COVID-19: Prioritising your health as an HGV Driver

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news September 9, 2020coronavirus, health, HGV driver, prioritise 0 Comment

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect day-to-day lives worldwide, health and safety has became an even bigger priority than before. For businesses, keeping the environment clean and social distance secure is the primary focus, to ensure everyone is kept safe when visiting and working.

As individuals, maintaining good health should always be important for us, but prioritising it when balancing your work and social life should always be your main aim. Below are a few ways drivers can keep clean and safe during these tough times.

1. Disinfect your vehicle

In order to control the spread of germs, it’s important you keep your “working environment” clean. Germs live on skin, clothes, and most surfaces, so be sure to regularly wipe down your seats, steering wheel, and dashboard. Be aware of your hygiene when you visit petrol stations, too. Recent findings from Admiral have found 41% of UK road users say they are scared about catching the virus from using fuel pumps. After touching the petrol pump, most drivers return to their vehicles and contaminate items in their vehicles. Think about how often you clean and disinfect your vehicle?

2. Keep hand sanitiser and wipes handy

Health — Prioritising your health – Hand sanitiser

Having spare hand sanitiser and wipes in your vehicle will be super handy for desperate times you need to clean your hands or spillages. This will be particularly good if you make regular stops, handle loads, and interact with other individuals throughout your daily routine.

3. Watch what you eat

The food and liquid you ingest every day has a huge impact on your energy, emotional and physical levels. It fuels our body, keeping us motivated and happy throughout the day. However, poor eating habits have been proven to impact driver performance, so it’s vital you stick to a healthy diet plan. We’re not suggesting never touching a takeaway again (who could possibly do that?), but simply prioritising your food plan by swapping out fizzy drinks for water, preparing lunch in advance, and having healthy snacks available rather than your sneaky stash of chocolates – will definitely keep you feeling healthy and energised for the workday ahead.

4. Keep updated with Coronavirus hotspots

As an HGV driver, it’s highly likely you will be traveling to various cities and counties on a regular basis. Stopping for regular breaks and deliveries, it’s safe to say you will be interacting with a lot of different places and people. As a result, during these uncertain times, it would be a really good idea to keep yourself updated with the coronavirus hotspots.

5. Obtain an adequate sleep schedule

When driving on a road, especially in a dangerous, heavy vehicle full of goods, it’s pivotal you feel in a healthy, rested state to make the journey safely. Tiredness impairs driving performance more than anything else, as it reduces reaction time, alertness, and concentration, putting you, passengers, and other drivers close by inconsiderate danger. There are plenty of ways you can avoid the risk of an accident:

Make sure to have a good, early night rest before the day of the journey.
Change drivers if possible and if the passenger is feeling alert themselves.
Make a stop for food, caffeine, or to rest.

Swannells Transport – Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire.

Here at Swannells Transport, as well as providing a quality service in haulage and warehousing, our main focus is keeping our drivers and team safe during these tough times. For more information, please contact us on 01487 822065.

Coronavirus: How Has The Transport Industry Coped With The Outbreak?

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news May 4, 2020coronavirus, haulage, logistics sector, NHS, warehousing company in Cambridgeshire

With businesses temporarily closing and transport lines shutting down, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Coronavirus outbreak has rocked the transport industry. From mobility services and public transport to haulage companies, we have all taken a shaky impact.

However, despite this unavoidable situation, many national haulage companies have found a way to use their expertise and equipment to offer support during this tough time. After all, the logistics sector is the backbone of the UK economy.

Aiding the NHS

Warehousing company in cambridgeshire — Doing our bit for the NHS.

According to news sources, there have been a number of haulage companies that have used their services to deliver vital medicines, equipment and hospital furniture to local and national hospitals to support the National Health Service. Whilst obeying social distancing rules at the same time, members of the organisations have worked hard together to provide essential items needed to treat patients and protect their staff from COVID-19.

Delivering Food & Supplies to Supermarkets

More than 700 logistic businesses have offered to use their unique, heavy-loading vehicles to help the Government transport critical supplies nationwide during the coronavirus crisis. The distribution of emergency supplies and food have been delivered across the whole of the nation, a gesture made by the Association of Pallet Networks (APN), which represents big haulier networks including Pall-EX, Palletforce and Palletways.

