the Top 100 this year has risen 2.5% to £16.3m of turnover, so there were several firms that just missed out: AKW Group with £16.1m; Potter Group with £14.8m; Foulger Transport with £13.8m and EM Roger with £13.7m.
As usual, the Top 100 has been compiled using the most recent set of accounts published at Companies House for each operator. Only third-party road transport operators are eligible for inclusion in the Top 100 – we do not include own-account operators or networks where turnover is mainly derived from hub fees. Where possible, we strip out any revenue derived from non-trans-port activities such as vehicle maintenance, manu-facturing or vehicle sales.
The notes on p15 explain the thinking behind some of the trickier entries.
biting, the management of total cost of ownership embraces so many aspects – from initial finance to final disposal, fuel efficiency to driver satisfac-tion and with every aspect of repair, maintenance and mechanical compliance in between.
For us, today’s operators should be able to simply put in the driver, the fuel and the load, and leave
the rest to us, allowing them to concentrate on their core business. It’s a partnership approach to which we are fully committed, and one that is proving increasingly successful.
Des EvansChief executive, MAN Truck & Bus UK
Laura HailstoneGroup content editor
9.7.12 9.7.124MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 5
Latest Previous Company or Financial Latest year Latest year Latest year Previous year Previous yearrank rank trading name year end turnover pre-tax profit employees turnover pre-tax profit (£000s) (£000s) (£000s) (£000s)
1 1 DHL Dec-10 3,590,495 67,542 54,000 3,391,365 -14,919
2 2 Wincanton Mar-12 1,202,800 -47,400 16,000 1,328,300 3,600
3 3 Kuehne + Nagel Dec-10 947,906 26,644 6,823 833,162 14,979
4 4 TNT UK Dec-10 758,436 8,075 10,114 740,567 307,726
5 10 Home Delivery Network Jun-11 725,064 -131,836 10,907 366,111 -20,473
6 5 UPS Dec-11 669,631 14,966 5,046 634,461 5,932
7 6 Norbert Dentressangle Group Dec-11 637,100 11,180 9,184 478,329 -523
8 7 Eddie Stobart Feb-12 519,479 27,442 4,862 475,279 34,233
9 9 UK Mail Group Mar-12 429,000 12,900 2,587 395,800 16,100
10 8 Ceva Logistics Dec-10 389,793 13,258 5,082 400,581 2,948
11 11 Gist Dec-10 379,317 24,494 3,938 340,432 23,855
12 12 City Link Dec-11 307,257 -78,349 4,893 335,171 -30,236
13 13 GeoPost UK Jan-11 282,203 35,040 4,197 255,530 34,452
14 14 Bibby Distribution Services (Holdings) Dec-11 247,646 3,888 2,597 230,217 7,045
15 19 Turners (Soham) Jan-11 225,646 21,600 2,168 195,113 22,224
16 16 Yusen Logistics (UK) Mar-12 213,513 2,355 1,469 183,926 -3,271
17 15 Hermes Parcelnet Feb-11 211,496 17,512 1,245 199,557 11,666
18 18 FedEx UK May-11 190,209 16,067 1,889 182,109 9,562
19 17 DSV Road Dec-11 185,443 9,702 873 186,726 7,823
20 New DX Group Jun-11 164,000 -16,600 1,641 164,900 -44,300
21 26 Culina Logistics Dec-10 157,336 7,226 2,161 121,431 1,323
22 20 WH Malcolm Jan-11 154,441 7,508 1,931 165,139 5,334
23 27 Fowler Welch Mar-12 152,400 3,900 1,350 144,200 2,800
24 23 NFT Distribution Operations Mar-11 140,899 1,421 1,685 127,732 -54
25 22 Hoyer Petrolog UK Dec-11 133,007 3,585 1,186 137,689 3,847
26 24 Harry Yearsley Apr-11 121,975 2,256 1,083 126,874 5,265
27 25 Nightfreight (GB) Nov-10 117,817 -2,157 1,996 121,807 1,293
28 28 Gefco UK Dec-10 114,508 -2,666 416 105,653 -11,086
29 21 Autologic Holdings Dec-11 114,500 3,300 1,094 110,600 3,500
30 29 Tuffnells Parcels Express Dec-11 109,329 8,703 1,880 102,476 8,588
31 35 Maritime Transport Dec-10 108,029 1,062 905 69,278 502
32 30 Gregory Distribution Sep-11 88,211 1,052 875 95,242 2,169
33 31 Great Bear Distribution Dec-10 87,140 8,525 1,124 78,722 7,004
34 37 CM Downton (Haulage Contractors) Jun-11 85,386 6,090 724 73,729 6,015
35 32 Clipper Logistics Group Apr-11 82,817 3,096 1,493 75,176 1,848
36 33 Hargreaves Services - Transport May-11 78,690 2,621 659 72,746 3,098
37 34 Canute Haulage Jul-11 76,670 2,521 1,009 71,397 2,127
38 36 Geodis UK Jan-11 69,473 -111 295 68,330 -103
39 39 Langdon Industries Dec-11 67,555 2,736 832 59,393 2,137
40 46 Goldstar Transport Jul-11 65,449 1,609 381 46,403 2,418
41 40 Europa European Express Dec-10 62,757 1,161 426 52,976 721
42 38 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) Dec-10 61,654 867 539 60,571 418
43 49 RT Keedwell (Holdings) Oct-11 57,300 840 510 44,427 1,108
44 48 Sutton and Son (St Helens) Apr-11 55,400 1,098 541 47,897 1,358
45 42 Pentalver Transport Dec-10 55,083 1,526 332 51,435 1,808
46 44 Lloyd Fraser Holdings Aug-11 53,609 662 646 50,322 1,094
47 43 Reed Boardall Group Mar-11 53,094 5,393 610 50,999 6,050
48 41 John G Russell (Transport) Mar-11 53,035 1,949 591 51,577 1,995
49 45 Howard Tenens Storage & Distribution Sep-11 51,217 2,408 415 46,520 1,788
50 51 Boughey Distribution May-11 44,732 577 592 42,628 1,306
Latest Previous Company or Financial Latest year Latest year Latest year Previous year Previous yearrank rank trading name year end turnover pre-tax profit employees turnover pre-tax profit (£000s) (£000s) (£000s) (£000s)
Largest 100 companies (by turnover)
In association with
51 53 C Butt Apr-11 44,077 13 533 38,663 0
52 50 Roadways Container Logistics Dec-11 43,031 319 428 49,395 -697
53 56 Maxi Haulage Sep-11 40,391 2,088 213 34,550 1,969
54 New Woodside Haulage (Holdings) Mar-11 38,810 705 339 34,817 648
55 55 Rhys Davies & Sons Aug-11 35,805 668 433 34,819 708
56 57 ARR Craib Transport Mar-11 35,746 873 292 33,811 655
57 58 Currie European Transport Dec-10 35,315 139 204 32,990 676
58 62 Elite Transport Services Jun-11 33,857 200 219 28,354 342
59 60 Owens (Road Services) Jun-11 32,800 -13 486 30,297 -163
60 61 London City Bond Sep-11 30,663 491 290 28,561 37
61 59 Knowles (Transport) Dec-10 30,573 3,542 121 30,346 2,912
