Welcome to our Latest News Section

Here we detail latest developments in our industry and within our company, and also opportunities for growth here in the North East of England...

23rd June 2023

This week, our new livery went onto our vans! Looking good if we do say so ourselves ! 

4th May 2023

Happy Star Wars day folks! 

12th April 2023

The government have announced plans to introduce new laws to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. The proposed measures include mandatory safety features for lorries, such as cameras and sensors, and stricter penalties for drivers who cause accidents. Luckily, our vehicles are fitted with Lane Departure Warning Systems and nearside cameras! Remember though, stay out of those blindspots! 

5th April 2023

We would like to congratulate supervisor David, on 11 years with the company. 

07th March 2023

The UK government has announced a new investment of £300m to expand the country's electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with the aim of making it easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles. The funding will be used to install more charging points in public places, including shopping centres, car parks, and on-street locations, as well as to upgrade the existing network to support faster charging speeds. The government hopes that the investment will help to boost the adoption of electric vehicles, which are seen as a key part of the country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

In related news, several major car manufacturers, including Ford and Jaguar Land Rover, have recently announced plans to phase out the production of petrol and diesel vehicles over the coming years, in favour of electric and hybrid models. This shift towards electrification is expected to accelerate in the coming years, as the technology becomes more affordable and charging infrastructure becomes more widespread.

Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in the UK's transport sector.

20th February 2023

We have been working very hard over the Christmas and New Year period, intergrating a bespoke Warehouse Management System throughout our site in Birtley. Our customers now have the added bonus of stock monitoring, remote login and 24/7 visability of their product, all the while streamlining our own processes and reducing the number of times customer goods are handled! 

If you would like to know more about our storage opportunities, please Contact Us! 

6th February 2023

Time flies when you are having fun! Our Operations Director, Neil, celebrates 25 years with the company! 

Work has moved another important stage near to completion at a new major transport link for the region we operate in. The New Wear Crossing will link Pallion (on the south side of the River Wear) with Wessington Way (A1231) (on the north side) in Sunderland. What's more interesting to transport companies such as LRH is the potential new rapid transport link this will create in the future between the massive Nissan plant to the west and the Port of Sunderland to the east only 5 miles away.

The massive 'A' frame of the bridge standing at 105 metres tall, and twice the height of the Tyne Bridge was raised on Friday 10th February 2017. And speculation has been growing recently that the multi million pound investment in the new bridge coupled with dualing of the major trunk roads in the area could be with a view to the big opportunities for tranporting the many thousands of vehicles that need to be shipped overseas for export.

Our warehouse at Birtley is ideally situated for any companies who are looking ahead to any new distribution opportunities the new bridge will bring. Click here for more info.

February 8th 2017

Starting with us way back in February 1996 Neil and Audrey celebrate their 21st work anniversary today!

December 9th 2016

Exciting times coming down the track for Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe!

(and only 19.8 miles (via A167) from LRH Distribution Hub at Birtley!)

Hitachi unveils first UK built Intercity Express Train Dec 09, 2016

Here at LRH we are ideally situated at the heart of many exciting new developments in the North East including:-

Just before Christmas Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE), a global rail specialist with over 100 years of industry expertise, celebrated the launch of it's first Intercity Express (IEP) train to be built in the UK at its manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Hitachi were joined by the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, Minister for Northern Powerhouse, Andrew Percy, and Ambassador of Japan in the UK, Koji Tsuruoka.

Hitachi opened the state-of-the-art £82m facility in Newton Aycliffe in September 2015 with ambitions to develop a hub of industry and innovation in the North East. By Spring 2017, Newton Aycliffe will employ approximately 900 people. By 2019, HRE will employ 2,000 people across 14 UK sites, including manufacturing and maintenance facilities. A host of British businesses will continue to supply parts for new trains, supporting thousands of additional jobs countrywide.

The site is situated close to where George Stephenson assembled Locomotion No. 1, the first locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line.

In addition to building new fleets, Hitachi will maintain the trains at newly built facilities. By 2020 Hitachi will become one of the largest maintainer of UK trains. In total Hitachi will have 281 trains running on the UK network, carrying millions of passengers along intercity and commuter routes.

Here at LRH Distribution we are ideally placed to act as a hub to any companies who are considering locating near to this exciting new venture and can facilitate any temporary storage needs you may require. Click here to express any interest you may have and gaining any further information about how we can help you.

The event on December the 9th at Newton Aycliffe was an opportunity to view and board the first of the British-built new IEP trains and see trains being built at the facility.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

“We are determined to take the big decisions for Britain and are investing record amounts to modernise the rail network, deliver better journeys for passengers and drive economic growth.

“This first train to roll out of Hitachi’s new factory in Newton Aycliffe shows we are open for business and will provide a real economic boost to the North East, not only by providing jobs but also by investing in the skills needed to provide the transport network our country needs for the future.

