We were delighted to be featured alongside Bullet Express in the latest issue of Transport & Logistics magazine, which follows their 25 year journey to provide an added value logistics solution and become one of Scotland’s principle pallet distribution service providers. Capable of adapting to varying customer needs, Bullet Express has developed a reputation for unrivalled 24 hours a day, 365 days a year service.

Through a comprehensive network of professionals, the company is committed to building relationships with clients that last over the long term. Its success serving various market sectors for many years, working with some customers for much of the company’s existence, is indicative of a logistics provider delivering on its promise to meet or exceed expectation.

From humble beginnings, Bullet Express has grown alongside its client base. Founded in 1990 by David McCutcheon and Gary Smith, the business partners began with two vans delivering same day items all over the UK. As the business grew in the first few years, it started to look for regular steady work as well as panic deliveries. This led Bullet Express into nightly trunking to Ireland and ultimately England and Wales.

This has grown to be the major part of the company and as a result it now runs nightly trunk to and from Aberdeen, Inverness, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Belfast, and Dublin. Daily collections or deliveries can be made in all these locations, any day of the week. In addition, as a member of Pall-Ex, the UK’s no.1 network Bullet Express is one of over 80 depots UK wide, all with 1st class facilities for freight delivery and collection.

Other developments over the years have aided the company in its commitment to continuous improvement. For example, it joined the Eco Stars scheme in 2014, the same year it expanded its capability into storage with the opening of its East Kilbride site.

Eco Stars highlights its successful efforts to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Previously the company formed a carbon footprint committee in 2008 to focus attention on reducing waste, fuel consumption and the overall operational footprint of the business without negatively impacting its services to customers.

Initiatives such as sensor lighting and reducing paper consumption – partly by moving some bookings online were accompanied by a trial of gas converters being fitted to some tractor units. These early initiatives resulted in a 10% reduction in the annual fuel bill.

IT has also played an increasingly important part of internal improvement over the years and become a major focus for Bullet Express. This focus has seen the adoption of an online platform from which customers can do their booking. Connected technology allows customers to get instant updates and track deliveries. Indeed, P.O.D.’s are available almost instantly.

At its Glasgow depot, Bullet Express is open 24 hours a day for its nightly trunks. This enables it to take deliveries throughout the night for hauliers or carriers from all over the UK for next day or timed delivery. The logistics provider also delivers into Europe on a regular basis for many blue chip clients. These jobs are door to door and can be tracked on any of its tracked vehicles at all times.

The diverse fleet ranges from small vans to 40 ft trailers all available at a moment’s notice from anywhere in the UK. For specialist vehicles, Bullet Express also boasts a special services department to provide small vans, large luton vans, trailers, HI-AB vehicles and 26 tonne rigids with on board fork lifts.

“Our unwavering commitment to providing clients with a first-class storage and distribution service remains ongoing,” says managing director David McCutcheon. “The business has continued successfully to evolve over these years and is benefiting from our substantial investments made throughout this period in technology, service and staff training.”

Many staff have worked for the company for well over a decade and this stability has brought much success over the years. “We are firmly established as one of the most reputable and reliable independent distribution companies in Scotland. Our recent expansion to our storage and distribution facility in East Kilbride is a further commitment to our customers to provide a first class logistics solution. We look forward to the next 25 years.”

Indeed, it’s going to be an exciting period for the company as it looks to underline its position as one of Scotland’s premier logistics providers. Its experience and expertise makes Bullet Express a valuable supply chain partner and many clients now rely on it as part of their commercial ambition. The efforts it has made to improve have further aided its reputation as an innovative, forward-thinking service partner which is dedicated to engendering long term customer relationships.

Access the full article on Page 51 of Transport and Logistics magazine.