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Behind Barnes: Transport Manager

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Keeping things running smoothly at Barnes Logistics is a challenging but a thoroughly rewarding task for our Midlands Transport Manager, Laurence Gray. We recently caught up with Laurence about his roles, career journey and his recommendations for others looking to join the industry…

       1.       What does your role as Midlands Transport Manager entail?

My main responsibility as Transport Manager is to keep the Midlands sites running efficiently and effectively.  This means keeping the fleet operational and legal whilst also making sure that we have the right number of professional drivers on the road to carry out the work required. Anticipating potential issues and creating solutions for them is also a vital responsibility. Finally, my role entails dealing with queries from customers and on behalf of our drivers too. 

2.       Can you tell us about your career journey, how did you get your job at Barnes?

Before I discovered my role in Logistics, I worked in a number of industries which included procurement and sales. Over time, I worked my way up in a different company which saw me moving from transport planner to shift manager. Whilst working there, the Midlands Transport Manager opportunity arose at Barnes and I thought this was the perfect career opportunity for me. After attending an interview with Barnes, it really opened my eyes to what I could achieve! It was fantastic that I got the green light for the job. 

3.       What does a typical day (or week!) look like for you?

At Barnes, my week varies depending on what is required from me. Ensuring that everything is running efficiently and to the best possible standards is really important and from here, I can look ahead at further improvements. At the beginning of the week, I work on financial reportings and oversee compliance tasks. Once this is done, I attend a site visit in Redditch to check that things are operating as they should. Typically, throughout the week I will be involved in the arranging and interviewing of candidates and conducting driver inductions. Monitoring the service schedule frequently to ensure targets are achieved on time and working on probations reviews are also essential tasks. My job role can extend away from the office as sometimes I will be required in the yard where I will usually find myself inspecting tyres which have low tread to see if they need replacing. As Midlands Transport Manager however, I would say that that the most important role is speaking to the drivers to check that things are going as they should and speaking with our customers to ensure that Barnes are providing a five-star service. 

4.       What would you recommend to others looking to join the industry?

I would say that within the Logistics sector, there are always opportunities available. It is a vast and dynamic industry offering plenty of varied jobs. Therefore, even if one role might not suit you, there are still plenty of different positions which could be more suitable for your skill set so I think it’s important that you don’t give up on the industry if things get tough. It is also worth considering that Logistics is an industry which is staying put and is ever-expanding as companies will always require items moving safely and securely from one location to another. There will always be the need to supply and deliver goods across the UK and the globe!

Roadside Littering: Protecting Our Country

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With climate change and the rapidly-shifting natural environment a trending topic at the moment, we felt it would be pertinent to discuss roadside littering, its effects and what should be put in place to prevent it.  As a logistics company, we spend a huge amount of time on the road and with that in mind, littering is an issue we feel obliged to address.

Just recently, BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker spoke on the programme about the issues of littering and the sheer lack of excuses for leaving behind rubbish.  Commenting on his local park over the Easter bank holiday weekend, he found it left strewn with waste from people that had spent the day enjoying the sun just feet away from a bin.  Understandably, there aren’t always bins on roadsides, but this certainly doesn’t give one the right to dispose of something out of their window.  It doesn’t take much to keep a hold of your rubbish and throw it away when you’re near a bin. 

The RSPB and Keep Britain Tidy have reported that shrews, bank voles, wood mice and other animals can get stuck in discarded bottles and die.  The ring pulls on cans also pose a threat with smaller animals choking on them, and hedgehogs can get their heads stuck in empty cans.    According to the Local Environment Quality Survey, there had been a significant decrease in plastic bag littering after the introduction of the 5p charge.  It is of course encouraging to hear that people are reducing their plastic consumption – however, it has also found that littering remains a significant problem. 

Every year Highways England clear 180,000 sacks of litter from motorways and major A roads, a shocking statistic that shouldn’t be this high.  In 2015, the cost of picking up litter was £1 billion in the UK, money that is spent purely due to the carelessness of drivers.  That statistic alone should be an eye opener:  imagine all the other important areas of our country which that sum of money could be spent on.  It has never been easier to recycle and to dispose of goods with an abundance of recycling centres open, and we as a country have the potential to make a positive change on the natural and urban environments of the UK – all it takes is for everyone to contribute in some way, no matter how big or small. 