Using a central hub, these logistic businesses have communicated their deliveries to other organisations involved, so progress can be tracked and organised. Overall, it has been an excellent idea for the government to take advantage of our unique skillset and infrastructure, as ensuring food is stacked in our supermarkets, as well as stocked pharmacies and hospitals, is one of the biggest priorities during this crisis.

Offering Storage Space

As a warehousing company in Cambridgeshire ourselves, we are one of the few haulage companies continuing to offer storage space in their warehousing facilities. At Swannells Transport, we have the capability to store palletised goods for several high profile clients, which when ready for distribution can be picked, packed and loaded from our warehouse. This could be useful or convenient when businesses have temporarily closed and need somewhere to store vital equipment for safety and security.

We are here to help!

We can’t speak for all UK haulage companies, but as an individual representative, Swannells Transport is a haulage and warehousing company in Cambridgeshire. We have continued to provide our haulage, freight and warehousing services locally – with efficient protocols in place to ensure the safety of our workforce and customers.

Get in touch with us today on 01487 822065 or follow our Facebook page for regular updates and latest news posts.

What Does 2020 Have In-Store For The HGV Industry?

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news February 3, 20202020, cambridgeshire, HGV, industry, technology, warehousing company in cambridge

As we enter a new decade, it’s a good time to reflect on the impacts and developments made in the 2010s. With over 80% of all basic, personal items being distributed and delivered by Heavy Goods Vehicles, it’s understandable that the industry is continuously growing.

So what’s in store for specialists in the HGV and forklift industry? In this article, Swannells Transport is exploring a few theories about the future of HGV driving in 2020 and beyond…

1. Stricter Laws and Qualifications

With safety becoming a bigger priority than ever, we predict that stricter laws and qualifications will come into play, to improve professional capacity, publicity and most importantly, safety on the roads. It’s highly likely we will suddenly see the introduction of more difficult qualifications in becoming an HGV driver or specialist.

After all, the use of HGVs for businesses are increasing exponentially. So, increased regulation will improve working conditions and safety.

2. A Gender Neutral Industry

Since the beginning, HGV driving has historically been a male-dominated industry. However, as we enter 2020 more and more females are stepping into the role in an increasing demand for skilled drivers.

Additionally, with stricter laws and qualifications also potentially coming into play, the better working conditions and salary is making the career more appealing for men and women. In fact, we have already begun the decade with more women working as HGV drivers than at any other point in history.

We can imagine a future where the ratio of drivers has a more equal ratio – we are excited to see how this decade will change those statistics.

3. Tesla Semi Electric Lorry Launch

In 2019, Elon Musk announced the launch of the brand’s new electric lorry was delayed until this year. The Semi is the new addition to Tesla’s well-known and popular electric vehicle range and will be capable of driving for up to 600 miles on a single charge, even when fully loaded.

Furthermore, this range of vehicle will be capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 5 seconds, so a powerful truck it shall be. However, according to the UK HGV drivers, the production of HGV vehicles shouldn’t be about power, it should be about efficiency and safety.

It’s claimed that the Semi’s energy recovery systems are capable of recovering 98% of kinetic energy to the battery – which is a lot more than other electric vehicles already on the road. With a low wind resistance, surround cameras and even a new Enhanced Autopilot system with emergency braking, automatic lane keeping and lane departure warning, this vehicle sounds like a very exciting addition to the range, with some environmental benefits too!

4. Expected Increase in ADAS

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is a type of truck safety technology that ensures a safer driving experience. 90% of road accidents are caused by a mistake made by a driver, so ideally, this system is aiming to create an accident-free future for the roads.

ADASs are electronic systems designed to assist a driver while in use of the vehicle using a wide range of powerful technologies that can either alert the driver of potential hazards or take temporary control of the vehicle if reaction times aren’t up to standards.

As safety and efficiency is a huge, huge factor of concern in the HGV industry, it is highly expected that ADAS will be seen as a mandatory feature, rather than an optional one.

As a haulage company in Cambridgeshire, Swannells Transport like to keep up to date with the industry and the worldwide news. This allows us to improve the quality of our services, our equipment and our team.

For more information, contact Swannells Transport today or alternatively, follow us on social!

Haulage in the UK: A Little Bit of History…

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news September 30, 2019

Haulage in the UK has changed so much over the years. Which is understandable, as the cars and lorries we drive today haven’t always been around. As a haulage company in Cambridgeshire, Swannells Transport have been providing quality services in general haulage, warehousing and hazardous freight since 1981. This article will be taking us back in time and summarising the key changes and events regarding the beginning of haulage in the UK.

Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire – Haulage History

The Very Beginning…

For most of human history, people did not travel – everything was within walking distance so vehicles or any type of transportation weren’t necessary. If people needed to travel to different cities for work or visitation, there would usually be a horse or a mule involved. It was unusual to travel more than 10 miles away from home.

When the 1600s arrived, carriages became available to hire in London, causing the beginning of traffic jams within the United Kingdom. At first, it was considered an embarrassment to be seen in a hired carriage, but people eventually became more comfortable with it after a footman was introduced.

In attempt to prevent highway robbery and improve the safety and comfortability of travel in England, the “Highways Act, 1663” was introduced in Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. This encouraged the UK to begin travelling longer distances!

The Creation of Roads…

By 1700, private companies had been developing and maintaining roads to encourage more and safer travelling. Also known as the “turnpike system”, the road network grew rapidly as more roads were built and maintained.

30 years after the first road was maintained, there was a large number of “turnpikes” in England and Wales. Furthermore, this influenced the urge for more road safety and organisation – which is where transport technology comes in.

1800’s

After trains and railways were invented and it was discovered that coal can be used for transportation, it was time for the industrial revolution. At this time, steam engines were the most common way of transportation and importantly, haulage jobs to be undertaken. After the first steam engine was built in 1895 by John Thornycraft, road transportation became a common occurrence.

Railways and steam engines were used to transport heavy, large and lots of items within short and long distances. In 1879, Karl Benz invented the first internal combustion engine i.e. the first engine for a car. 7 years later, the production of the first vehicle began. After this huge breakthrough, it didn’t take long for other car companies and organisations to begin using combustion engines in their vehicle production – creating a growing industry… Welcome to the world of cars!

1900’s

Let’s fast forward slightly – the 1900s was best known for the world wars, moon landing and some groovy dancing. The first lorry was invented in 1896 in Germany by automotive pioneer, Damlier – but by the first World War, there were over 25,000 heavy vehicles driving around. These trucks caused organisations to further improve the quality of roads, making transportation in the UK more laid out, organised and safe!

By 1960, there were over 600,000 lorries in the UK! During that 60-year interval, infrastructure, agriculture and the UK’s economy had grown substantially. More businesses were around, transportation were more reliable and communities became more entertaining and social!

Swannells Transport launched in 1981, by Andrew Swannell and his wife, Karen. With just one lorry, the couple had a vision to succeed and grow. Almost 40 years later, Swannells Transport is a successful haulage company in Cambridgeshire – providing our service in general haulage, warehousing and hazardous freight.

Road transport is now essentially known as the “backbone” of the economy. More than 80% of all goods we consume and use – including food and clothes, are transported by HGVs!

Contact Our Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire…

We are Swannells Transport. Contact our friendly team today to discuss your haulage needs and requirements – whether it regards delivering, storage needs, or carrying hazardous freight.

For more updates and information on Swannells Transport and the haulage industry, give our Facebook page a like!

Thanks for reading.

How The Police’s “New Breed Of Vehicle” is Catching Dangerous Driver’s on The M1

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news May 15, 2019dangerous driving, Haulage Company in Huntingdon, HGV, hgv news, supercabs 0 Comment

Swannells Transport is a haulage company in Huntingdon – operating warehousing, deliveries and general haulage on a daily basis. Due to its significance and our passion for the industry, we like to stay/keep you up to date with HGV news – and this one we find extremely interesting…

12 months ago, the police introduced ‘supercabs’, three unmarked HGVs driven by police forces, as a new method to catch dangerous drivers – and have proven to be a great success so far.

These unmarked HGVs have allowed officers to gather evidence of unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles, filming the evidence and then the drivers are then pulled over by police cars that were following a short distance behind. For safety reasons (or in case of an emergency), the supercabs have a de-restricted speed limiter and hidden flashing police lights.

Due to the size and type of vehicle, it offers a lot of benefits to the police forces. For instance, it provides the perfect height advantage they need to see inside other vehicles, and the majority of drivers that are committing these crimes wouldn’t be suspicious of a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driving nearby, so it’s a great opportunity to catch them off-guard.

Funded by Highways England, the head of road safety Richard Leonard said: “Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads everyday and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk.

We introduced the three new HGV supercabs last year to help keep the roads safe and tackle dangerous driving by people who have either got into bad habits, or are simply ignoring the law.”