62 67 Deben Transport Dec-11 30,193 541 220 24,669 329
63 73 Seafield Logistics Jun-11 29,804 124 258 23,876 241
64 66 Redhead Freight Mar-11 29,057 1,224 186 24,879 1,212
65 69 Lenham Storage Aug-11 28,252 591 396 24,007 562
66 63 Knights of Old May-11 27,751 1,363 277 25,765 1,196
67 68 SJ Bargh Apr-11 27,600 1,553 335 24,149 1,976
68 65 Circle Express Oct-11 27,155 -300 280 25,076 145
69 76 R Swain & Sons Dec-10 26,542 -144 341 22,613 42
70 79 Aspray Transport Dec-10 26,484 1,531 527 20,859 901
71 64 Grocontinental Oct-11 26,026 2,082 291 25,670 2,789
72 81 STVA UK Dec-10 25,773 836 56 20,474 484
73 71 Jack Richards & Son May-11 25,642 571 261 23,362 478
74 70 Pass J Holdings Jan-11 25,641 -155 205 23,405 -450
75 72 AM Widdowson Mar-12 24,560 101 338 23,322 11
76 77 Kammac Dec-10 24,478 -99 455 21,690 26
77 87 Bartrums Dec-10 24,385 1,082 252 19,901 1,283
78 75 Elddis Transport (Consett) Dec-11 24,362 400 304 22,769 530
79 91 Woodland Group Dec-10 24,105 503 131 18,012 398
80 85 Arcese UK Dec-11 23,716 210 140 21,125 209
81 90 Lomas Distribution Jan-11 23,526 848 185 18,154 454
82 82 NR Evans & Son Aug-11 22,317 570 290 20,088 266
83 78 Saints Transport Dec-10 22,148 1,115 317 20,894 1,143
84 New Bedfords Sep-10 22,015 988 148 12,422 -145
85 86 Abbey Logistics Group Jun-11 21,777 655 266 18,182 647
86 96 Acumen Logistics Group Dec-11 20,800 753 160 16,982 146
87 83 Richard Preston & Son Dec-10 20,675 -167 268 20,071 103
88 89 Fergusons Transport Sep-11 20,283 246 263 18,794 43
89 84 John Raymond Transport Sep-10 20,181 -315 231 19,761 12
90 80 Meachers Global Logistics May-11 20,126 582 4,398 20,808 897
91 88 Stan Robinson Group May-11 19,997 807 272 18,769 811
92 92 Archbold Logistics Dec-10 18,715 -120 211 17,602 -35
93 93 White & Co Jan-11 18,711 -344 412 17,557 -776
94 94 Laser Transport International Dec-11 18,405 546 131 17,390 238
95 99 Pollock (Scotrans) Aug-11 18,285 -103 190 16,135 5
96 97 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) Mar-11 17,941 141 189 16,840 221
97 New Advanced Processing Jun-11 17,489 508 444 15,788 340
98 New Birds Groupage Jan-11 17,272 -1,207 203 13,464 -1,064
99 95 JW Suckling Mar-11 17,195 561 191 17,052 404
100 74 Associated Cold Stores and Transport Jan-11 16,390 -1,077 210 23,069 743
9.7.12 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 79.7.126MotorTransport TOP 100 2012
Turnover Overall Company or Latest year Previous year Growth ingrowth rank trading name turnover turnover turnoverrank (£000s) (£000s) (%)
1 5 Home Delivery Network 725,064 366,111 98.04
2 84 Bedfords 22,015 12,422 77.23
3 31 Maritime Transport 108,029 69,278 55.94
4 40 Goldstar Transport 65,449 46,403 41.04
5 79 Woodland Group 24,105 18,012 33.83
6 7 Norbert Dentressangle Group 637,100 478,329 33.19
7 81 Lomas Distribution 23,526 18,154 29.59
8 21 Culina Logistics 157,336 121,431 29.57
9 43 RT Keedwell (Holdings) 57,300 44,427 28.98
10 98 Birds Groupage 17,272 13,464 28.28
11 70 Aspray Transport 26,484 20,859 26.97
12 72 STVA UK 25,773 20,474 25.88
13 63 Seafield Logistics 29,804 23,876 24.83
14 77 Bartrums 24,385 19,901 22.53
15 86 Acumen Logistics Group 20,800 16,982 22.48
16 62 Deben Transport 30,193 24,669 22.39
17 85 Abbey Logistics Group 21,777 18,182 19.77
18 58 Elite Transport Services 33,857 28,354 19.41
19 41 Europa European Express 62,757 52,976 18.46
20 65 Lenham Storage 28,252 24,007 17.68
21 69 R Swain & Sons 26,542 22,613 17.37
22 53 Maxi Haulage 40,391 34,550 16.91
23 64 Redhead Freight 29,057 24,879 16.79
24 16 Yusen Logistics (UK) 213,513 183,926 16.09
25 34 CM Downton (Haulage Contractors) 85,386 73,729 15.81
26 44 Sutton and Son (St Helens) 55,400 47,897 15.66
27 15 Turners (Soham) 225,646 195,113 15.65
28 67 SJ Bargh 27,600 24,149 14.29
29 51 C Butt 44,077 38,663 14.00
30 3 Kuehne + Nagel 947,906 833,162 13.77
31 39 Langdon Industries 67,555 59,393 13.74
32 95 Pollock (Scotrans) 18,285 16,135 13.33
33 76 Kammac 24,478 21,690 12.85
34 80 Arcese UK 23,716 21,125 12.27
35 54 Woodside Haulage (Holdings) 38,810 34,817 11.47
36 11 Gist 379,317 340,432 11.42
37 82 NR Evans & Son 22,317 20,088 11.10
38 97 Advanced Processing 17,489 15,788 10.77
39 33 Great Bear Distribution 87,140 78,722 10.69
40 13 GeoPost UK 282,203 255,530 10.44
41 24 NFT Distribution Operations 140,899 127,732 10.31
42 35 Clipper Logistics Group 82,817 75,176 10.16
43 49 Howard Tenens 51,217 46,520 10.10
44 73 Jack Richards & Son 25,642 23,362 9.76
45 74 Pass J Holdings 25,641 23,405 9.55
46 8 Eddie Stobart 519,479 475,279 9.30
47 9 UK Mail Group 429,000 395,800 8.39
48 28 Gefco UK 114,508 105,653 8.38
49 68 Circle Express 27,155 25,076 8.29
50 59 Owens (Road Services) 32,800 30,297 8.26
Latest Company or Latest year Previous year Growth inrank trading name pre-tax profit pre-tax profit profit (£000s) (£000s) (%)
£100m-plus turnover24 NFT Distribution Operations 1,421 -54 2731.48
7 Norbert Dentressangle Group 11,180 -523 2237.67
1 DHL 67,542 -14,919 552.72
21 Culina Logistics 7,226 1,323 446.18
10 Ceva Logistics 13,258 2,948 349.73
16 Yusen Logistics (UK) 2,355 -3,271 172
6 UPS 14,966 5,932 152.29
31 Maritime Transport 1,062 502 111.55
3 Kuehne + Nagel 26,644 14,979 77.88
28 Gefco UK -2,666 -11,086 75.95
18 FedEx UK 16,067 9,562 68.03
20 DX Group -16,600 -44,300 62.53
17 Hermes Parcelnet 17,512 11,666 50.11
22 WH Malcolm 7,508 5,334 40.76
23 Fowler Welch 3,900 2,800 39.29
19 DSV Road 9,702 7,823 24.02
11 Gist 24,494 23,855 2.68
13 GeoPost UK 35,040 34,452 1.71
30 Tuffnells Parcels Express 8,703 8,588 1.34
15 Turners (Soham) 21,600 22,224 -2.81
29 Autologic Holdings 3,300 3,500 -5.71
25 Hoyer Petrolog UK 3,585 3,847 -6.81
8 Eddie Stobart 27,442 34,233 -19.84
9 UK Mail Group 12,900 16,100 -19.88
14 Bibby Distribution Services 3,888 7,045 -44.81
26 Harry Yearsley 2,256 5,265 -57.15
4 TNT UK 8,075 307,726 -97.38
