JWT Commercial, a growing independent haulage firm, has expanded its footprint at the Port of Liverpool by investing in over 5 acres of land. It will use the new site to manage its growing workload as more and more businesses start to ship their cargo closer to their destination a move that will see the rebalancing of UK logistics flows.
JWT’s site at the port includes five acres of container storage facilities, allowing it to handle larger volumes of goods for distribution to stores across the UK.
JWT has also spotted an opportunity to work with Peel Ports other UK ports, including London Medway and Great Yarmouth and has invested almost £2 million into new trucks, with trained staff ready to be deployed to the south east ports. The move will allow them to transport a range of cargo, including steel, bulk and containers that are bound for other areas of the UK, including Greater London.
The bold move comes as cargo owners continue to experience growing delays in the south-east and reroute using alternative solutions.. JWT estimate it will be able to operate upwards of 100 per week for each customer through the new service.
Last week multi-billion pound value retailer B&M announced plans to increase its imports in to the Port of Liverpool by 30% after growing increasingly frustrated with delays at Southern Ports. JWT is the inland logistics supplier for the retailer.
Jon Whiteley, Director of JWT, said: “We are delighted to be investing further at The Port of Liverpool and to be working so closely with Peel Ports. Not only does this relationship allow us to be closer together, it allows us to offer customers a joined up approach to logistics, and a consistently efficient service.
“Because of the current delays being experienced across major ports in the south east of the UK, there is a real gap in the market to anticipate increased cargo throughput through ports including London Medway and Great Yarmouth. This investment puts us in a strong position to offer our services to cargo owners looking to transport their goods across the UK in the fastest way possible.”
Stephen Carr, Commercial Director from Peel Ports, said: “JWT’s investment in Liverpool illustrates the confidence the firm has in growing even further this year. With problems only expected to worsen as Brexit moves closer at southern ports, congestion shows no sign of easing and delays get longer. Because of this we are seeing ports such as Liverpool and London Medway benefit, and firms such as JWT able to help customers move their goods to where they are needed in the most efficiency way possible.”
JWT has also invested £500,000 at its Port of Liverpool base to create an automated system that will significantly speed up its turnaround time for containers travelling through the port.
JWT Haulage is a family owned haulage company that has been operating since 2001. It provides road transport across the UK, working with global shipping lines and freight forwarders. It currently employs around 135 staff.