08.05.2017 –
A Lincoln transport firm has marked its 50th year in business by investing £800,000 in an eight-strong fleet of vehicles.
Rase Distribution, based at Wickenby Airfield, has invested in four new 44-tonne Scania tractor units and four 26-tonne Scania curtainside trucks. Expansion of its fleet will help Rase handle increasing volumes, enhancing the firm’s payload capacity by some 170 tonnes per day. The investment also coincides with the company’s 50th year in business, seven of which have been as a member of Palletways, Europe’s largest and fastest growing palletised freight network.
Geoff Hill, managing director at Rase Distribution, said “This is a monumental year for us. We’ve secured two new logistics contracts so far this year worth £1.6m and the new vehicles will help manage this and the seasonal uplift in business.”
The vehicles have a Euro 6 engine specification which meets the latest emission requirements. The tractor units are the most recent new model on the market with improved aerodynamics, internal cab space and safety features and are five per cent more efficient than previous models.
Rase Distribution was founded in March 1967 by David and Jean Hill and started trading from a former corn store in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Warehousing and local distribution of crop protection and farm fertilizers provided the main income for the company as well as working with local manufacturers. However, demand from customers requiring additional warehousing and increased compliance forced a move out of town to eventually arrive at its current depot, based on former RAF Wickenby Airfield. Additional storage sites have since been acquired providing over 400,000 sq ft of managed storage as well as being home for its 60-strong fleet.
The company is managed by second generation family member Geoff Hill who has spearheaded the growth of the company in recent years. Rase joined Palletways in 2010 to enhance the business further, enabling existing new clients to benefit from efficient high quality logistics services into UK and Europe. The company is a regular Palletways Platinum club member in recognition of its first-class customer service.
Palletways consists of 400 depots across Europe, of which more than 100 are in the UK. The company’s distribution networks are made up of independent transport companies, including Rase Distribution, who share each other’s resources to deliver consignments of palletised freight to market with the highest levels of service.