Out of the 29 police forces that have used these vehicles in the last 12 months, they have recorded more than 3,500 offences – 167 in the South West! From using a mobile phone while driving to not wearing a seatbelt, supercabs have enabled the law to be one step ahead of dangerous drivers.

Here are a few offences the forces have already caught evidence of in the last year:

8 motorists caught using mobile phones.
31 people caught not wearing a seatbelt.
32 traffic offences.
21 penalty notices issued.
4 dangerous drivers prosecuted.

Whilst the vehicles have been mostly operating in the Bristol area (M5), throughout this week the supercabs are being used to improve safety on the M1. Hopefully within the next few years more of these vehicles will be introduced and expanded to more of the UK’s roads.

As a Haulage Company in Huntingdon…

As a haulage company in Huntingdon, our drivers are highly experienced and trained to ensure safety is the first priority on the roads we drive on. If you are looking for a company who specialises in hazardous freight, warehousing and other general haulage, get in contact with us today to begin your journey!

For more news and information on our business and industry, give the Swannells Transport Facebook Page a like to be kept up to date!

For now, keep driving safely!

How Our Warehousing Services Can Be Convenient For You

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news April 12, 2019benefits, convenient, warehousing in cambridgeshire, warehousing services

Here at Swannells Transport, we offer our quality service in general haulage, hazardous freight and warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon and Warboys. In this blog, we are focusing on how Swannells’ unique warehousing providers could be personally beneficial to you and your organisation.

A Warehouse is a building that is used specifically for storing goods. They are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs and transport businesses (like us!) etc. Warehouse teams are responsible for the loading, unloading, distribution and overall safety of these stored goods.

In addition to this, here are 5 reasons why our warehousing services can be particularly convenient for you.

1. 60,000 square foot of storage available

Swannells Transport boasts 60,000 square feet of storage space at our new warehouse facilities. Set in 4 acres of land, we have a wide amount of space available for you to safely and securely store your goods with great convenience. After all, investing in a warehouse provider whose facilities aren’t up to sizeable standards can cause dramatic problems within your whole organisation – due to the inconvenient size, it can cause issues within your management of timing, loading/unloading and clientele.

2. Our locations are suitable to most

Our business operates warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon and Warboys – so one of our facilities are appropriately located for businesses with Cambridgeshire. Keeping your warehouse provider local keeps the communication fresh and allows you the opportunity to visit on a regular basis without having to take out hours of significant time on your schedule. Furthermore, our secure facilities are perfectly placed with quick links to the A1 and A14, so we are easily accessible and our delivery routes are gentle and convenient.

3. We are completely qualified

As obvious as this should be, we’d like to point out that the Swannells team are highly trained and qualified to store hazardous goods (including chemicals) in our warehouse in Warboys, along with the strong capability to store palletised goods in our Huntingdon warehouse.

One of the biggest responsibilities our professional drivers have are transporting dangerous goods in a large, heavy vehicle, both internationally and nationally. Fortunately, they are qualified by the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road association, also known as ADR. ADR ensures that these road transportation vehicles can cross the borders freely, in compliance with its goods, vehicles and driver rules. These safety measures ensure trust and reliability between business to customer.

4. We have our own in-house qualified DGSA personnel

A Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) is a certified person responsible for providing advice and management to those undertaking activities including transportation, carriage, consignment, packing, loading, unloading, filling etc. Here at Swannells Transport, our service in warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon and Warboys also provide us with our own in-house qualified DGSA personnel, so we have the capability to transport dangerous goods safely, both internationally and nationally.

5. Nothing is ever too big (or small) of a challenge for us!

Due to our friendly team, qualifications and quality equipment, we are confident that we can provide general haulage, hazardous freight and warehousing services to both high profile clients and small businesses. We are dedicated to helping anyone who asks, with an ability to perform as a leading logistics partner.

Warehousing in Cambridgeshire…

Here at Swannells Transport, we offer warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon and Warboys. To begin your journey, get in contact with us today or for more information on Swannells Transport, like our Facebook Page!

Thanks for reading.

The UK’s Road Records

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news April 1, 2019congested roads, dangerous roads, Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire, longest roads, motorways, roads, UK

Without roads, there would be very little organisation and less safety in driving a vehicle. Additionally, they are highly important to businesses within the haulage, warehousing and delivering industry etc. As a haulage company in Cambridgeshire, we are interested more interested in roads than the average Joe.

That is why we have created this article which discusses some of the UK’s road records.