How could this issue of roadside littering be tackled?  More awareness could be raised with television campaigns and in the media, showing the effect littering has on our natural environment or a representation of just how much it costs to clear up litter in the UK every year.  When it comes to roadside littering, the implementation of road signs to warn against littering or fly tipping would be a good way to reinforce the issue.  Alternatively, using service station signs to let drivers know there’s also an opportunity to dispose of any rubbish. 

In the UK, local councils can charge up to £150 for littering from a vehicle, but perhaps the severity of littering needs to be addressed with the potential for a more expensive fine.  More CCTV could be supported with tougher fines, which then go on to offer an even better chance to discourage anti-social behaviour in the future. 

When you’re next on the road and in a safe area to get out of your cab, we encourage making a conscious effort to pick up any litter you see, this can make a small contribution to a much bigger environmental campaign to keep our country clean.  Professional drivers can be leading examples to all road users.

Let us know on Twitter what you do to help prevent littering in your area or on the road.

Behind Barnes: Human Resources

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As part of our Behind Barnes campaign, we recently caught up with Toni Gilmore, to find out all about her position as an HR Assistant at Barnes Logistics…

  1. What does your role as HR Assistant entail, Toni?

My main duties include making sure all legal documents (such as Drivers Licence etc.) and training is up to date. I also monitor probation reviews, recruitment and organising interviews with managers, as well as Inputting driver hours and reviewing wages reports.  Finally, I look after all holiday and employee allowances.

  1. Can you tell us about your career journey, how did you get your job at Barnes?

I went to Leeds Metropolitan University and studied Psychology.  When I finished my degree, I found an interest in HR and wanted to pursue a career in it.  My first job was in customer service and admin, and I then became a Shipping and Transport Coordinator within the same company. I saw a job posting advertised by Barnes Logistics and with my background in shipping, admin and my degree in Psychology, I was well experienced for the position.

  1. What does a typical day (or week!) look like for you?

The job can look very different from week to week as it depends on what is happening at different depots. Typically, the beginning of the week is focused on wages – collecting and filing all the information from the previous week from all the depots, for example, driver timesheets and tachograph information. This is logged in our system so we can create a wages report and send out purchase orders to agencies where we’ve used their drivers. In a typical week we would also arrange interviews, liaise with managers regarding any driver training which is due and arrange for that to be completed, enrol new starters onto the HR database and generally keep all the systems up to date.

  1. What would you recommend to others looking to join the industry?

I am a big believer in finding an entry level job in your desired career and working your way up. It also helps to research any professional qualifications specific to your desired role in order to stand out from other applicants.

If you think you have what it takes and are interested in a career in the transport and logistics profession, get in touch!

How Will a No Deal Brexit Affect Just In Time Logistics?

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The Brexit negotiations have taken more twists and turns than anyone could have imagined when the vote to leave the EU was announced back in 2016. With deals going nowhere and extensions to talks, it’s given business leaders even more time to think about how Brexit will affect their industry.

We’re already seeing the more obvious effects of leaving the EU – customs workers striking this month over the lack of clarity have led to miles and miles of queues at Calais for professional drivers. A simple act such as this has wide-reaching consequences – drivers will not only be frustrated, but their health is put at risk as they remain in the cab unable to move in traffic queues and longer hours are spent on the road. Playing the blame game is all too easy but, ultimately, futile – strikers take such a stand only because of serious concerns for their workplace.

These strikes give a taste of what may be to come in the long term: should No Deal become a reality, drivers will doubtless face long queues when leaving or re-entering the country. But as well as the toll this will take on drivers’ hours, physical and mental health, it will also have an effect on businesses. And Just In Time logistics will be an industry which will be hugely altered should no deal be agreed between Britain and the EU.

Just In Time relies on the efficiency of forward planning to ensure a smooth logistics operation, with new stock transported when levels are low but not depleted. If this month’s queues at Calais are any indicator of what a No Deal Brexit might look like, it would be understandable for business owners to be concerned that delays at borders could lead to a break down in the Just In Time system.

However, at Barnes Logistics we believe that there really is no need for panic. As well as being utterly counter-productive, the fact remains that the majority of businesses have been planning for this eventuality for years. By analysing customer spending habits, we have seen businesses across a whole variety of industries strategically stockpile and more effectively manage key goods.

