DAVIES TURNER BUCKS TREND AND ENHANCES MOROCCAN SERVICES

Davies Turner is committing increased investment to shippers involved in trade between the UK, Ireland and Morocco, contrary to the recent trend that has seen a number of large trailer operators in the trade reduce their services.

The UK’s leading independent freight forwarder is introducing a new fleet of high specification hanging garment trailers and increasing the number and frequency of its scheduled trailer services in both directions.

The company has also financed the establishment of DTCO Maroc, based in Tangier. Morocco is a complex market and this decision has been carefully prepared and carried through with local participation.

This investment is most timely as there is a significant revival of the garment trade with Morocco after the disruption caused over the last few years since the MFA (Multi Fibre Agreement) ended, when manufacturing in North Africa initially failed to match increased competition from the Far East.

To cover the complete range of shippers’ requirements in this trade, Davies Turner offers groupage and full load services for general freight, as well as garments, from all its main hubs in Britain and Ireland. At present, Davies Turner operates a minimum of 25 trailers a week in both directions on this line, with import and export groupage departures on Thursdays (offering the fastest northbound transit times) and Fridays, to and from the company’s main British and Irish hubs. Full load departures are daily, at client’s request. North and Southbound transit times for the overland services are between five and seven days inclusive of customs clearance.

Philip Stephenson, Joint Managing Director of Davies Turner comments: “Despite the problems other operators have experienced in this trade, Davies Turner has a firm belief in business development prospects between the UK, Ireland and North Africa. Historically, the trade has been heavily dependent on CMT shipments of fabric, trim and accessories southbound, and finished garments northbound. So it is very pleasing to see examples of sourcing and production, which moved away from Morocco, principally to China, now returning to the country.

“Following the post MFA uncertainties, our aim is to bring stability and reliability back to the marketplace. This is why we are taking this opportunity to increase our presence in the Moroccan economy through the establishment of our local partner, complete with groupage facility and our own expat delegate based in Tangier. At the same time we are investing in more trailers dedicated to this trade, and boosting our service frequency in both directions.”

Given the high value of freight being moved by DTCO Maroc, it is no surprise that cargo security is another area on which the British forwarder has concentrated in establishing the new operational base in Morocco.

“Security on this route is critical to providing a quality service, so we have also helped establish an independent organisation specialising in providing security services for DTCO Maroc,” continues Mr Stephenson.

The primary function of the security company will be to oversee the loading of garments and other goods at factories and to provide security services for the trailers and their contents while in Morocco.

In order to satisfy the growing demand for groupage as well as full load services, Davies Turner is also investing in appropriate transport infrastructure. As Mr Stephenson adds: “Davies Turner is investing in a fleet of new high-spec hanging garment trailers with the first batch of 20 new trailers already starting to enter service. This is just the first part of our continuing investment programme during 2007.”