Growing Go Direct opens new haulage site
A Cannock recruitment, training and transport group has just opened a new two-acre site in Essington for its growing haulage operation.
Go Direct entered the haulage business when DHL vacated its pallets contract for the Midlands three years ago.
The business, which is run by husband-and-wife directors team Gary and Karen Oliver, started as a recruitment agency in 2000.
The recruitment and training operation is at its headquarters at Mill Park, Hawks Green.
The transport side moved on July 24 to its new site in Warstones Road. It was previously operating from two leased sites.
"In the last three years we have gone from having two drivers to 40 drivers.
"We are looking to now further expand the business and plan to increase the number of articulated vehicles we have in our fleet from 25 to 40 within the next two years," explained Mr Oliver.
The Go Direct operation also has 11 office staff and two instructors across its two sites.
It has become an RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) accredited training centre which means the business can train a new generation of its own drivers.
"Because of the shortage of drivers we decided to start running our own training programme for HGV drivers. So far five have passed the test to become class one drivers. They progress from driving our vans to the lorries," added Mr Oliver.
"Running our own training means that we now have many drivers under the age of 25. More than 25 per cent are now under 25," he said.
Go Direct, achieved turnover of £4.4 million for 2014 and is on course to hit its target of £4.5m to £4.7m this year.