12 City Link -78,349 -30,236 -159.12
27 Nightfreight (GB) -2,157 1,293 -266.82
5 Home Delivery Network -131,836 -20,473 -543.95
2 Wincanton -47,400 3,600 -1416.67
£50m-£100m turnover42 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) 867 418 107.42
35 Clipper Logistics Group 3,096 1,848 67.53
41 Europa European Express 1,161 721 61.03
49 Howard Tenens 2,408 1,788 34.68
39 Langdon Industries 2,736 2,137 28.03
33 Great Bear Distribution 8,525 7,004 21.72
37 Canute Haulage 2,521 2,127 18.52
34 CM Downton (Haulage Contractors) 6,090 6,015 1.25
48 John G Russell (Transport) 1,949 1,995 -2.31
38 Geodis UK -111 -103 -7.77
47 Reed Boardall Group 5,393 6,050 -10.86
36 Hargreaves Services - Transport 2,621 3,098 -15.4
45 Pentalver Transport 1,526 1,808 -15.6
44 Sutton and Son (St Helens) 1,098 1,358 -19.15
43 RT Keedwell (Holdings) 840 1,108 -24.19
40 Goldstar Transport 1,609 2,418 -33.46
46 Lloyd Fraser Holdings 662 1,094 -39.49
32 Gregory Distribution 1,052 2,169 -51.5
Turnover Overall Company or Latest year Previous year Growth ingrowth rank trading name turnover turnover turnoverrank (£000s) (£000s) (%)
£30m-£50m-plus turnover60 London City Bond 491 37 1,227.03
52 Roadways Container Logistics 319 -697 145.77
59 Owens (Road Services) -13 -163 92.02
62 Deben Transport 541 329 64.44
56 ARR Craib Transport 873 655 33.28
61 Knowles (Transport) 3,542 2,912 21.63
54 Woodside Haulage (Holdings) 705 648 8.8
53 Maxi Haulage 2,088 1,969 6.04
55 Rhys Davies & Sons 668 708 -5.65
58 Elite Transport Services 200 342 -41.52
50 Boughey Distribution 577 1,306 -55.82
57 Currie European Transport 139 676 -79.44
£10m-£30m turnover84 Bedfords 988 -145 781.38
88 Fergusons Transport 246 43 472.09
86 Acumen Logistics Group 753 146 415.75
94 Laser Transport International 546 238 129.41
82 NR Evans & Son 570 266 114.29
81 Lomas Distribution 848 454 86.78
72 STVA UK 836 484 72.73
70 Aspray Transport 1,531 901 69.92
74 Pass J Holdings -155 -450 65.56
93 White & Co -344 -776 55.67
97 Advanced Processing 508 340 49.41
99 JW Suckling 561 404 38.86
79 Woodland Group 503 398 26.38
73 Jack Richards & Son 571 478 19.46
66 Knights of Old 1,363 1,196 13.96
65 Lenham Storage 591 562 5.16
85 Abbey Logistics Group 655 647 1.24
64 Redhead Freight 1,224 1,212 0.99
80 Arcese UK 210 209 0.48
91 Stan Robinson Group 807 811 -0.49
83 Saints Transport 1,115 1,143 -2.45
98 Birds Groupage -1,207 -1,064 -13.44
77 Bartrums 1,082 1,283 -15.67
67 SJ Bargh 1,553 1,976 -21.41
78 Elddis Transport (Consett) 400 530 -24.53
71 Grocontinental 2,082 2,789 -25.35
90 Meachers Global Logistics 582 897 -35.12
96 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) 141 221 -36.2
63 Seafield Logistics 124 241 -48.55
92 Archbold Logistics -120 -35 -242.86
100 Associated Cold Stores and Transport -1,077 743 -244.95
87 Richard Preston & Son -167 103 -262.14
68 Circle Express -300 145 -306.9
69 R Swain & Sons -144 42 -442.86
76 Kammac -99 26 -480.77
95 Pollock (Scotrans) -103 5 -2,160
89 John Raymond Transport -315 12 -2,725
Latest Company or Latest year Previous year Growth inrank trading name pre-tax profit pre-tax profit profit (£000s) (£000s) (%)
In association with
Growth in turnover Growth in profit
51 36 Hargreaves Services – Transport 78,690 72,746 8.17
52 88 Fergusons Transport 20,283 18,794 7.92
53 66 Knights of Old 27,751 25,765 7.71
54 14 Bibby Distribution Services 247,646 230,217 7.57
55 37 Canute Haulage 76,670 71,397 7.39
56 60 London City Bond 30,663 28,561 7.36
57 45 Pentalver Transport 55,083 51,435 7.09
58 57 Currie European Transport 35,315 32,990 7.05
59 78 Elddis Transport (Consett) 24,362 22,769 7.00
60 30 Tuffnells Parcels Express 109,329 102,476 6.69
61 93 White & Co 18,711 17,557 6.57
62 96 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) 17,941 16,840 6.54
63 91 Stan Robinson Group 19,997 18,769 6.54
64 46 Lloyd Fraser Holdings 53,609 50,322 6.53
65 92 Archbold Logistics 18,715 17,602 6.32
66 83 Saints Transport 22,148 20,894 6.00
67 17 Hermes Parcelnet 211,496 199,557 5.98
68 1 DHL 3,590,495 3,391,365 5.87
69 94 Laser Transport International 18,405 17,390 5.84
70 56 ARR Craib Transport 35,746 33,811 5.72
71 23 Fowler Welch 152,400 144,200 5.69
72 6 UPS 669,631 634,461 5.54
73 50 Boughey Distribution 44,732 42,628 4.94
74 18 FedEx UK 190,209 182,109 4.45
75 47 Reed Boardall Group 53,094 50,999 4.11
76 29 Autologic Holdings 114,500 110,600 3.53
77 87 Richard Preston & Son 20,675 20,071 3.01
78 48 John G Russell (Transport) 53,035 51,577 2.83
79 55 Rhys Davies & Sons 35,805 34,819 2.83
80 4 TNT UK 758,436 740,567 2.41
81 89 John Raymond Transport 20,181 19,761 2.13
82 42 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) 61,654 60,571 1.79
83 38 Geodis UK 69,473 68,330 1.67
84 71 Grocontinental 26,026 25,670 1.39
86 99 JW Suckling 17,195 17,052 0.84
87 61 Knowles (Transport) 30,573 30,346 0.75
88 20 DX Group 164,000 164,900 -0.55
89 19 DSV Road 185,443 186,726 -0.69
90 10 Ceva Logistics 389,793 400,581 -2.69
91 27 Nightfreight (GB) 117,817 121,807 -3.28
92 90 Meachers Global Logistics 20,126 20,808 -3.28
93 25 Hoyer Petrolog UK 133,007 137,689 -3.40
94 26 Harry Yearsley 121,975 126,874 -3.86
95 22 WH Malcolm 154,441 165,139 -6.48
96 32 Gregory Distribution 88,211 95,242 -7.38
97 12 City Link 307,257 335,171 -8.33
98 2 Wincanton 1,202,800 1,328,300 -9.45
99 52 Roadways Container Logistics 43,031 49,395 -12.88
100 100 Associated Cold Stores and Transport 16,390 23,069 -28.95
9.7.129.7.128MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 9
Profit is not a dirty word
In association with
We asked Nick Hay, MD of one of the brightest compa-nies in the FMCG logistics firmament, if he would like to be number one in the
Motor Transport Top 100. The answer was as quick as it was simple: “Only if we keep our customers happy and make an appropri-ate profit.”
