Highbridge-based Jays Logistics (South West) is playing a key role to ensure lorry movements to and from the Hinkley Point C (HPC) construction site are kept to a minimum.
Jays Logistics has been working with both Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers and their sub-contractors for the last few years to increase efficiency and help reduce the total amount of HGV movements.
Supporting the HPC Project’s existing freight management facilities at M5 motorways junctions, the company has created its own Freight Consolidation Centre – which is officially supported by EDF Energy.
Jays’ freight consolidation centre managed by Jays enables the company to offer both a daily freight consolidation service or multi-drop service for Tier 1 and Tier 2 HPC suppliers and their sub-contractors.
The consolidation service means one lorry can travel to the HPC site carrying items for several contractors, rather than separate lorries driving to the site with part-loads, each one taking up a valuable delivery slot.
Jays Logistics also offers a storage facility onsite at its Highbridge depot and is part of The Pallet Network (TPN), delivering nationwide, as well as throughout the South West.
The company is part of the R T Keedwell group, which means it can provide a complete transport and distribution package through the group’s nine nationwide locations.
Paul Phillips, Jays Logistics Operations Director, said engaging with the Hinkley Supply Chain Team had helped Jays Logistics to gain contacts and win work at HPC.
“Getting in front of the right Tier 1 and Tier 2 people and gaining contacts for the site has been invaluable, while the team’s updates are very informative and crucial to keep up with the changing dynamic of HPC,” Paul said.At HPC, Jays Logistics has worked with Tier 1 contractors Bylor and Balfour Beatty for more than three years: “We have been involved with HPC for the last few years delivering various different loads for all Tier 1 contractors.
“This ranges from full loads to consolidation vehicles delivering multi-drop to all the suppliers.“Our aim is to reduce the amount of delivery slots taken up by HGVs travelling to and from HPC, which, in turn, reduces the amount of traffic, especially HGV traffic, through Bridgwater and the surrounding areas,” Paul said.
While the bulk of the work for HPC is centred around the development site itself, Jays Logistics is also working with contractors off-site, such as in Avonmouth and Filton, in Bristol.
The Jays Logistics team also has access to HPC’s Delivery Management System which enables them to book and manage all deliveries directly to the site, without having to go through a third party.
All their vehicles are site compliant – HPC is a nuclear secure site, meaning only pre-authorised vehicles and personnel are allowed access. Drivers have also had extensive training to gain permanent passes to the site.
Paul added: “Our vehicles can take 20-30 separate deliveries at a time, servicing all delivery points on site and, by using our tail-lift fleet, we do not need mechanical help for most deliveries to site. “We offer a daily consolidation service for palletised freight, enhancing the supply chain by reducing the environmental carbon footprint and the impact on local communities by reducing lorry movements to and from site.”