How Do Roads Affect Haulage?

This is essentially an obvious one – roads are built to create complete organisation and safety for the public, ensuring there are standard, allocated routes for vehicles to drive through towns, cities and countrysides etc. In terms of haulage, our HGV and other used vehicles rely on the roads to deliver goods to customers within the right time frame and of course, safely!

The Top 3 Longest Roads In The UK?

So, what and where are the longest roads in the UK? And how long are they?

3. A30 – this road leads from Land’s End, Cornwall all the way to London. It is approximately 457km, which is 284 miles!

2. A38 – this road leads from Bodmin, Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire! With a length of 498.6km (309.8 miles), you would be on this road for ever!

1. A1: Probably the most well-known road in the country, this leads from Central London to Central Edinburgh, which is an extraordinary distance of 396 miles (637km)!

The Top 3 Longest Motorways In The UK?

A motorway is a road that only allows motorised vehicles and permitted drivers onto it. Therefore, no pedestrians or cyclists can enter onto the motorway road. Here are the 3 longest motorways in the UK:

3. M4: This motorway runs from Chiswick, London to Post Abraham, Carmarthenshire. This is probably the only road in this blog that includes a little bit of Welsh region, the M4 travels from West London all the way down to South Wales, which is more or less the whole width of the lower UK! With a massive length of 191.9 miles, this motorway is particularly busy during the Summer peak season.

2. M1: Linking London to Yorkshire, the M1 remains one of the key road connections in the UK. With a length of 200 miles, this motorway begins at Staples Corner and makes it’s way through Milton Keynes, Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds.

1. M6: The longest motorway in the UK, the M6 has an outstanding stretch of 236 miles. Starting in Catthorpe in Leicestershire and ending in Dumfriesshire, this motorway is not only the longest, but it is also the oldest and probably most important connection in the UK.

The Top 3 Most Congested Roads In The UK?

Believe it or not, but road congestion is one of the most expensive road situations in the economy. Costing nearly £8bn annually, drivers are losing a lot of money each year from just sitting in traffic. So, what are the most congested roads in the UK?

3. A34: This road stretches from Highfield Road to Highgate Middleway, which are both in Birmingham. This road has been proven to waste approximately 44 hours a year, which is genuinely a significant amount of time and money.

2. Saltaire Road: Located in Leeds, this road links Harrogate Road to Bradford Road, where again, approximately 44 hours of time, money and petrol is wasted.

1. A406: From Chiswick Roundabout to Hanger Lane, in West London, is believed to be the most congested road in the UK, wasting an average of 61 hours a year.

As a haulage company in Cambridgeshire, who deal with deliveries and transport services, it should come as no surprise that we deal with traffic every once in a while! Make sure you keep safe & alert whilst sat in traffic.

Other Facts Of The Roads

The steepest sign-posted road in the UK is located in the Snowdonia National Park. The road is called Ffordd pen Llech and has a maximum gradient of 36.63% (we wouldn’t recommend cycling up here!).
On the 5th April, 1985, there was a huge traffic jam on the M1 that was 40 miles long!
Elgin Street in Bacup is not only the UK’s shortest road, but it is also the world’s shortest road! Measured at 5.2m in length.
The highest road in the UK is a private lane in Cumbria. With a 847m altitude, the road leads to an Air Traffic Control Installation, so it is put into good use! A permit is required to drive on it.
The A1123 is claimed as the bumpiest road in the UK! The road joins Haddenham to Earith and even after being closed for five weeks surface improvement, it’s still claimed to be a risky road.

How To Prepare For A Trip With These Roads?

It doesn’t necessarily have to involve one of the roads I have listed above, but any long, congested or potentially dangerous road should be taken with care, and there are plenty of ways you can do so:

Prepare a safety kit in your car incase anything goes wrong. This includes petrol, water, spare coat, oil or any other car essentials.
Clean your car! This might not necessarily make it safer, but it will put you in a much better mood, more motivated to drive safely and concentrate.
Be sure to check out our blog, ‘How To Enjoy A Long Journey’ for a complete guide on safely entertaining yourself during your drive.
Be aware of all dangerous or congested roads you may approach during your journey. You can find this out by plotting your journey into your Maps app before you leave. The majority of these apps show you any construction or temporary traffic going on nearby and on your route.

We are a Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire…

Offering general haulage, hazardous freight, warehousing and transport services, Swannells Transport are a haulage company in Cambridgeshire here for all of your haulage needs. Get in contact with us today to start your journey!

