Sharp ■ Informed ■ Challenging
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DX revives depots Former Tuffnells sites reopen p6
Driver feedback wanted DVLA tests new service
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OPERATORS INSIDE BJS Haulage.................................................p14 Circle Express ..............................................p10 Construct IT .................................................p14 DHL Supply Chain .......................................... p3 DPD Group..................................................... p8 DX Group ....................................................... p6 Expect Distribution .......................................p10 John Raymond Transport ............................... p6 Mark Stewart ................................................ p4 Menzies Distribution.....................................p10 R Swain & Son ............................................... p3 Wincanton .................................................... p3
Bullet Express has been acquired in a management buyout led by its MD John McKail, just days after announcing it had launched a new air cargo transport service. The company said the multimillion pound deal was backed by Panoramic Growth Equity and Maven Capital Partners. Its founders, cousins David McCutcheon and Gary Smith, will step down from the board and assume advisory roles to support the transition. Bullet Express said both will retain shares in the business. John McKail becomes group chief executive and shareholder, supported by the existing directors Bridget Mackay, William Herron and Martin Craghill. McKail said: “This is a significant milestone for our business. Bullet has achieved so much and our founders can be extremely
Photo: Jamie Simpson
Bullet Express in management buyout
NEWS INSIDE Volta files for bankruptcy
23.10.23
NEXT PHASE: Bullet Express founders Gary Smith (left) and David McCutcheon with John McKail (centre)
proud of the fantastic organisation they have built, employing many of the best people in our sector. “With the support of my full team, I am excited to lead the next phase of our journey as we embark on a ‘build and grow’ strategy with
our investment partners.” Bullet has recently launched Air Cargo Transport out of its Westway Park facility at Glasgow Airport, as well as a new beer, wine and spirits storage and transport division.
Four projects will trial battery electric and hydrogen powered trucks along with refuelling solutions
Government launches £200m trial of zero emission trucks A £200m programme to roll out 370 zero emission trucks and 57 refuelling and electric charging sites across the country has been launched by the government. The demonstrator programme will involve a number of major fleet operators, including Menzies Distribution, Eddie Stobart and Royal Mail, with manufacturers DAF, Volvo, Renault Trucks, and Scania providing the battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell-powered demonstrator trucks. Innovate UK will lead the programme, which consists of four projects. These include Project Electric Freightway, led by Gridserve, which will demonstrate up to 140 battery electric trucks, along with up to 220 chargers, 70%
Photo: Shutterstock
By Carol Millett
of which will be open-access. Project Zero Emission North (ZEN) Freight will demonstrate up to 70 battery electric and 30 hydrogen fuel HGVs, while Voltempo’s eFREIGHT 2030 project will involve up to 100 battery electric HGVs. The fourth project, Hydrogen Aggregated Logistics (HyHAUL),
is being led by Protium. It will deploy around 30 hydrogen fuel cell HGVs onto the M4. Through DfT funding, the HGV fleet will be serviced by one fixed hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) and mobile refuelling in two other locations. This project has longer-term ambitions to implement two additional permanent hydrogen refuelling stations in Magor and Bridgend, alongside hydrogen conversion projects along the M4. The announcement comes during Freight Week, a government-led initiative which has seen ministers visiting a number of freight stakeholders to understand how the sector can transition to net zero, drive innovation, and create new jobs.
Roads minister Richard Holden visited Voltempo in Birmingham, whose eFREIGHT 2030 project aims to create up to 200 new jobs by 2030. Michael Boxwell, eFREIGHT 2030 project director, said: “By early 2026, we will have eleven fleets deploying electric HGVs, and a nationwide HGV charging network using British-built chargers. “T his demonstration programme combined with worldclass infrastructure will give fleet operators confidence they can deploy electric HGVs at scale.” Richard Smith, RHA MD, welcomed the initative: “The £200m commitment ministers are putting into this demonstrator significantly helps to de-risk the transition to net zero,” he said.
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