The answer sums up the Fowler Welch approach perfectly; continually striving to satisfy customers and stakeholders. How he and his
team go about achieving these ideals is refresh-ingly simple, although it masks a mountain of careful thought and subtle strategy.
Size isn’t everything“If you look back at the past few years’ Top 100s,” says Hay, “you soon realise the bigger companies often achieve a lower return on sales: of the 28 that reported a turnover in excess of £100m last year, about a third lost money doing it. Yet in the next band down, the £50m-£100m group, only one company
27 last year. He uses the word ‘culture’ repeat-edly and it is clearly something in which he sees the very essence of Fowler Welch’s success. “I know it can sound trite, but we have a deeply ingrained cultural approach that delivers a constant focus on customers and what they want. And key to that is the commercial flex-ibility we have carefully built into the business. Our people live by our creed of ‘listening, responding, delivering’.”
Local knowledge For Hay, the secret to commercial sanity lies in understanding that one size most certainly does not fit all. He talks of different routes to delivering customers needs, and highlights Fowler Welch’s ability to split between direct loads and consolidation – the latter made pos-sible because of the national network of local Fowler Welch DCs. “Local knowledge is vital,” he explains, referring to knowledge about cus-tomers, geography, markets and the differing nuances of sectors and sub-sectors. “Become too big without safeguarding that knowledge, or become too centralised, and you lose it. More importantly, your customers lose it and, when that happens, you lose customers.”
So growth for Fowler Welch is what Hay describes as ‘organic’, growing from a blend of customer satisfaction and performance that deliver additional business and added services to meet customer needs. The company’s rapidly-emerging profile as an ambient prod-ucts logistics force has surprised everyone except Hay and his team.
“If you are going to expand, you can only really do it the organic way. I would never say never to acquisition, but when acquisition is your growth route, you can endanger everything that has made your business successful, and for us that is our culture.
“This business shouldn’t be about headline targets for growth, it’s too important: what drove our ambient business was the realisation that, in our chilled operations, we had levels of flexibility and expertise that appeared to be missing from the ambient sector. We had customers who were unhappy with this in their own operations, so we introduced our service. From the start, we offered the type of ‘day one for day two’ service they expected and relied on from us in chill.”
The result for Fowler Welch was growth, but growth in a controlled manner, with customers
who knew the operator and who were, in turn, understood by the operator. From the customer perspective, it was a win-win situation, with immediate benefits in terms of lower stock level requirements, faster and more reliable tracked deliveries and improved availability. “Part of our commercial rationale is to help customers innovate in their sectors and achieve competitive advantage,” reflects Hay. “And when we do that, we encourage the organic growth we prize so highly.”
Open approachAsked what else he felt had contributed to the steady growth of the business, Hay smiles and responds: “Communication and profit.” The communication element spreads over three important aspects of the business – customers, his teams and suppliers. For customers, he sees the need for communication to be constant and at all levels. “It’s another aspect of our flex-ibility in so far as each customer has their own views on who they want to communicate with in our business. Whatever they want, we have an open approach and are happy to accom-modate them.”
With his team, Hay needs each site to be a local flagship, but says it’s the “constant self-generated, inter-depot communication that ensures the national results”.
As to suppliers, Fowler Welch looks for a mirror image of how it treats its customers. A recent track day with tyre supplier Bandvulc is typical: five of its team and five from Fowler Welch experimented with tyre combinations and pressures. “It was a great day,” recalls Hay. “Both sides learned a lot about each other and what the best approaches were.” The company is also close to trailer manufacturers and was the first haulier to operate the new longer semi-trailer from SDC.
“With trucks,” says Hay, “it’s about total oper-ating cost, including support packages. We need our drivers to be happy, but we also need good fuel and AdBlue economy and, just as important, consistent quality service back-up. Today, if you are not using telematics packages such as MAN’s EcoStyle fleet performance reporting system, you are not really in the game – they’re an increasingly vital, real-time commu-nication tool between vehicle, driver and our operational teams.”
Investment from profitAnd profit? It was another reassuringly straight-forward answer. Hay is upfront that the only way to provide ever-improving services for customers is investment, and the only sustain-able way to do that is through profit. “Profit’s not a dirty word,” he tells us. “You’re going nowhere if you can’t invest, so our customers should be worried if we aren’t making an appro-priate profit. They want us around for the future and for services to develop, so they want us to be profitable. So we make profit and invest in our people, site and IT infrastructure.”
Summing up, Hay is happy to return to his earlier themes. “We live or die by flexibility and attention to customer needs and our local focus ensures a cohesive national service. It means our people are all over every detail; listening to customer requests, responding in practical and flexible ways and delivering great service.
“We’ll keep doing that and we’ll stay in the Top 100, slowly pushing our way closer to the top.” ■
Low profitability of the UK transport sector remains a major concern, but Fowler Welch MD Nick Hay says making a respectable profit is essential to delivering customer service
registered a loss. Those statistics are interest-ing, but it is what is behind them that we want to understand.
“To us it says there is, if not necessarily an ideal size of operation, then certainly a need to ensure we retain the things that made us successful over the past 10 years as we move forward. It’s all about how we hold on to those things and use them as a platform for growth.”
As you would expect, Hay has a clear vision of what these are and how they have helped put his business at 23 in the Top 100, up from
9.7.129.7.1210MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 11
Latest Company or Latest year Latest year Return rank trading name turnover pre-tax profit on sales (£000s) (£000s) (%)
£100m-plus turnover
13 GeoPost UK 282,203 35,040 12.42
15 Turners (Soham) 225,646 21,600 9.57
18 FedEx UK 190,209 16,067 8.45
17 Hermes Parcelnet 211,496 17,512 8.28
30 Tuffnells Parcels Express 109,329 8,703 7.96
11 Gist 379,317 24,494 6.46
8 Eddie Stobart 519,479 27,442 5.28
19 DSV Road 185,443 9,702 5.23
22 WH Malcolm 154,441 7,508 4.86
21 Culina Logistics 157,336 7,226 4.59
10 Ceva Logistics 389,793 13,258 3.4
9 UK Mail Group 429,000 12,900 3.01