Alternatively, for more information about us, like Swannells Transport’s Facebook Page for daily news and updates!

Thanks for reading.

8 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Warehousing Provider

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news March 8, 2019questions, warehousing in cambridgeshire, warehousing provider

Having a warehousing provider is a big step in your business – because not only is it an important factor in the logistics chain, there are a variety of potential roles within a warehouse that is required to maintain a controlled and effective environment. Therefore, it’s important you find the right provider for your business because of the process that is at stake.

Here at Swannells Transport, we are a reliable haulage company who offer services in storage, transport and warehousing in Cambridgeshire. We want to ensure you get the best possible service, so below are 8 important questions you should be asking your warehousing provider – these should help you determine whether your current provider is right for you!

Warehousing in Cambridgeshire, warehousing companies in cambridgeshire — Warehousing in Cambridgeshire – Swannells

1. “What Types of Products do You Deal With?”

When you are working with a warehouse service, it’s important that they are capable of working with your types of products. This includes their understanding of it’s fragility, weight (and overall size) and packaging requirements. In addition to this, your impression towards the response of this question should vary, depending on what types of product you deal with. For example, dealing with general merchandise might not be as crucial, whereas dealing with products that expire or contain liquids may cause a slight issue.

This question is quite important because after all, you are paying for this service to store, handle and deliver your goods correctly, and if they haven’t got much experience or even the right equipment for it, it’s better to know and reconsider before you make a deal rather than finding out in the long term.

2. “Have You Had Similar Clients Like Me?”

Corresponding with the first point, experience is very important, especially if you are a company within a strict industry or who deal with hazardous, fragile goods. If they haven’t had similar clients like you, this could end up being a huge learning curve for them, because they can learn about your industry and how to deal with your products. But if experience is a key essential to you, you might want to consider looking elsewhere.

As a company who deals with warehousing in Cambridgeshire, for decades we have worked with a number of different industries and have adjusted to expand our warehousing potential, including hazardous goods and chemicals.

3. “What is Your Process?”

Whether you ask just out of curiosity or as concern, this is a great question to ask. Their answer not only allows you to test them of their professionalism, but also become aware of what happens to your products. As a business owner, it is significant information to know.

4. “How Big is Your Space?”

This is an important question because if the provider’s space isn’t big enough, it can result in a lack of organisation, damage to your goods and can even make things look unprofessional. Furthermore, your required space should depend on the amount and size of your product, so think logically rather than just asking for a big space.

Here at Swannells Transport, we offer warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Warboys and Huntingdon all under 60,000 square feet of storage space at each warehouse facilities. We have a large space available for all clients and products, so let us help you!

5. “Can You Deal With Market Spikes?”

No matter what product or service you offer, your demand rate is never going to be a straight road. Maybe your product is only required during a particular season? Maybe your marketing strategy improves? Maybe it becomes a trend? You never know what could happen! In terms of warehousing providers, when this happens it is important the team are always prepared for a sudden high demand in product, meaning they have to pick up the pace. Asking them this question also gives them some sort of ‘warning’ of how popular your company is and that these market spikes may occur.

6. “Do You Offer Other Services?”

Whilst you are benefiting from their warehousing services, make sure there isn’t any other services that can impact your business significantly. Here at Swannells Transport, as well as offering warehousing in Cambridgeshire, Warboys and Huntingdon also provide transport and storage services also!

7. “Are You Qualified?”

Now, this question might be fairly obvious, because they must be qualified if they have their own company, right? It’s always reasonable to ask the question, and more specifically, ask what it is exactly they are qualified for. It can be asked just out of curiosity or even for the safety of your company.

8. “What Equipment Do you Have?”

Last but not least, working with a warehousing service means that someone is dealing with your products and goods using their own equipment – it is always a good idea to know what particular types of equipment is being used to handle your products, and the condition it is in. Also, if that warehousing provider doesn’t have a required piece of equipment needed to store and transport your products, this can be a huge inconvenience for you.

Warehousing In Cambridgeshire…

We are Swannells Transport, a friendly and reliable team offering general haulage services such as storage, transport and warehousing in Cambridgeshire. For all enquiries, get in contact with us today!

Additionally, for more information about what we do, visit Swannells Transport’s Facebook Page!

Thanks for reading.

