NATIONAL FREIGHT OFFICE ENHANCES FLEET DEPLOYMENT AT STILLER GROUP

Logistics provider Stiller Group has invested in the establishment of a National Freight Office, based at the Group’s Stockton-on-Tees headquarters, with the remit to improve fleet and resource deployment to the benefit of the customer base and other potential partner companies throughout the UK.

The National Freight Office will focus initially on improving resource management across the Group, providing centralised planning and optimising use of the fleet.

To facilitate this, Stiller Group has invested in new operating systems linked into the group’s bespoke Aspire project, which now brings together all aspects of the business. This new, integrated system utilises vehicle tracking and fleet management tools to achieve more efficient deployment of resources and total management control.

The facility will be run by Steven Clarke, National Freight Office Manager, and Andrew Leach, National Freight Operations Manager. Andrew brings to Stiller Group over 25 years of experience in fleet resource management, working with organisations including TNT, MFI, NFT and Arcadia Group. Steven has an additional 20 years’ experience in the industry, and joins the Group from CHEP, where he was responsible for establishing a centralised logistics operation for European business.

“The National Freight Office effectively gives Stiller Group a ‘whole country’ picture of resources, enabling us to focus clearly on optimising performance within the Group companies. The wider concept and the efficacy of our IT systems will enable us to partner with other organisations to market logistics resources as consultants, optimising supply chain mechanisms,” commented Steven.

“Stiller Group is an ideal base for this type of operation,” added Andrew. “With an extensive and varied fleet operating around the UK and serving a wide range of business sectors, the concept can be likened to buying into a shared user network with the ability to respond quickly and cost effectively to a wide range of freight-related requirements.”

Stiller Group also anticipates that the implementation of the National Freight Office will make a significant contribution to its programme of green initiatives, reducing empty running and maximising environmental efficiencies.