29 Autologic Holdings 114,500 3,300 2.88
3 Kuehne + Nagel 947,906 26,644 2.81
25 Hoyer Petrolog UK 133,007 3,585 2.7
23 Fowler Welch 152,400 3,900 2.56
6 UPS 669,631 14,966 2.23
1 DHL 3,590,495 67,542 1.88
26 Harry Yearsley 121,975 2,256 1.85
7 Norbert Dentressangle Group 637,100 11,180 1.75
14 Bibby Distribution Services 247,646 3,888 1.57
16 Yusen Logistics (UK) 213,513 2,355 1.1
4 TNT UK 758,436 8,075 1.06
24 NFT Distribution Operations 140,899 1,421 1.01
31 Maritime Transport 108,029 1,062 0.98
27 Nightfreight (GB) 117,817 -2,157 -1.83
28 Gefco UK 114,508 -2,666 -2.33
2 Wincanton 1,202,800 -47,400 -3.94
20 DX Group 164,000 -16,600 -10.12
5 Home Delivery Network 725,064 -131,836 -18.18
12 City Link 307,257 -78,349 -25.5
£50m-£100m turnover47 Reed Boardall Group 53,094 5,393 10.16
33 Great Bear Distribution 87,140 8,525 9.78
34 CM Downton (Haulage Contractors) 85,386 6,090 7.13
49 Howard Tenens 51,217 2,408 4.7
39 Langdon Industries 67,555 2,736 4.05
35 Clipper Logistics Group 82,817 3,096 3.74
48 John G Russell (Transport) 53,035 1,949 3.67
36 Hargreaves Services - Transport 78,690 2,621 3.33
37 Canute Haulage 76,670 2,521 3.29
45 Pentalver Transport 55,083 1,526 2.77
40 Goldstar Transport 65,449 1,609 2.46
44 Sutton and Son (St Helens) 55,400 1,098 1.98
41 Europa European Express 62,757 1,161 1.85
43 RT Keedwell (Holdings) 57,300 840 1.47
42 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) 61,654 867 1.41
46 Lloyd Fraser Holdings 53,609 662 1.23
32 Gregory Distribution 88,211 1,052 1.19
38 Geodis UK 69,473 -111 -0.16
Latest Company or Latest year Latest year Latest year Change in rank trading name turnover employees sales per sales per (£000s) employee employee (£) (%)
£100m-plus turnover28 Gefco UK 114,508 416 275,260 19.58
19 DSV Road 185,443 873 212,420 11.03
17 Hermes Parcelnet 211,496 1,245 169,876 11.35
9 UK Mail Group 429,000 2,587 165,829 10.32
16 Yusen Logistics (UK) 213,513 1,469 145,346 14.66
3 Kuehne + Nagel 947,906 6,823 138,928 17.24
6 UPS 669,631 5,046 132,705 8.89
31 Maritime Transport 108,029 905 119,369 5.45
23 Fowler Welch 152,400 1,350 112,889 1.62
26 Harry Yearsley 121,975 1,083 112,627 6.08
25 Hoyer Petrolog UK 133,007 1,186 112,148 4.58
8 Eddie Stobart 519,479 4,862 106,845 22.68
29 Autologic Holdings 114,500 1,094 104,662 18.86
15 Turners (Soham) 225,646 2,168 104,080 -5
18 FedEx UK 190,209 1,889 100,693 -2.41
20 DX Group 164,000 1,641 99,939 4.79
11 Gist 379,317 3,938 96,322 5.08
14 Bibby Distribution Services 247,646 2,597 95,358 -0.42
24 NFT Distribution Operations 140,899 1,685 83,620 2.19
22 WH Malcolm 154,441 1,931 79,980 -3.96
10 Ceva Logistics 389,793 5,082 76,701 13.31
2 Wincanton 1,202,800 16,000 75,175 13.19
4 TNT UK 758,436 10,114 74,989 6.38
21 Culina Logistics 157,336 2,161 72,807 2.95
7 Norbert Dentressangle Group 637,100 9,184 69,371 8.65
13 GeoPost UK 282,203 4,197 67,239 10.62
1 DHL 3,590,495 54,000 66,491 17.64
5 Home Delivery Network 725,064 10,907 66,477 42.08
12 City Link 307,257 4,893 62,795 -2.71
27 Nightfreight (GB) 117,817 1,996 59,027 3.12
30 Tuffnells Parcels Express 109,329 1,880 58,154 3.57
£50m-£100m turnover38 Geodis UK 69,473 295 235,502 -1.08
40 Goldstar Transport 65,449 381 171,782 -11.15
45 Pentalver Transport 55,083 332 165,913 14.51
41 Europa European Express 62,757 426 147,317 9.56
49 Howard Tenens 51,217 415 123,414 22.57
36 Hargreaves Services - Transport 78,690 659 119,408 11.62
34 CM Downton 85,386 724 117,936 -1.47
42 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) 61,654 539 114,386 -3.12
43 RT Keedwell (Holdings) 57,300 510 112,353 2.93
44 Sutton and Son (St Helens) 55,400 541 102,403 14.6
32 Gregory Distribution 88,211 875 100,813 10.61
48 John G Russell (Transport) 53,035 591 89,738 7.18
47 Reed Boardall Group 53,094 610 87,039 5.3
46 Lloyd Fraser Holdings 53,609 646 82,986 4.06
39 Langdon Industries 67,555 832 81,196 3.76
33 Great Bear Distribution 87,140 1,124 77,527 4.59
37 Canute Haulage 76,670 1,009 75,986 5.15
35 Clipper Logistics Group 82,817 1,493 55,470 3.6
£30m-£50m turnover61 Knowles (Transport) 30,573 3,542 11.59
53 Maxi Haulage 40,391 2,088 5.17
56 ARR Craib Transport 35,746 873 2.44
55 Rhys Davies & Sons 35,805 668 1.87
54 Woodside Haulage (Holdings) 38,810 705 1.82
62 Deben Transport 30,193 541 1.79
60 London City Bond 30,663 491 1.6
50 Boughey Distribution 44,732 577 1.29
52 Roadways Container Logistics 43,031 319 0.74
58 Elite Transport Services 33,857 200 0.59
57 Currie European Transport 35,315 139 0.39
51 C Butt 44,077 13 0.03
59 Owens (Road Services) 32,800 -13 -0.04
£10m-£30m turnover
71 Grocontinental 26,026 2,082 8
70 Aspray Transport 26,484 1,531 5.78
67 SJ Bargh 27,600 1,553 5.63
83 Saints Transport 22,148 1,115 5.03
66 Knights of Old 27,751 1,363 4.91
84 Bedfords 22,015 988 4.49
77 Bartrums 24,385 1,082 4.44
64 Redhead Freight 29,057 1,224 4.21
91 Stan Robinson Group 19,997 807 4.04
86 Acumen Logistics Group 20,800 753 3.62
81 Lomas Distribution 23,526 848 3.6
99 JW Suckling 17,195 561 3.26
72 STVA UK 25,773 836 3.24
85 Abbey Logistics Group 21,777 655 3.01
94 Laser Transport International 18,405 546 2.97
97 Advanced Processing 17,489 508 2.9
90 Meachers Global Logistics 20,126 582 2.89
82 NR Evans & Son 22,317 570 2.55
73 Jack Richards & Son 25,642 571 2.23
79 Woodland Group 24,105 503 2.09
65 Lenham Storage 28,252 591 2.09
78 Elddis Transport (Consett) 24,362 400 1.64
88 Fergusons Transport 20,283 246 1.21
80 Arcese UK 23,716 210 0.89
96 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) 17,941 141 0.79
63 Seafield Logistics 29,804 124 0.42
76 Kammac 24,478 -99 -0.4
69 R Swain & Sons 26,542 -144 -0.54
95 Pollock (Scotrans) 18,285 -103 -0.56
74 Pass J Holdings 25,641 -155 -0.6
92 Archbold Logistics 18,715 -120 -0.64
87 Richard Preston & Son 20,675 -167 -0.81
68 Circle Express 27,155 -300 -1.1
89 John Raymond Transport 20,181 -315 -1.56
93 White & Co 18,711 -344 -1.84
100 Associated Cold Stores and Transport 16,390 -1,077 -6.57
98 Birds Groupage 17,272 -1,207 -6.99
Return on salesLatest Company or Latest year Latest year Return rank trading name turnover pre-tax profit on sales (£000s) (£000s) (%)
Latest Company or Latest year Latest year Latest year Change in rank trading name turnover employees sales per sales per (£000s) employee employee (£) (%)
Sales per employee
£30m-£50m turnover61 Knowles (Transport) 30,573 121 252,669 -1.75
53 Maxi Haulage 40,391 213 189,629 4.83
57 Currie European Transport 35,315 204 173,113 -15.52
58 Elite Transport Services 33,857 219 154,598 5.78
62 Deben Transport 30,193 220 137,241 10.15
56 ARR Craib Transport 35,746 292 122,418 2.1
54 Woodside Haulage (Holdings) 38,810 339 114,484 10.15
60 London City Bond 30,663 290 105,734 -0.79
52 Roadways Container Logistics 43,031 428 100,540 -2.91
51 C Butt 44,077 533 82,696 11.86
55 Rhys Davies & Sons 35,805 433 82,691 3.31
50 Boughey Distribution 44,732 592 75,561 2.28
59 Owens (Road Services) 32,800 486 67,490 11.83
£10m-£30m turnover72 STVA UK 25,773 56 460,232 37.12
79 Woodland Group 24,105 131 184,008 9.31
80 Arcese UK 23,716 140 169,400 -12.59
64 Redhead Freight 29,057 186 156,220 16.79
84 Bedfords 22,015 148 148,750 47.29
94 Laser Transport International 18,405 131 140,496 0.99
86 Acumen Logistics Group 20,800 160 130,000 17.89
81 Lomas Distribution 23,526 185 127,168 24.69
74 Pass J Holdings 25,641 205 125,078 12.23