Although delays at borders may lead to longer delivery times, this is a simple reality which both businesses and customers must face and embrace. If goods have been stockpiled, businesses have safeguarded their ability to make products and sales – with the only net affect being that businesses may have to wait a little longer than previously for their goods to arrive. As long as there is clear communication between both parties, both can plan and prepare accordingly.

At the end of the day, Just In Time relies on thoughtful forward planning to ensure maximum efficiency – and this will remain the key to its success whatever the outcome of Brexit.

Best Storage in Manchester

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When it comes to selecting the best storage warehouse for your businesses’ products, decision makers must take a number of factors into account.  Here at Barnes Logistics, we offer a secure warehouse, a range of flexible storage solutions and the implementation of JIT (Just In Time) Logistics strategies is there a better place to start when searching for the best storage in Manchester?

 

Our state of the art warehouse in Rochdale is an ideal choice for the best storage in the Manchester area, with convenient access off junction 20 on the M62 for distribution across the UK and even further afield to Europe. Offering 50,000 sq ft of secure storage space, we can accommodate a high volume of stock from our clients; and our fleets operate from more a than seven sites across the country to support a nationwide client base.  The key to our offering is flexibility: we offer flexible storage solutions including short, medium and long-term contracts to support our customers’ needs.

 

We also pride ourselves in using JIT logistics which, for one thing, allows us to play a vital part in reducing global waste, as well as offer the most efficient logistics services to our customers.  The demand-pull strategy of JIT logistics means that stock is only delivered when it is required, and our top of the range production scheduling software allows for the correct levels of stock to be ordered. Through the use of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), suppliers and customers can communicate to ensure stock demand is up-to-date and is only obtained when a customer makes an order.

 

We recently had a visit from the Road Haulage Association – who rewarded us with an outstanding report which outlined how Barnes Logistics provides the best storage in Manchester with top safety measures implemented at all times and high quality software to contribute to the smooth-running of the warehouse.

 

Want to find out how we can assist you with the very best warehouse solutions?  Get in touch with our team today. 

Behind Barnes: Transport Planner

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This year, we’ll be taking a look behind the scenes at Barnes Logistics and shining the spotlight on the people who make our business the success it is. From our professional drivers to HR managers, it takes a large team to ensure we deliver the highest quality Just In Time logistics services to our clients.

 

Today, we caught up with Joe Haywood, our Transport Planner in Rochdale…

 

What does your role as Transport Planner entail, Joe?

My role involves many things! My job is, broadly, to ensure we have the right number of professional drivers and lorries on the road to meet our clients’ demand and for deliveries to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. You need to be a great communicator, and be able to keep a cool head in high-pressure situations.

 

What does a typical day look like for you?

I start the day planning for the next: we have scheduled rotas and plans in place for the week and I refer to these daily to keep on track. I have to take aspects such as holidays, sickness and any other reasons a driver may not be working that specific day, and to accommodate this. I also manage the servicing of our vehicles – I work very closely with our drivers to learn about, and rectify, any vehicular issues.

 

Can you tell us about your career journey?

I have been working in the transport sector for over five years now, starting at 18 with a role as a Transport Administrator. This got my foot in the door, and whilst I moved up the ladder, I also decided to take time out to travel through Asia and Australia! In June 2018, I joined the Barnes team and have been using the skills and experience I’ve gained throughout the years to Rochdale.

 

What would you recommend to others looking to join the industry?

Transport is a rewarding and exciting industry – but it can be challenging! You have to be an organised person who’s always switched on. New issues come up each day which I haven’t dealt with before, so I have to apply my experience and industry knowledge to each new challenge. It’s always satisfying when you leave the office knowing that you have planned everything correctly and left with it running smoothly.

 

If you think you have what it takes and are interested in a career in the transport and logistics profession, get in touch!

 

 

Success For HGV Safety Perception

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As professional drivers, our careers chronically face interrogation from the media and other motorists. Issues surrounding accidents, incidents, emissions and vehicle specification have the most volume amongst news coverage and encourage a negative perception of the drivers and the industry that they are tirelessly committed to. To some extent this concern is understandable; naturally every driver, professional drivers included, want each road journey they take to be a safe one, however, the ability of HGV drivers is generally scrutinised more than others, despite the efforts of many operators in promoting road safety. This creates an undeniable frustration, as professional driving occupations are a service centred upon the demand of societal needs.