Kentaro Masai, Vice President and Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Railway Systems Business Unit, Hitachi, Ltd, said:

“It is my greatest pleasure to be here today to celebrate the completion of the first Hitachi IEP train manufactured in the UK. It was 90 years ago in 1926 that a senior Hitachi engineer first visited the North of England to study the leading edge railway technology of the time. Today, we have a modern intercity train built in the North East by combining the best of Japanese technology delivered with the best of British manufacturing. “We look forward to continuing our endeavors to deliver top-quality trains on schedule for our UK customers and train passengers”

LRH are well able to assist any companies looking to locate to the North East and join the Hitachi supply chain with any temporary or long term warehousing or storage needs. click here for more details.

Monday November 28th 2016

Thousands More New Jobs Set To Be Created Next To Nissan Plant

(and only a few miles from LRH Distribution Hub at Birtley!)

Plans have moved up a gear to create a major new industrial park hear in the North East. The Sunderland City Deal focuses on maximising the opportunities of the growing demand in the advanced manufacturing sector by supporting the development of an International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).

Hot on the heels of the recent announcement that not only will Nissan will produce the next generation Qashqai, but also its X-Trail SUV model at its Sunderland plant. Now another step forward is about to be taken with the start of the consultation for the IAMP, a site that could create more than 5,200 advanced manufacturing jobs.

The IAMP will extend the prime location for automotive and other advanced manufacturing and engineering activities that currently comprises the Nissan plant, its supply chain and Sunderland’s Enterprise Zone. To accommodate the projected growth, the new development will be approximately 100 hectare in size and will host new and expanding manufacturing operations, the majority of which will be international firms

According to a Sunderland City Council report* by 2027 Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Councils predict the City Deal will deliver over 260,000m2 of developable floorspace over a 100 hectare advanced manufacturing park plus 5,200 new jobs with the vast majority within the manufacturing sector and an estimated £295m private sector investment in advanced manufacturing in the North East.

Set in a prime location in the heart of the North East of England, the IAMP is planned for land just to the north of Nissan , the country’s largest car manufacturing plant. The site is to the west of the A19 trunkroad and to the south of the A184 road (just down from Testos roundabout) , with excellent access to the A1(M) and main road network.

The IAMP development will make also use of the opportunities created by planned Department for Transport investments in key regional transport links such as, the improvements to the A19 / A184 Testos Junction, scheduled for delivery before 2020/21 and pinch point funding to improve junctions of the A19 at the A1231 and A183.

The proposed International Advanced Manufacturing Park development crosses the border between Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside local authorities. Due to the proximity to key transport links it is expected however that the enterprise and employment opportunities created will have an impact across the North East region.

Here at LRH Distribution we are ideally placed to act as a hub to any companies who are considering locating to this exciting new venture and can facilitate any temporary storage needs you may require. Click here to express any interest you may have and gaining any further information about how we can help you.

* Source

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321731/Sunderland_and_South_Tyneside_City_Deal.pdf

Saturday October 8th 2016

We are pleased to mark the work anniversary of Tony Franciosy who has been with us 4 years today!

Wednesday September 7th 2016

We are pleased to anounce a new service here at LRH if you need a car forwarding or unloading via our freight network more... 

Saturday September 3rd 2016

We are pleased to mark the work anniversary of Tracy Wild who has been with us 4 years today!

Wednesday August 17th 2016

Announced in the budget this year by George Osborne driverless lorries are to be trialed in the UK.  Daimler have already trialed their trucks on the German autobahn. The driverless lorry's are to be trailed in the UK later this year in 2016. The Department for transport hoped that the UK would "lead the way" in testing driverless HGV 'platoons'.
The new technology works by having up to 10 vehicles computer controlled in what is called a platoon with one vehicle at the head of the group containing the driver. The other vehicles behind him mimic his actions in breaking and maneuvering whilst only a few metres apart.

One of the advantages in this technology is that it enables vehicles moving in a group to use less fuel. It is reported that trials will take place north of Preston on the M6 in Cumbria in late 2016. However many have raised concerns as to whether the vehicles will work in the UK. Edmund King, who is the president of the Automobile Association, said although he hoped such a scheme might work he was doubtful that it would work as well in the UK as it works in other countries. "The problem with the UK motorway network is that we have more entrances and exits of our motorways than any other motorways in Europe or indeed the world, and therefore it's very difficult to have a 44 tonne 10-lorry platoon, because other vehicles need to get past the platoon to enter or exit the road."

Many people around the world will be watching the trials with interest, in the United States for instance there are 3.5 million professional truck drivers. Here in the UK haulage companies will be watching developments closely. In Europe in April of this year a convoy of driverless trucks drove across the continent to the port of Rotterdam.

We hope to report later in the year as to how well the trials of gone, but in the meantime we have now plans for driverless trucks at LRH!

Report on One Show DVSA Feature

Report on One Show to go in here shortly.

Report on BREXIT and how it will affect the Haulage Industry

Report on BREXIT and haulage industry knock on effect with Europe to go in here.