63 Seafield Logistics 29,804 258 115,519 20.96
66 Knights of Old 27,751 277 100,184 -2.4
73 Jack Richards & Son 25,642 261 98,245 1.35
68 Circle Express 27,155 280 96,982 2.1
77 Bartrums 24,385 252 96,766 1.62
95 Pollock (Scotrans) 18,285 190 96,237 10.94
96 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) 17,941 189 94,926 -0.79
99 JW Suckling 17,195 191 90,026 6.65
71 Grocontinental 26,026 291 89,436 -1.4
92 Archbold Logistics 18,715 211 88,697 7.84
89 John Raymond Transport 20,181 231 87,364 3.89
98 Birds Groupage 17,272 203 85,084 16.28
67 SJ Bargh 27,600 335 82,388 4.4
85 Abbey Logistics Group 21,777 266 81,868 1.31
78 Elddis Transport (Consett) 24,362 304 80,138 3.83
100 Associated Cold Stores 16,390 210 78,048 -1.55
69 R Swain & Sons 26,542 341 77,836 13.93
87 Richard Preston & Son 20,675 268 77,146 5.32
88 Fergusons Transport 20,283 263 77,122 3
82 NR Evans & Son 22,317 290 76,955 6.12
91 Stan Robinson Group 19,997 272 73,518 3.41
65 Lenham Storage 28,252 396 71,343 14.41
83 Saints Transport 22,148 317 69,868 8.01
76 Kammac 24,478 455 53,798 24.26
70 Aspray Transport 26,484 527 50,254 6.25
93 White & Co 18,711 412 45,415 2.18
97 Advanced Processing 17,489 444 39,390 5.79
90 Meachers Global Logistics 20,126 4,398 4,576 -0.53
In association with
9.7.129.7.1212MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 13
The 3Cs: cost, credit, complianceIf there are three bigger issues facing the operating industry in its quest for profit, nobody has told MAN Truck & Bus UK chief executive Des Evans about them
In association with
Des Evans is concerned... the trans-port industry is facing some of the biggest challenges of its life. Hav-ing asked a cross-section of Motor Transport Top 100 operators what
the three major issues facing the industry are, the answers he got were unequivocal. Cost, particularly fuel; credit, or rather the lack of it; and compliance, and the ever-rising burden of ensuring it.
It prompted him to ask a blunt question: “Can the operating industry survive in its current form?”
Glancing at last year’s Top 100 shows an average 3% to 4% return on sales (RoS): even in these straightened economic times, that’s significantly lower than other core UK indus-tries. Set against that RoS figure, Evans points to estimates from highly-regarded sources of a 5% rise this year in general operating costs such as tyres, insurance, R&M, utilities, plus a 13% fuel cost increase – both perhaps a conservative estimate in these difficult times.
Based on these figures, operators face having to increase turnover to achieve a 3% margin simply to stand still, or find more economical ways to operate. In such tough economic times, either represent significant challenges. However, Evans argues that some progress is possible.
CostWith fuel the major factor in any operating cost table at circa 40% (the truck itself is less than 10%), Evans says this is where to begin. He is dismissive of the chances of government assist-ance and argues that selecting fuel-efficient trucks to begin with is vital. He points to the MAN TGX achieving 9.27mpg in a recent two-day Commercial Motor road test as a prime example. However, he says: “Drivers are the biggest influence on whether a truck, any truck, will achieve its operating potential.”
He continues: “Training and performance monitoring are key.” This belief has become his passion, with the UK arm of MAN pioneer-
ing MAN EcoStyle, the driver and vehicle performance monitoring system making its presence felt in increasing numbers of major fleets. Only recently, Maritime and Saints Transport have taken EcoStyle across their fleets, and both are looking at similar MAN systems for their trailers – almost 2,000 assets in total for these two operators alone.
Of course, you need to set standards before you begin to monitor performance, or you risk simply watching a poorly performing fleet continuing to cost you money. This is why Evans has made MAN ProfiDrive training part of every MAN truck deal that includes R&M. Drivers get a grounding in efficient driving and the day counts toward their Driver CPC. ‘Before and after’ figures from ProfiDrive show fuel improvements per driver of 15% to 20%. And it isn’t only fuel that improves: repair, maintenance and servicing bills also drop dramatically under the combined ProfiDrive/EcoStyle influence.
CreditBanks are everybody’s whipping boy these days, a position well-earned by their often unhelpful approach to the problems they largely created in the first place. Evans wonders just how much they have changed, though, asking: “What is the true state of bank lending?”
Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, accused banks of harsh treatment and failing to help British business with the funds needed to survive and expand. In February he noted bank lending fell in almost every quarter of the past three years, despite govern-ment instructions to the contrary. More recently, he said they need to face up to their failings.
Accusing banks of hypocrisy, he claims they preach to others about the need to live with market disciplines without doing so themselves. He cites the financial crisis, which immediately prompted bank bosses to ask for bailouts. “Market discipline can’t apply to everyone except banks,” he says, noting that given their behav-
iour in the run-up to recession, anger against banks is “real and understandable”.
As an antidote to the traditional banks and their failures, Evans points to rising manufac-turer funding across the market. MAN Financial Services backed approximately 60% of the company’s new sales and 40% of used sales last year. “We have rapidly become a bank that also makes trucks,” he says and, while an amus-ing view of modern life, it is increasingly close to the truth. MAN offers “highly competitive” options across the acquisition spectrum, with 6x2 26.440 TGX tractors available for £236 a week on a typical five-year lease – including three-year warranty and 24-hour-a-day back-up, seven days a week.
It isn’t just finance that Evans sees as a way of easing financial burdens on operators. MAN Rental has 1,000 trucks on 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month rental periods, for those not wanting to buy at the moment. It’s an operation aimed at giving operators an option while also produc-ing stocks of good-quality Euro-5 used trucks, rather than a competitive foray into the rental sector. As Evans points out: “We are keeping away from short-term rentals. These are the traditional preserve of the mainstream rental companies, most of which are among our key customers anyway.”
Once those used trucks become available, they go to MAN TopUsed, yet another route Evans sees as easing the burdens of capital outlay. This part of the MAN operation enjoys increasing interest as it sets new standards in used truck quality, also adding MAN finance and R&M packages normally available only on new vehicles.
ComplianceWith legislation bearing down on the industry ever more heavily, managing compliance costs operators increasing amounts of time and money, prompting Evans to ask another of his big questions: “Can the operating industry afford the costs of compliance?”
The simple truth, as he is quick to point out, is that operators cannot afford not to meet those costs. The alternative is unthinkable, involving not only massive fines but possible imprison-ment of directors.
