Harlex Haulage Services Ltd is a family run business that has been operating 16 years strong from its Park Pale operating centre in Cobham Kent. The company runs a fleet of twenty-three 32 tonne tippers, sweepers and grabs delivering services including site clearance, bulk excavation to delivering soils and aggregates to a range of valued customers. From the office there is a small dedicated team of professional personnel under the guidance of our transport team.
The operating centre has been subject to a major overhaul with a new Head Office built in traditional Kent style to handle all the needs of the fleet and the business. The development of a new multi-bay commercial workshop is now completed with significant major installation’s allowing us to meet or exceed MOT standards, together with our general preventative maintenance. The depot is a showcase of our dedication to detail for both operator licence compliance and customer service.
The Company was first introduced to FORS in 2011 when we entered into the contract for Crossrail for Bond Street Station in London’s West End. Harlex supplied on a 24hr 7 day a week basis lorry’s and road sweepers for both ticket hall excavations. We have been with FORS for a number of years with Gold accreditation; during this period FORS has focused our attention on a number of items to assist the safe and efficient running of our fleet. FORS together with our ISO, fuel management system, all round vehicle cameras including a 5th in cab camera, fleet replacement policy and clear management and customer retention makes Harlex one of the top tier operators in its field.
‘Our accident prevention procedures have been overhauled’
Previously the attention was on fuel management. As with all operators fuel is our largest single cost and therefore the easiest to target. Whilst this was always in mind, following the KPI’s produced by FORS we have improved no end. Richard Gagg, Director, says: “Today we now feel in control of this important business and environmental element, from our newly installed fuel storage and delivery system to our investment in our fuel monitoring systems and processes we are confident in our opinion of being at peak performance.”
Gagg continues: “Our attention then shifted to focus on reduction of traffic fines, charges and incidents. Our accident prevention procedures have been overhauled and currently our traffic Incident rate has decreased by 43% 2015-2016 and by 50% in the monitoring period of our FORS membership. PCNs have also decreased by a third year over year 2015-2016.”
‘We embarked on a journey with FORS that continues today’
In early 2011 we embarked on a journey with FORS that continues today. We were not content to sit on the Bronze bottom rung and simply ‘comply’ but really demonstrate our quality of both operations and compliance. We have made great strides from Bronze to Gold, investing in our facility and systems, which allows us to manage the business as a professional and compliant operator including maintaining our various ISO’s and CLOCS. Achieving an ongoing Gold accreditation, we feel, underlines our commitment to the scheme as well as providing a gold service to our valued client base.
On the benefits of FORS accreditation, Gagg states: “We are very proud of where the company started to where we are now acting on a very professional level of road haulage with full visibility and accountability over our business.”
Harlex Haulage has an ongoing commitment to maintaining its Gold accreditation, so we can continue to deliver high value, safe and efficient services to our growing customer base, who also value Harlex being a top tier tipper operator.