www.truckandtrack.com Winter 2023 Truck and Track 13 BUSINESS NEWS The Dover-based haulier has introduced five new vehicles to its fleet as it looks to drive long-term growth. The latest additions will replace some older vehicles as well as adding additional vehicles to the fleet, giving the company increased capacity to handle higher freight volumes. The new vehicles will all proudly display the distinctive Bywater Transport logo to maintain the professional look of the existing fleet. Three new Volvo FL rigids will be used for collections and deliveries in the local area as part of the company’s pallet network operation. The haulier covers the CT and TN postcodes on behalf of the Pall-Ex and Fortec networks, providing a quality distribution service in the Dover area to the network members. The new Volvos come fully equipped with full closure cantilever tail lifts to make deliveries as safe as possible for drivers, customers and the general public. Kevin Letham, Managing Director at Bywater Transport, commented: “The safety of our drivers and customers is paramount and we are committed to continually upgrading our fleet to maintain the safest working conditions for our employees. “With more volume coming through the network, we needed new vehicles to handle the increased demand. Newer vehicles allow us to deliver a more reliable service as there is less downtime for repairs, which means we can keep our fleet on the road and continue to meet customer expectations.” In addition to the Volvos, Bywater Transport has also taken delivery of two Mercedes Actros tractor units, which will primarily be used to complete nightly runs from the Dover depot to the Pall-Ex hub in Leicestershire. Kevin added: “The new tractor units will be used for the Pall-Ex night trunk as well as local deliveries and collections during the day, meaning they will be in operation nearly 24 hours a day. After a few weeks of use, these vehicles are showing promising fuel returns which will help to bring great cost-efficiencies for the business in the long run.” Now, with a fleet of 30 LGV’s and four vans, Bywater Transport is in a premier position to continue delivering service excellence on a national and international level. Bywater Transport takes delivery of new vehicles after substantial fleet investment SSAB and VBG Group recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding fossil-free steel. VBG Group has been a loyal customer of SSAB for many years and this LOI now further strengthens that relationship. “SSAB’s initiative is perfectly aligned with VBG Group and our ambitions to create sustainable and profitable growth for our brands. Our products are characterized by safety, reliability, and innovation, which is further strengthened by our commitment to sustainability,” says Anders Erkén, President and CEO of VBG Group. SSAB has supplied high-quality premium steel for many years to VBG Group’s Truck & Trailer Equipment division and now further steps are being taken to strengthen the relationship. In addition to ongoing projects and joint training, the agreement ensures future deliveries of fossil-free steel, something that benefits VBG Group’s brands and their customers. “We welcome VBG Group to the family of fossil-free partners in our Nordic home market. VBG will be an important partner to us in our ambition to connect with serious actors and strong companies. This marks the beginning of the joint journey towards fossil-free deliveries,” says Matts Nilsson, Sales Manager SSAB Europe in Sweden and Norway. VBG Group’s Truck & Trailer Equipment division develops, produces, and markets complete system solutions for drawbar couplings between trucks and trailers with a focus on the Nordic market under the VBG brand. The division also develops and sells automatic snow chains under the Onspot brand. “Our goal is to be the market leader in our segments, and we always want to be at the forefront with our system solutions and be able to deliver added value to our customers,” says Anders Erkén. Together with partners, SSAB is developing a unique solution for fossil-free iron and steel production. By replacing the traditional iron ore and coke/coal-based steelmaking, and using fossil-free electricity and hydrogen, SSAB has ambitions to fundamentally change the steel production process. The goal is to deliver fossil-free steel to the market at a commercial scale in 2026. “Now that VBG Group is part of our fossil-free value chain, it feels like we have another good platform for future collaborations in the important Nordic home market. VBG Group is a natural step, as we like to prioritize stable manufacturers for the initial deliveries of fossil-free steel,” says Matts Nilsson. SSAB and VBG Group connect their ambitions for a fossil-free world
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