Palletways member, Hastings Freight Limited (HFL) has invested £900,000 in new vehicles to expand its fleet, to drive efficiency and reduce emissions, and to continue to recruit and retain the best drivers in the industry.
The investment in new greener ways of working to further reduce its carbon footprint has led Hastings to add 14 new vehicles to its fleet. These will be used to collect and deliver freight around South Yorkshire and into the Derbyshire region for the Palletways UK network. Vehicles purchased include Iveco Eurocargo 18t trucks, Mitsubishi Canter 7.5t trucks, a Mercedes Actros tractor unit, and six Renault T460 tractor units. All newly branded and having the benefit of larger tail lifts and smaller turning circles, it means the rigid vehicles are more suitable for town and home deliveries to businesses and customers.
Hastings is a founding member of Palletways, a Road Haulage Association member and a thriving regional employer. Director Claire Hewitt says: “Our mission is to provide a hassle-free, tailored solution to transportation needs and we want to have a positive impact on our environment and our community too. As well as being part of a pallet network, which drives efficiency and reduces emissions through full load capacity, we’ve invested in our fleet to further reduce our carbon footprint.
“We trialled numerous vehicles and listened carefully to the feedback from our existing drivers before we chose the new models. With the words ‘driver shortage’ continuing to be in the news, it was important to invest in state-of-the-art equipment to help attract and retain the best drivers in the area. Our new models meet the toughest, latest emissions regulations, boast improved fuel economy yet are powerful enough to pull the heavier loads we predominantly carry.”
“The investment hasn’t stopped there. We’ve installed LED lighting in our warehouses and are looking at our overall site operations. Making the change to a greener way of working can be a challenge, but it’s the little things that add up to making a big sustainable difference overall.”
Hastings Freight is one of over 120 independent transport providers that are part of the Palletways UK network, belonging to Imperial, a DP World company. They benefit from shared expertise and resources from within the group to deliver consignments of palletised freight to market faster and more cost-effectively than ever before. The Palletways Group, renowned for its industry-leading IT developments and operational systems, comprises 450+ depots and 20 hub operations, through which it provides collection and distribution services across 24 European countries, including the UK.
