Freightliner selects Barloworld Handling in multi-million Pound contract

Barloworld Handling has been chosen by intermodal rail-freight company, Freightliner, to supply and support 32 new units of container handling equipment for its operations across the UK. The multi-million Pound contract demonstrates Freightliner's continued investment and commitment to offering a premium service to its customers.

Phil Bastow, managing director of Barloworld Handling in the UK says "We are delighted to provide Freightliner with an unbeatable combination of world class materials handling equipment, comprehensive nationwide service support and multi-site fleet management".

The new Freightliner fleet includes Hyster ReachStackers, Hyster empty container handlers and Terberg terminal tractors. All machines are supplied on a long term contract and fitted with Barloworld's innovative new Fleet Management system, allowing Freightliner to view key performance reports online.  Barloworld Handling will also provide planned maintenance for the equipment with 24/7 nationwide service response.

John Smith, Director of Production at Freightliner Ltd, commented "Our inland terminal network and associated equipment clearly differentiates the Freightliner product from other rail borne offerings in the market and is key to our position as market leader."

"Freightliner recognises the value of continual investment to ensure our customers receive the highest standards possible. The new handling equipment complements a recent 8 million investment in new cranes at two of our terminals, in addition to the introduction of 30 wagon trains utilising our new PowerHaul locomotives.  We are dedicated to ensuring our customers receive the highest standards of efficiency and reliability throughout every process of the supply chain."

After a detailed evaluation process, Freightliner chose Barloworld Handling, due to its outstanding ability to provide intelligent nationwide service. "Our terminal operations need reliable, productive container handling equipment at all times" confirms John Smith. "Barloworld is a national company with a great deal of experience in providing support to terminal operations and, when combined with our investment in modern Hyster equipment, we are convinced we will get the productivity and reliability we need from the fleet".

Freightliner moves 20% of all intermodal containers that enter the UK's deep-sea ports, providing trunk rail services between these ports and 15 strategically placed inland railports. Freightliner provides its customers with the complete logistics package moving customers' containers on the first or last leg of a worldwide voyage. Operating over 100 daily services Freightliner's trains can carry up to 75 containers in a single journey, which require dependable handling equipment for quick and efficient transfer at each terminal.  

"Planned maintenance and rapid engineering response is essential to ensure equipment availability and to help Freightliner meet its customer commitments" Phil Bastow adds.  "It is rare to have spare container handling equipment in port and terminal operations to fall back on, which is why Barloworld is committed to a 98% uptime benchmark for the fleet."

Barloworld Handling is the exclusive distribution partner for Hyster equipment in the UK and provides superior support, advice and value added services through its network of 1,000 support staff including 500 engineers nationwide.