Question: Hi Mark, what is your role within KJR Transport please?
Answer: Managing Director
Question: Please could you tell us a little bit about KJR Transport?
Answer: KJR Transport provide Temperature Controlled Distribution services to the food and pharmaceutical industries throughout the UK. We provide distribution of Time Critical consignments from small packages to pallets at anytime of day to any UK destination.
Our modern fleet of refrigerated vans and HGVs service a variety of customers from large corporate suppliers to small shops delivering anything from lollipops to bread rolls.
Question: So Mark, how did you get into the temperature-controlled distribution sector?
Answer: In 2004 I left the Armed Forces with the ambition of running my own business. At the time my father was working for a food manufacturing company who used temperature controlled couriers to carry out emergency time critical deliveries.
This inspired the birth of the business. I sourced a small temperature controlled van and started as a sole trader carrying out chilled and frozen deliveries for local companies.
In 2011 KJR Transport Ltd was formed along with my soon to be Wife, Kelly.
Question: Can you firstly tell us what temperature-controlled vehicles that KJR Transport operates?
Answer: KJR Transport Ltd operates 6 HGV Tractor units with 9 Temperature Controlled Trailers. KJR has a fleet of light goods vehicles consisting of 4 small vans which are utilised for sample deliveries and larger 3.5t vans for emergency same-day deliveries.
Question: Are you using telematics across your fleet currently? If so, what advantages do you see this gives your clients?
Answer: KJR has continually improved the telematics systems used to monitor and report data. The improvements help us monitor the location of the vehicles, the temperature of the cargo, if doors are open and gives us a line of communication with the drivers.
We benefit from EPOD systems which communicates to our office and customers the time and signatory of any consignment along with photographic back up. These systems have become an integral part of our day to day business.
Fridge and insulation technology has also helped reduce the amount of fuel consumed on a daily basis.
Question: Customer needs are constantly changing, so what are you finding is now the biggest request from your customers?
Answer: Customers are always chasing POD’s. We understand that this is very important to our customers. To provide peace of mind we inform our customers of ETAs and when deliveries are made.
Feedback of this service is always positive. This may seem like a small thing but goes a long way to improving customer confidence.
We also believe that being upfront with customers regarding any issues arising is the best way to deal with problems.
Question: If you could give one piece of advice to a newcomer to our industry, what would it be please?
Answer: If I were to give any advice to newcomers to the business, it would be to build a good team. The team you work with enables you and your company to provide the service you want to supply.
Every single member of your team, drivers, managers and even the suppliers you chose to work with all play a vital role in your chain.
We provide a bespoke, customer led service and each member of our team, no matter how small, plays a critical part in providing that service. We are flexible and really do go the extra mile. You need a team around you that will also do the same for you.
Question: Lastly, would you like to share any news about your company that you feel would benefit the readers of TCS&D?
Answer: KJR Transport Ltd has been through some changes over the past three years. The company has grown in new areas of business and supplied services that would not have been possible a few short years ago.
KJR Transport has recently achieved a ‘AA’ grade at BRCGS Storage and Distribution audit. We have invested in infrastructure and vehicles to see us through the next few years and this has allowed us to provide secure, well paid jobs during tough financial times.
