Aberdeen firms extend £3million transport partnership

Two Aberdeen-headquartered companies have cemented a partnership established at the turn of the century by extending it into the next decade.

ARR Craib will continue to provide all of the UK transportation and logistics requirements for metal recycling, decommissioning and steel tubulars specialist John Lawrie Group and its two divisions, John Lawrie Metals and John Lawrie Tubulars. 

The firms have worked together since 2000 and the agreement to extend that relationship will support the growth of both businesses.  The contract is valued at £3million per year.

Due to the nature of its operations, John Lawrie Group requires a logistics partner that can accommodate the diverse range of cargo it transports to and from its four existing Scottish sites and across the UK.  ARR Craib can deliver this as it operates the largest general haulage fleet in Scotland, which comprises over 225 vehicles, from small vans to 44-tonne artic lorries, and 400 trailers, including curtain-siders, flatbeds, bulk tippers, double-deckers and low-loaders. 

Earlier this year, John Lawrie Metals announced plans to expand its operations by opening a new metal recycling and decommissioning facility in Dundee in 2020, adding to its current operations in Aberdeen, Montrose, Lerwick and Evanton, near Invergordon.  This additional site is predicted to provide increased work for ARR Craib.

Dave Weston, John Lawrie Metals managing director, said: “ARR Craib has provided an excellent service to John Lawrie Group for nearly 20 years.  It operates an extensive trailer fleet that can accommodate our diverse road haulage needs.  As we continue to grow across the UK and continue to undertake decommissioning projects outside Scotland, we need a transport partner that has the experience, capacity and network to deliver, and know ARR Craib and its team will always go the extra mile to do that.”

Established in 1983, ARR Craib employs over 400 staff at bases across the UK.  In October 2018, the firm was acquired by leading UK logistics company Gregory Distribution, a move that strengthens ARR Craib’s service offering.

Mike Simpson, ARR Craib chief operating officer, said: “We are very pleased to be continuing our close working relationship with John Lawrie Group into another decade and are excited to support its growth plans.  This spring, we have been able to deliver a significant reduction in bulk transport costs for John Lawrie Group, which was achieved as a result of understanding each other’s operations, understanding the different challenges we face and a determination to work together to address those.

“Following our acquisition by Gregory last year, and the expanded network which that places us in, ARR Craib is in a stronger position than ever to deliver for our customers across the country.  Oil and gas, recycling and decommissioning are all new industries for Gregory and it is excited to have John Lawrie Group in its portfolio.”