The Benefits Of Warehousing For Businesses

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news February 19, 2019beneficiaries, benefits, business, warehousing, warehousing in cambridgeshire

Warehousing is the process of storing goods that will be sold or distributed later. It is an important factor in the logistics chain and many businesses put it to good use. There are a variety of potential roles within a warehouse that helps maintain a controlled and efficient environment – For example, you’ve got your Warehousing Managers who ensure stability and efficiency throughout the operation, Quality control teams ensure products are distributed correctly and in the right conditions, skilled technicians ensure technology is properly maintained within the warehouse, and finally, packers and loaders ensure vehicles are packed and loaded within the correct time. All of these roles contribute to ensure protection, inventory and management happens within a business and there are many other benefits that go with it!

Here at Swannells Transport, we are a haulage company offering many useful services such as warehousing in Cambridgeshire. Warehousing services can be very beneficial to businesses, big or small! Let’s discuss a few reasons, shall we?

It’s Necessary For Even Small Businesses!

Small businesses usually means small property and working environment, which also means there probably isn’t enough room to store and distribute goods. So firstly, warehousing provides extra space and a central location for your products to be stored! Secondly, small businesses comes with a small team with big responsibilities, so they probably don’t have the time or capability to be your own version of a warehousing manager. As a result of this, investing in a warehouse passes those particular responsibilities to the warehouse personnel, saving you more time to find business for the warehousing etc.

In comparison to your office, Swannells Transport boasts approximately 60,000 square feet of storage space entirely for warehousing in Cambridgeshire – so we’ve got the space, time and expertise for you!

Saves You Time as a Business Owner

As a business owner, you probably don’t have a lot of time on your hands. That’s why investing in some warehousing in Cambridgeshire is probably your best option! Furthermore, if you own a business that tends to distribute products on a daily basis, who simply has the time or hands for that? A Warehousing team will handle the operation entirely for you and your business. With each shipment arrival, they will work to identify, sort, pack and dispatch the goods whilst you can focus on other tasks to improve business and income.

Cost Efficient

Sure, warehousing isn’t exactly a small dip in the pockets, but if you think about it, the cost provides you with efficiency, capacity, economical benefits and a secure destination to keep your goods. Additionally, without the services of warehousing in Cambridgeshire, for example, you are left with multiple deliveries and destinations, requiring a suitable vehicle, packaging, petrol costs and overall organisation under one or two people. However, with a warehouse, it’s all packed and loaded more swiftly and safely under one or two large vehicles, saving money, time and having economical benefits, too!

It Makes Your Business Look Impressive

Owning your own business? That’s cool, but who doesn’t these days? If you want your small business to stand out warehousing in Cambridgeshire can help do just that. Sure, loads of businesses have warehouses, but with such an investment provides organisation, a bigger team, space and more reliable distribution, which is impressive to a customer or client.

Gives You an Opportunity to Expand

If you aren’t looking to remain a small business, investing in a warehouse can give a great head-start! Like I mentioned earlier, potential customers and clients will be impressed by a warehouse, so firstly; it can earn you more business (and that’s always the most important step on expanding your company).

If the operation has been running smoothly these last few months, you should hopefully be seeing business improving. This gives you the fun opportunity to expand your business – from using your warehouse to only store and distribute materials to actually producing them! Moreover, you can introduce a whole new manufacturing section when business begins booming, so more products are being produced and distributed but this time, all under one big, successful roof!

Warehousing in Cambridgeshire…

By getting in contact with Swannells Transport today, we can provide you with a variety of different haulage services that can benefit your business, including warehousing in Cambridgeshire. To learn more about us and the team, visit our website or Swannells Transport’s Facebook Page!

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What Life-Saving Technology Can Your Vehicles Have?

Local Buzz Marketing Latest news February 8, 2019breakthrough, haulage, Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire, life-saving technology, saving lives, systems, vehicle technology 0 Comment

Due to the size and weight of an HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle), it would come as no surprise at the severe consequences it can cause if something goes wrong. That’s why, like most companies in most industries, haulage companies and departments have been integrating live-saving technology into these vehicles to assist drivers for about a decade now, and it has seriously changed the game for these qualified drivers.

We are Swannells Transport, a haulage company in Cambridgeshire, and we ensure our qualified drivers are healthy and safe to drive these large and heavy vehicles. Your safety is our main priority, so you can rely on us to have full concentration on the road and for any knowledge on how to keep the roads safe for you and me.

How to prevent accidents?

