CAE Delivers teams up with Knights of Old as volumes continue to rise

31/01/2019

Jamie Knapper)

One of Britain’s fastest-growing parcel firms has hailed a partnership with one of the country’s oldest logistics providers as a significant boost to its development.

CAE Delivers, which is the UK’s leading specialist in shipments to Ireland for major brands in retail, financial services, engineering and entertainment, has appointed the Knights of Old Group as its new linehaul partner.

The tie-up will see Knights of Old collect and consolidate consignments from clients across the south of England for delivery to CAE Delivers’ Dublin depot.

CAE Delivers’ Managing Director Jamie Knapper has described the decision as important in maintaining customer services standards at a time that this company is experiencing unprecedented growth.

“Over the last year or so, we have made substantial changes to our infrastructure on both sides of the Irish Sea to ensure that we not only grow the amount of business which we handle but can do so in a way which best supports our clients.

“Those investments in systems and personnel have resulted in us being even quicker and more reliable but we require the same of partners in a number of different disciplines with whom we work to help us progress.

“We recognised that we were likely to outgrow our previous linehaul provision even before the recent peak season which saw parcel volumes more than double. We knew that we needed the services of a much larger and more capable operator, so it’s with some delight that we have been able to bring Knights of Old on board as our new linehaul partner.

“Having a much larger and more flexible fleet means that they can facilitate later collections from UK clients with sufficient contingency to cover for any situation, enhancing our ability to sort, process and deliver swiftly right across the island of Ireland.

“This partnership is, I believe, further ample demonstration of our putting in place sensible, strategic and sustainable growth.”

Mr Knapper’s comments follow the news that CAE Delivers was recruiting an additional 80 drivers across the Republic of Ireland, thereby doubling the number of delivery staff which it employs across the country.

The appointment of Knights of Old is an undoubted boost to CAE Delivers’ plans. It has become one of the UK’s largest privately-owned logistics companies, running a diverse fleet comprising more than 250 trucks and 300 trailers.

Over more than 150 years since it was founded, the firm has built up an extensive portfolio of services, including domestic and international road, sea and air freight, warehousing, supply chain management and contract logistics solutions.