APC spends £2.5m on new trailer fleet

The company has just recruited another 140 full-time staff for its national sorting centre at Cannock in the wake of annual growth in the business of around 18 per cent.

As it gears up for this year's Christmas peak it has taken on workers including warehouse operatives and forklift truck drivers, adding to its 500-strong workforce.

And the company says it expects there to be fresh job opportunities within its transport team as the business continues to undergo rapid growth.

To support this growth it has just invested £2.5 million in 45 new trailers to replace its existing fleet.

Overseeing their introduction – the company's biggest trunking investment in its 20-year history – will be newly appointed head of transport Mike Allison

As well as increasing efficiency within the firm's overnight logistics operation, Mike will be responsible for setting and maintaining the network's comprehensive transport strategy and continued compliance with industry legislation including the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency guidelines.

Mike has been working in transportation industry for 15 years, prior to which he was a traffic policeman, specialising in the movement of hazardous materials.

He said: "APC Overnight is a fast growing organisation that is investing heavily in staff and equipment. With the company's continued expansion and addition of new trailers it's a really exciting time to be joining the team.

"I'm looking forward to helping the company continue to grow, while at the same time delivering a first class service for new and existing customers."

APC Overnight – the only company to have won the Express & Star's Business of the Year award twice, in 2012 and 2013 - is the UK's largest next day delivery network, with more than 115 depots across the UK, run by independent local delivery specialists connected to its national sorting centre and head office at Kingswood Lakeside Business Park. It moved from Essington into the new base last year after a £15 million development project.

The company, originally set up to handle business-to-business deliveries, has been boosted by the growth in internet shopping. Whereas Thursday was once the busiest night of the week at its sorting hub, it is now Monday because of the regular surge in online shopping at weekends.

The Cannock centre is handling an average of 100,000 items every night, rising to 120,000 on Mondays. In the run-up to Christmas this is expected to rise to 150,000 a night.

The move to Cannock from APC's previous base in Essington increased its capacity by 50 per cent and nearly doubled its workforce, while turnover has risen by more than 17 per cent to £88m.