PALLETFORCE

SIMPSON Bros, a founder member of Palletforce, has invested £2 million in its fleet.

The haulage firm, based in Chester-le-Street, Durham, has taken delivery of 22 new Scanias fitted with telematics and Active Predictive cruise control technology.

Some of the new vehicles replace older, less fuel efficient ones and some are new additions to the 100-strong fleet.

This significant investment comes just six months after the company moved to a new bigger 22 acre site with 330,000 sq ft warehouse after winning several big storage contracts.

"Investments such as these are how we continue to enhance the quality service we are renowned for and are key to the continued longevity and success of Simpson Bros," said Graham Simpson, Managing Director.

"The economic climate remains challenging but we continue to grow and with this latest investment we are starting as we mean to go on for the future – with customer service and top facilities at the heart of what we do."

The newly-formed Culina Palletforce Racing team made a solid start on the opening event of its 2013 MSA British Rally Championship campaign when both team drivers completed the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally today in Carlisle.

John MacCrone led the way with a fantastic fifth overall after setting his, and the team's, first fastest stage time on the last test to jump two places on the leaderboard. He was followed home by Peter Taylor in a super seventh place after the 77-mile, two-day event through Kielder Forest.

The Pirelli Rally was a tough way to kick off the new season. Not only are the super high-speed stages some of the fastest and most ferocious in the series but, for both team drivers, it was their first competitive outings in the new CA1 Sport-prepared Citroen DS3 rally cars.

The gravel special stages across Kielder are renowned for their ability to catch out unwary drivers and their deep ditches lie in wait for anyone pushing too hard.

Speedy Scot MacCrone, however, was also competing for the first time with new co-driver, and former British rally champion, Phil Pugh. They were quick right from the off and matched times with the top British crews on the opening tests. But a puncture on stage five on Saturday slowed their challenge when they lost over three minutes to the other drivers and dropped back to 14th place.

However, 23-year-old MacCrone powered his way through today's four gravel stages in Kershope forest on the hunt for a top-ten finish. He set two second fastest times and went quickest overall on the final 9.66 mile dash through Glen Dhu to leapfrog his way up the leaderboard – jumping an incredible seven places and finishing the event in fifth overall.

PALLETFORCE founder member Wm Armstrong is continuing its programme of modernisation with a £650,000 investment in its 90-strong fleet.

The family-run firm which celebrated its 85th anniversary last year has replaced nine of its vehicles with new Renault rigid four and six wheel curtain siders.

These new trucks are branded with Palletforce, the UK and Europe's leading palletised distribution network, livery and are also fitted with one-and-a-half-tonne tail lifts.

"We have established a programme to replace and renew existing vehicles within our fleet as well as an expansion plan," said Geof Armstrong, co-owner and director of Wm Armstrong.

"Not only will this investment build awareness of the Wm Armstrong and Palletforce brand in Scotland but it will also help us to enhance fleet efficiency which allows us to compete in a tight marketplace and offer an exceptional service to customers."

Last year Wm Armstrong replaced 40 per cent of its vehicles as part of its rolling modernisation programme to ensure its fleet is run at maximum efficiency.