MAN has invested millions of pounds in developing its MAN EcoStyle, which, alongside driver and vehicle monitoring, is part of a wider fleet management system that helps operators avoid accidental compliance infringements with a security-enabled, web-based facility that manages all vehicle paperwork and routine inspection timetabling. The Vosa-approved system cuts time and management activity in the operator’s office, improving accuracy and availability of all necessary paperwork. Alongside MAN’s UK network of e-workshops, it helps protect O-licences and deliver timely R&M.
All of this is underpinned with MAN’s stand-ard three-year UK warranty and a range of service contracts delivered through what is arguably one of the best service networks in the UK.
ConclusionSo, as to whether the UK transport industry can survive its three big challenges of cost, credit and compliance, Evans is hopeful it can. “I don’t want to appear to trivialise the problems by singling out just these three issues,” he says, “but, in truth, the industry has singled them out for itself. Costs, especially fuel, are unlikely to get any better, so we need the right trucks on the road, driven well and carefully monitored – and the industry can do that.
“As for credit, I don’t know what the banks will do, but I know our operators have attractive alter-natives for acquiring and running trucks. And, in the face of increasing legislation, MAN is cutting the costs of compliance – that’s a fact.
“These are the major issues facing the oper-ating industry, and it is only right that manu-facturers such as MAN and others, do every-thing they can to help operators rise to the challenges.” ■
9.7.129.7.1214MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 MotorTransport TOP 100 2012 15
Latest Company or Latest year Latest year Latest year Change in rank trading name pre-tax profit employees profit per profit per (£000s) employee employee (£) (%)
£100m-plus turnover
17 Hermes Parcelnet 17,512 1,245 14,066 57.71
19 DSV Road 9,702 873 11,113 38.65
15 Turners (Soham) 21,600 2,168 9,963 -20.16
18 FedEx UK 16,067 1,889 8,506 57.01
13 GeoPost UK 35,040 4,197 8,349 1.88
11 Gist 24,494 3,938 6,220 -3.16
8 Eddie Stobart 27,442 4,862 5,644 -10.03
9 UK Mail Group 12,900 2,587 4,986 -18.46
30 Tuffnells Parcels Express 8,703 1,880 4,629 -1.63
3 Kuehne + Nagel 26,644 6,823 3,905 83.30
22 WH Malcolm 7,508 1,931 3,888 44.54
21 Culina Logistics 7,226 2,161 3,344 333.99
25 Hoyer Petrolog UK 3,585 1,186 3,023 0.90
29 Autologic Holdings 3,300 1,094 3,016 8.23
6 UPS 14,966 5,046 2,966 160.30
23 Fowler Welch 3,900 1,350 2,889 33.93
10 Ceva Logistics 13,258 5,082 2,609 423.75
26 Harry Yearsley 2,256 1,083 2,083 -52.72
14 Bibby Distribution Services 3,888 2,597 1,497 -48.92
31 Maritime Transport 1,062 905 1,173 43.00
4 TNT UK 8,075 10,114 798 -97.28
£50-£100m turnover
47 Reed Boardall Group 5,393 610 8,841 -9.84
34 CM Downton (Haulage Contractors) 6,090 724 8,412 -13.85
33 Great Bear Distribution 8,525 1,124 7,585 15.01
49 Howard Tenens 2,408 415 5,802 49.92
Latest Company or Latest year Latest year Latest year Change in rank trading name pre-tax profit employees profit per profit per (£000s) employee employee (£) (%)
Profit per employee NOTES TO TAbLESThe rankings were finalised on Wednesday 27 June 2012. The data is compiled from audited financial accounts filed at Companies House during the 12 months since the last Top 100 was compiled (July 2011), unless otherwise stated below. Tables list the company as the official registered company name at Companies House, which is not always the same as the company’s trading name. We have compiled the tables using the turnover and pre-tax profit figures generated solely or primarily from the UK road transport activities of the business concerned, unless otherwise stated below. Where possible, we have tried to avoid including turnover from non-road and non-transport related business. Figures shown for employees are predominantly for those employed solely or principally in the UK. The following companies have provided MT with their figures due to their audited accounts not being available at Companies House until after the Top 100 deadline: Acumen Logistics, AM Widdowson, Bibby Distribution, Circle Express, Elddis Transport, Roadways Container Logistics and RT Keedwell.
In association with
45 Pentalver Transport 1,526 332 4,596 -9.76
40 Goldstar Transport 1,609 381 4,223 -58.08
36 Hargreaves Services - Transport 2,621 659 3,977 -12.71
48 John G Russell (Transport) 1,949 591 3,298 1.83
39 Langdon Industries 2,736 832 3,288 16.78
41 Europa European Express 1,161 426 2,725 48.91
37 Canute Haulage 2,521 1,009 2,499 16.08
35 Clipper Logistics Group 3,096 1,493 2,074 57.57
44 Sutton and Son (St Helens) 1,098 541 2,030 -19.88
43 RT Keedwell (Holdings) 840 510 1,647 -39.50
42 ECM (Vehicle Delivery Service) 867 539 1,609 97.47
32 Gregory Distribution 1,052 875 1,202 -42.09
46 Lloyd Fraser Holdings 662 646 1,025 -40.88
£30-£50m turnover
61 Knowles (Transport) 3,542 121 29,273 18.62
53 Maxi Haulage 2,088 213 9,803 -4.91
56 ARR Craib Transport 873 292 2,990 28.73
62 Deben Transport 541 220 2,459 47.99
54 Woodside Haulage (Holdings) 705 339 2,080 7.53
60 London City Bond 491 290 1,693 1,126.28
55 Rhys Davies & Sons 668 433 1,543 -5.20
50 Boughey Distribution 577 592 975 -56.92
58 Elite Transport Services 200 219 913 -48.21
57 Currie European Transport 139 204 681 -83.78
£10-£30m turnover
72 STVA UK 836 56 14,929 88.15
71 Grocontinental 2,082 291 7,155 -27.40
64 Redhead Freight 1,224 186 6,581 1.00
66 Knights of Old 1,363 277 4,921 3.28
86 Acumen Logistics Group 753 160 4,706 396.39
67 SJ Bargh 1,553 335 4,636 -28.21
81 Lomas Distribution 848 185 4,584 79.73
77 Bartrums 1,082 252 4,294 -30.05
94 Laser Transport International 546 131 4,168 118.91
79 Woodland Group 503 131 3,840 3.24
83 Saints Transport 1,115 317 3,517 -0.61
91 Stan Robinson Group 807 272 2,967 -3.42
99 JW Suckling 561 191 2,937 46.85
70 Aspray Transport 1,531 527 2,905 42.19
85 Abbey Logistics Group 655 266 2,462 -14.38
73 Jack Richards & Son 571 261 2,188 10.32
82 NR Evans & Son 570 290 1,966 104.73
80 Arcese UK 210 140 1,500 -21.77
65 Lenham Storage 591 396 1,492 2.21
78 Elddis Transport (Consett) 400 304 1,316 -26.75
97 Advanced Processing 508 444 1,144 42.66
88 Fergusons Transport 246 263 935 445.78
96 Wm Armstrong (Longtown) 141 189 746 -40.59
63 Seafield Logistics 124 258 481 -50.10
90 Meachers Global Logistics 582 4,398 132 -33.44
■ Abbey Logistics Group was previously listed as Abbey Road Tanks; it rebranded on 20 April 2011. Since filing accounts, Abbey acquired bulk powder transport company RH Stevens Tankers on 1 August 2011.■ Advanced Processing trades as Advanced Supply Chain.■ Arcese UK has published two sets of accounts since last year’s Top 100, so we have used the most recent: for the year ending 31 December 2011.■ Aspray Transport trades as Aspray24.■ Autologic Holdings has published two sets of accounts since last year’s Top 100, so we have used the most recent: for the year ending 31 December 2011. The results are for Autologic’s UK operations and do not include its mainland Europe results. The pre-tax profit listed is its operating profit for the UK as it does not provide a pre-tax profit figure for the UK. The staff numbers are for the UK and have been provided by the company. Last month Stobart Group made an offer for Autologic (see note for Eddie Stobart).■ AM Widdowson is included in the main Top 100 rankings but not in the accompanying tables due to its late inclusion.■ Bartrums results have been calculated by combining the turnover and pre-tax profit of Bartrums Haulage & Storage and Bartrums Road Services, as the Bartrum Group’s results include revenue derived from its CV maintenance business, Trumbar Truck Care.