RAJA UK is a well-established Group, with companies meeting the needs of businesses for cardboard boxes and packaging, as well as warehouse equipment, office supplies and health and safety solutions. Operating in 19 European countries, the Group comprises 26 companies, has 4,500 employees, sells 250,000 products, and distributes to two million customers.
Nigel Smyth joined RAJA UK as Transport Manager in late 2020 and began a new approach to the company’s distribution activities. The strategy was to maximize flexibility and put in place a robust and reliable solution by internalising part of its freight distribution.
This involved building up its own distribution fleet of 7.5-tonne and 12-tonne curtainside rigids, a process that started with nine vehicles in 2021 and is expected to increase in number during 2022.
Over the course of 2021, and despite it being the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we provided seven new-build 12-tonne DAF LF curtainsiders and, to help RAJA UK through the well-documented new vehicle supply shortages, two further 7.5-tonne curtainsiders on temporary service from our core rental fleet.
Two new 7.5-tonne DAF curtainsiders are due to be delivered to the customer shortly, to replace the two temporary vehicles supplied. All the vehicles are CAZ and ULEZ-compliant and were supplied in RAJA UK’s bold colourful livery.
Nigel Smyth commented: “With availability a problem globally, our aim to bring our fleet management in-house was never going to be easy. However, we were impressed by David Billington and the team at Dawsongroup and their determination to work with us to implement our strategy. Dawsongroup truck and trailer were able to meet our requirements and timelines and provide both the vehicles and a support service that met our needs perfectly.”
He continued: “It’s great we have a local branch on our doorstep, Dawsongroup takes care of all the regular servicing, maintenance and routine checks, as well as tyres and tax.”
David Billington, our Milton Keynes Branch Sales Manager, added: “It’s been very satisfying to work with Nigel and his team early in their planning process to build an in-house fleet strategy.”