The Ipswich-based logistics operation, Hemisphere Freight Services, has acquired 10 new Lawrence David pillarless curtainside trailers through Dawsongroup truck and trailer as it refreshes and grows its fleet to meet demand. A further four trailers are expected to be ordered later this year.
The company has grown to become an all-encompassing global logistics provider and is now one of the largest independent UK providers of logistics solutions across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australasia.
Paul Milligan, Hemisphere’s Transport Manager said: “We were already very busy through our Ipswich warehouse and transport operations, and this latest contract win brought enough work on its own to virtually double that. So, the acquisition of another 60,000 sq ft dockside warehouse at Felixstowe, increasingly one of the UK’s most important ports, was a natural progression for us.
“It’s a significant addition to our existing 22,000 sq ft packing and warehouse facility at ABP Ipswich, and the 110,000 sq ft of warehousing space at our Ipswich HQ. It allows us the space to handle all current work comfortably and be ready for more.”
The development did generate a need to boost the Hemisphere fleet, however, and Paul Milligan says the package from Dawsongroup has been ‘ideal’.
“The LD trailers are far more stable and sturdy; streets ahead of what we had before, though they were supposedly a premium brand,” he says, “and now Dawsongroup takes care of tyres, MOTs and all servicing and repairs. We pride ourselves on being on top of service timings, but they almost push us with their scheduling. We hadn’t done much with them before, though we did take a flatbed trailer on fixed-term rental, and that was a good bit of kit. It might have only been one trailer, but they looked after it and us very well, coming to our yard if and whenever we needed them, so it’s a really nice fit now between us.”
The new trailers join the Hemisphere fleet on five-year contract hire arrangements, to which Paul is already considering adding a further four LD curtainsiders as work volumes continue to grow for the successful East Anglian operator.
He notes, “The great thing about Dawson’s contract hire package is that we get brand-new kit, fully liveried, backed up by nationwide service – and we don’t have to lash out mountains of investment capital to do all that, unlike if we were buying outright. And though it’s a five-year deal, Dawsongroup will allow us to refresh and add to them as we need, with minimum fuss and bother. It’s a system that effectively takes the worry out of this side of our fleet management and, while we are getting busier and busier, that’s a real bonus!”