Before we get into the ground-breaking technology that has helped us save lives, let’s talk about the common and simple ways we can prevent accidents. Obviously, this will probably only concern you fellow HGV drivers, but it’s always interesting to know! A high percentage of HGV accidents are fatal, and this is because of its huge weight and potential. Furthermore, a lorry travelling just 50mph can tear straight through a house, so imagine what it could do to a car.

Although you should be medically checked during your training course, it is important to keep your company and the DVLA updated on your healthy self. Due to this profession, it is crucial you always check up on yourself, and genuinely look after yourself, to ensure you are fit to drive an HGV. Failure to do so can cause serious, life-changing accidents that probably won’t just affect the driver and the lorry itself.

Another thing to reconsider is road rage. Sure, you have a deadline, the vehicle you have is large and slowly responsive, and the car tail-gating you are probably getting on your last nerve. However, the thing you must remember is your actions can have serious consequences, and the safety of yourself and others should be your main priority, NOT the deadline. Think about this – which sounds less harmful? “You caused a pile-up because to try and be on time, but didn’t make it anyway” or “He was late because he was driving legally and safely”? Safety is key. As a result of this, get plenty of sleep, have a healthy meal before you leave and allow plenty of time for your journey.

Finally, just remember the basics – stay legal. Keep to the speed limits, check your mirrors and just take your time. You can really save lives.

Vehicle Technology

Now… let’s talk about vehicle technology. HGV Safety Technology has helped and will continue to help make roads safer for drivers and nearby pedestrians. After all, Heavy Goods Vehicles are incredibly useful and saves huge amounts of time, despite their risks, so it’s not like they are going to be taken off of the roads anytime soon. According to a 2017 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Study, many of these technology breakthroughs could help prevent 63,000 lorry crashes a year. This includes:

Video-Based Safety Monitoring Systems

This technology is like a CCTV surveillance system for HGV drivers. Where cameras, sensors and other recording devices that allow the monitoring of a driver’s behaviour. Like a black box, the devices detect when a person is driving carelessly, whether it is speeding, not keeping within the lanes or just generally increasing the risk of an accident. The haulage company is then contacted, and the consequences are then dealt with. AAA estimated that this system can help prevent up to 293 deaths a year.

Lane Departure Systems

A mechanism designed to keep the vehicle in the lane, and to warn the driver vividly if the vehicle sets off course. Using a series of cameras and sensors, the device monitors the position of the vehicle in the road and if it suddenly goes off course, it has the intelligence to alert the driver via noise or sign etc. It’s incredibly clever and is predicted (by the AAA) to prevent up to 115 deaths a year.

GPS Monitoring

Special GPS monitoring devices allow companies to check in on their driver before, during and after their journey. It detects their journeys and also alerts companies if their driver is speeding or driving carelessly, like a video-based safety monitoring system. With the added pressure, it’s much less likely an HGV driver would have the guts to drive in such a careless manner and will get the job done.

Self-driving Lorries

We know what you are thinking – this sounds a lot more dangerous than a person driving HGVs, however, they have turned out to be pretty successful. The process involves up to 3 lorries where they travel in a particular formation, where acceleration and braking will be controlled by the leading vehicle, whilst steering is controlled by the human driver. This highly-intelligent system will stop careless drivers on the road and will hopefully make people more alert when being around these type of vehicles.

Automatic Brake Systems

Also found in cars, these systems consist of highly-alert sensors that warn drivers of an impending collision. Whether it is occurring from the front, behind or side of the HGV, the device immediately and obviously alerts the driver to help prevent the collision. If the system doesn’t detect a response from the driver, it will automatically apply the vehicle’s brakes.

Air Disc Brakes

Brakes with air pressure and mechanical systems that help reduce a vehicle’s stopping distance. Although it is very vital that the driver is aware and responsive at all times, these brakes will take some pressure off of the driver, making them more relaxed knowing there is a back-up plan if something goes wrong.

There are so many more awesome, life-impacting technology that can help keep the roads much safer with HGV’s on their journeys. However, we felt that these past six devices were the most exciting and ground-breaking for the industry. To read more, you can check out our blog, “How New Haulage Safety Technology Has Saved Lives”.

Haulage Company in Cambridgeshire

As a haulage company in Cambridgeshire…

Here at Swannells Transport, whilst we have a passion for haulage and it’s tech, we are also a dedicated team of professionals offering a range of helpful haulage services. Let us help you! Contact us today or visit our Facebook page for more information about us!

Thanks for reading.