Despite common discourses on HGV drivers, last month, the industry was met with some fantastic news that hopefully reflects a broader change of perspective and opinion towards professional drivers. According to WMB Logistics, lorry operators, based on a survey of 2,267 British motorists, are the safest drivers on the road due to the amount of time they spend travelling the country’s tarmac routes.

Throughout 2018, as always, the industry continued in its efforts to further improve the safety of both its vehicles and driver skills; this news is therefore a welcomed response to 12 months of hard work. The study found a substantial 22% of correspondents reported lorry drivers to be the safest road users, closely followed by parents at 21%, delivery drivers at 13%, coach drivers at 11% and new drivers at 10%. It is overwhelmingly positive to see that not only have HGV drivers been ranked so highly, but other logistic workers and LGV operators also fall within the top five. This faith in such professions hopefully signals a changing attitude towards our nation’s drivers, and during a somewhat hostile period as we defend our value (particularly in reference to road safety) in comparison to the likes of autonomous lorries, the news is well-timed.

In light of this news, here at Barnes, we wanted to seize the opportunity to briefly reflect on the efforts made by the industry over the past 12 months to improve road safety. In May of last year, Highways England launched a fantastic virtual reality training programme that aimed to increase awareness of blind spots using a smartphone app. Additional safety procedures were implemented by I_HeERO, who worked to install eCall systems within HGVs to alert emergency staff of the cargo the lorry is carrying in the event of an accident so that more efficient dispatch actions can be made by emergency responders. Stricter regulations surrounding the fining of exceeding driver hours were implemented, and a campaign partnership between the Road Haulage Association and Vision Express offering free eye tests to motorists was launched. Further efforts have been actioned in reducing vehicle emissions, bettering tyre pressure legislation and continually raising awareness of driver training courses. This is just a brief reflection of the actions taken by the professional driving industry, and we are confident that the next 12 months holds even greater efforts.

We want to congratulate everyone within the industry for their determination in increasing road safety and in practicing high levels of care and caution – it is because of our efforts and commitment to the industry that the sector has been recognised as the safest motorist category on UK roads. We’re positive that this title demonstrates the beginning of a change in opinion towards HGV operators.

Let us know what else we have achieved and what we should be working towards next in our road safety efforts by dropping us a tweet!

Monitoring Stock Systems – Keeping It In-Warehouse

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When looking to invest in warehousing for your business’ goods, the qualities one tends to think about looking for are security and financial value. But there are other aspects to consider – what about the simple quality of efficiency, and the advantages that it can bring?

 

When arranging for stock to be sent for storage, and when products must then be distributed to your customers, the last thing businesses need is to have each team member dealing with a shipment to have to track how many units are being ordered in or out in relation to the stored warehouse goods. This is where we come in, with our in-house Barnes stock systems.

 

We’ll take care of itemising your stock and ensuring all levels are monitored. Not only does this take the hassle out of this task for your own team, but also means that your business will be automatically notified when certain items’ stock levels are low.

 

For businesses looking to make external storage of their stock a valuable investment, choosing a company which promotes efficiency alongside safety and security is key. Which is why our Rochdale warehouse, recently acquired by Barnes Logistics in 2016, is the ideal choice. As well as our proven in-house stock system, our 50,000 sq ft of warehousing space offers the highest quality storage conveniently located for easy access to the UK’s major roads.

 

From electrical goods, to clothing, to ambient foods – we have the warehousing space to ensure your goods are housed securely, itemised methodically and delivered with our fleet of over 80 vehicles and 120 drivers. Furthermore, with Brexit negotiations hitting hurdle after hurdle, there has never been a more prudent time to stockpile goods ahead of potential future turbulence – a topic we have discussed at the end of last year.

 

Ready to make the most out of your warehousing investment? Get in touch with our team today.

Merry Logist-mas!

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As is oft noted, the logistics industry is integral to British economy. Of course, the professional drivers of the country work tirelessly all year round to meet the targets that the economy requires to continue functioning, however, when it comes to the festive season, there are even greater expectations to go that extra mile. Drivers commit more hours and miles to ensure that Christmas will be a success, so as a light-hearted post towards the end of the year, we thought we’d look into the logistics of Christmas.