■ Bedfords’ huge spike in turnover and entry into the Top 100 for the first time is largely due to a contract expansion with Associated Newspapers in October 2008 for distribution of its colour supplements.■ Bibby Distribution’s results are the first set of fully consolidated accounts since its three acquisitions in 2010: Taygroup (April 2010); some assets of MRS Distribution (August 2010); and TM Logistics (October 2010).■ Canute Haulage Group’s results include the accounts from its vehicle repair and recovery businesses – Albert Road Recovery and Repair and Truck Crane Services (UK) – as there is no way of separating these accurately.■ C Butt made a pre-tax profit of £173 for the year ending April 2010. The tables round up to the nearest thousand, hence it appears as ‘0’.■ Cert Octavian (ranked 52nd in the Top 100 last year) sold its supply chain arm to Culina in April. It therefore no longer runs any form of distribution operation and has been removed from the Top 100 this year.■ Circle Express continues to trade through a company voluntary arrangement. Chairman and chief executive Chris Coffey has provided MT with the expected turnover and pre-tax loss for the year ending 31 October 2011. Actual accounts are due to be filed at Companies House by 31 July.■ CM Downton’s results include revenue derived from shares in the following joint ventures: Avon Distribution and D&T Logistics.■ Culina Logistics’ results represent the first full-year’s trade of its combined activities of the following: on 28 March 2009 Culina acquired Wincanton’s chilled business, renamed Culina Chilled. In return, Wincanton Holdings received a 20% share in Culina Logistics. On 1 January 2010, the trade, assets and liabilities of Culina
Chilled were rolled up into Culina Logistics Limited.■ DHL does not publish results for its UK operation as a whole, so the DHL figures have been calculated by combining the turnover and pre-tax profit from the following DHL companies registered in the UK: DHL Express (UK); DHL Global Mail (UK); Exel Europe; and Tradeteam. The staff figure for DHL was provided by the company.■ DX Group acquired Nightfreight in March. It tells MT that both companies are “maintaining unique identities and will be filing separate accounts this year” so Night- freight has retained a place in the rankings this year.■ Eddie Stobart is the transport and distribution arm of Stobart Group. Last month, Stobart Group made an offer of £12.4m, or 20p per share, for Autologic. The board of Autologic has recommended that shareholders accept the cash offer. The staff figure for Eddie Stobart was provided by the company.■ Fergusons Transport has published two sets of accounts since last year’s Top 100, so we have used the most recent: for the year ending 30 September 2011.■ Fowler Welch’s figures are the preliminary results included in its parent DART Group’s prelims.■ Hargreaves Services results are for its transport division and do not include results from its production, energy and commodities, and industrial services business arms. The staff figure was provided by the company.■ Harry Yearsley is the registered name for the Yearsley Group. Its results include its wholesale frozen foods business, which accounts for £56.1m of its 2011 turnover. The cold storage and distribution business reported turnover of £65.8m for the period (2010: £73.9m). It does not provide a comparative pre-tax profit figure for its cold storage and distribution business, hence we have included the full group results.■ Home Delivery Network (HDN), which trades as Yodel, changed its reporting period from April to June, so this set of accounts is for a 61-week period. It is the first full-year’s results to include the consolidation of the former domestic B2B and B2C businesses of DHL Express, which HDN acquired on 1 March 2010 via its subsidiary firm Parcelpoint.■ Hoyer Petrolog UK (formerly Hoyer UK) has published two sets of accounts since last year’s Top 100, so we have used the most recent: for the year ending 31 December 2011.■ John G Russell’s results include its chest freezer manufacturing business, which accounts for £11.6m of its 2011 turnover. The transport and warehousing business reported turnover of £41.3m for the period (2010: £39.7m). It does not provide a comparative pre-tax profit figure for its transport business so we have had to include the full group results.■ Kammac’s results are for its packaging, warehousing and distribution division. It does not include turnover from its property management, keg manufacturing, or environmental ventures businesses. ■ Knights of Old acquired Mainland Group in December 2011 and said it would spend 2012 integrating the firm into its operations. For the year to 31 January 2011, Mainland Group reported turnover of £6.6m and pre-tax profit of £667,959. Sister firm Mainland Express was
included in the deal and reported turnover of £7.6m and pre-tax profit of £717,356. The merger will be reflected in Knights’ next set of results.■ Langdon Group’s results are the accounts registered at Companies House under Langdon Industries. The firm prefers not to use its registered name as it can cause confusion as to the nature of the business.■ Lenham Storage results have been calculated by adding the turnover and pre-tax profit figures from Lenham Storage (Southern) and Lenham Storage Company as there are no group results for the two limited companies. It does not include figures from its vehicle maintenance business, Lenham Garages.■ Maritime Transport’s results are the first to include the combined turnover since its acquisition of DHL Container Logistics (UK) at the end of 2009.■ Nightfreight: see DX Group.■ Norbert Dentressangle does not publish results for its UK operation as a whole, so the figures have been calculated by combining the turnover and pre-tax profit from the following Nobert companies registered in the UK: Norbert Dentressangle Logistics; Norbert Dentressangle Tankers; Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services; and Norbert Dentressangle UK.■ Pass J Holdings is the registered company name for the Online Group, which includes Online Roadways and Mike Beer Transport.■ R Swain & Sons’ results include non-road transport operations such as stevedoring and forwarding and shipping. It does not separate any of these activities.■ Reed Boardall Group’s results includes turnover derived from Boroughbridge Motors, its motor vehicle servicing business, as there is no way of separating this.■ Richard Preston & Son trades as Prestons of Potto.■ TNT: see UPS.■ UPS announced in March its intention to buy TNT Express. It has now made public its formal offer of €5.2bn for the Dutch rival, with the offer period due to end on 31 August. According to our calculations, the combined business will generate a UK turnover of approximately £1.3bn – placing it above Wincanton to become the second largest logistics operator by turnover in the UK. UPS has published two sets of accounts since last year’s Top 100, so we have used the most recent: for the year ending 31 December 2011.■ Wincanton has stripped out the results from its discontinued mainland Europe operations in its preliminary accounts to March 2012 and restated the previous year’s figures to make them comparative. In 2011 it disposed of all its operations on the Continent. Its results included in the Top 100 are therefore just for its UK operations. Wincanton provided MT with its UK staff numbers.■ Wm Armstrong (Longtown’s) results include turnover from its garage and maintenance businesses – Armstrong Trucks and Cumbria Truck Centre, as there is no way of seperating these.■ Woodland Group’s results have been compiled by combining the results of Woodland Logistics with the road element from Woodland Global’s results, at the company’s suggestion.■ Yusen (UK’s) results include air and sea operations as it bought Yusen Air and Sea Services (UK) on 17 April 2011.