  • In 2015, UK couriers delivered 11.01 billion orders from UK retailers.

 

  • Each person travels on average of 92 miles to deliver their gifts to loved ones.

 

 

  • 130 million cards and presents were delivered in the run up to Christmas in 2016

 

 

  • …In October this year, internet sales made up 18% of all UK commerce – that’s more deliveries for professional drivers!

 

 

 

 

As we all relax and enjoy festivities, we hope you’ll join us in taking a moment to remember the hard-working logistics professionals who make it all possible – Merry Christmas from all at Barnes!

Rest Stops and Tired Driving

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Drivers are regularly advised not to drive tired; motorways light up with overhead signs, road safety charities campaign against fatigued driving, and the DVLA has a page dedicated to informing the relevant authorities on medical conditions that may cause tiredness. Naturally, when it comes to the professional driving industry, the laws are stricter still, with drivers not permitted to work for more than 4.5 hours without taking a minimum 45 minute break. These laws can be appreciated for the safety they offer both HGV drivers and others on the road, however, in reality, these laws are continually compromised due to the lack of dedicated spaces for lorries to park during rest periods.

 

Not only are professional drivers legally required to take these breaks, but all too often we hear reports of drivers not taking them or of parking in residential areas, but we must question why this may be. Whilst we acknowledge that some drivers may work through their breaks or park inconveniently simply to meet targets quicker – this is an issue in itself – it should also be brought to light that it is also entirely probable that a lack of breaks can be the result of a decreasing number of much-needed amenities.

 

In this digital age, the movement of goods across the EU has grown rapidly, and so long hours are inevitable with the profession. To guarantee the safe arrival of commodities across borders, laws must be abided by, including those of rest periods. A driver who is well-rested is more likely to be able complete their job and continue the functioning of the supply chain system than one who is fatigued. However, without the required rest, risk is imminent.

 

When considering this issue, it is important to begin with a more general perspective; all employees, regardless of their occupation or workplace environment, expect access to clean WCs and hygienic spaces to take lunch breaks. For most, these facilities do not have to be campaigned for – they are a given. Yet when it comes to professional drivers, the case is different; despite their integral role to the UK economy, such facilities are not guaranteed. Of course, it would be unreasonable to expect these facilities fitted within each individual vehicle, however, all drivers are hypothetically always within easy reach of ‘rest periods’ – safe places to park overnight, eat and wash.

 

Despite their need, HGV rest stops have always been few and far between, but over recent years, roadside cafés and other rest stops have been closing at an alarming rate, leaving drivers minimal options when it comes to parking up. Similarly, this reduces the amount of dedicated parking areas for truck drivers and when the number of trucks on the roads are increasing (considering the growing amount of goods transported everyday), parking opportunities become more limited still.

 

It seems that, as a result, many drivers have been taking to parking in spaces which some deem unacceptable and inconvenient. All too often, the media transcribes local villager’s frustrations regarding HGV traffic and parking. In Yorkshire alone, residents are reporting to councils that there is ‘clear evidence’ of HGVs damaging roads and verges, drivers participating in antisocial behaviour by littering and creating noise pollution. In this particular case, the article claims that the vehicles in question are, “foreign registered vehicles that choose not to use or have no financial means of using dedicated lorry facilities”. However, the issue would still exist regardless: there are few – if any at all – rest stops in the area, and those that are available do not have enough space to cater for all who need to use them. It therefore seems unsurprising that in such situations, drivers have little choice but to stop in laybys or similar areas – and with an estimated 20% of all road accidents caused by fatigue, it is imperative that they rest somewhere.

 

How can this issue be resolved? Increased funding to develop parking facilities along with amenities which allow drivers to wash and take food breaks is the most obvious option. And with this need for funding comes an equally important need to educate the wider public on the lack of amenities available to drivers; as we have highlighted before, the professional driving and logistics industry are an imperative part of the British economy, but like other occupations, they need to take regular breaks.

 

Drivers, let us know your thoughts on the matter by dropping us a tweet, and if you’re on the road soon and need a rest stop, find your nearest one here.