“He’s on it! Paul came back to me the next day and he’d done it all within a week. It was literally so smooth.” – Bryson Elderton, Business Owner, Unitrak Bulk Transfer

 

For over four decades, Bryson Elderton, together with his father and more recently his son, has been at the wheel of Northamptonshire’s road haulage industry. 

 

Since founding Unitrak Bulk Transfer in 1986, Bryson has ensured the business has been adapting in order to thrive. Now, with the next generation hopping on board, updating the company’s fleet to add a new truck became a top priority. 

 

With a new investment on the horizon, Bryson knew exactly who to call – Paul Cox from Acorn Commercial Finance, a former home county school friend and a trustworthy, reliable finance broker. 

 

Bryson’s son joined the business at age 19, eager to drive one of his father’s vehicles. At the time, Bryson had begun winding down the fleet, selling off 15 vehicles and 20 trailers with the intention to streamline the business and cut down his workload. This prompted his son, Bryson Junior, to show an interest in the business and he hasn’t looked back since. 

 

Bryson assigned an 8-wheeler, Class 2, 32 tonne tipper to his son and kept a four-wheeler, 18 tonne tipper for their smaller deliveries. Bryson has since reduced his fleet to 4 main vehicles, along with their two articulated lorries offering bulk tipping, curtain side, palletised deliveries, one driven by himself and the other by his long-term employee of 25 years, Andy. 

 

The current focus is very much on quality rather than quantity as they modernise their vehicles to maintain their workload, primarily bulk transfer of aggregates including sand, gravel and recyclables such as Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) from the county’s waste incinerators, which have seen a significant boom in recent years, driven by the industry’s push toward zero waste to landfill. 

 

 

With the increasing need for a modern vehicle to meet demand, an addition to the fleet was secured in the form of their new 8-wheeler, 18-tonne, shiny new Scania – an investment to ensure reliability in their day-to-day work. The day after speaking to Paul at Acorn Commercial Finance, the truck was sourced, and a finance deal was in the making. 

 

Bryson says: “I’d never used finance before and the banks only give you an umbrella if it’s not raining. I went to school with Paul and he was the first person that sprung to mind and within a day, he’d called me and said, ‘I’ve got one for you’. The way he handled the job was so quick.” 

 

Asset finance can be a complex and overwhelming process, but it keeps cash flow steady and with the right expertise and guidance the repayments are manageable, allowing your company to continue to run smoothly. Understanding the specific needs of a small business and any particular industry requirements, in this case within the transport and haulage sector, is crucial. 

 

Unitrak Bulk Transfer have been an essential part of the local and UK supply chain since the 80s, moving thousands of tonnes of materials across the country. From shifting 1,000 tonnes of sand and gravel around the M25 for concrete mixers to transporting soil to Inverness and bringing back the finest potatoes, their work is vital in keeping industries and households supplied. With the right financing in place, they can continue to adapt and modernise their approach, meeting the growing demand for bulk transport services. 

 

Bryson says: “Wherever we go – we can bring a load back as well. Our little 18 tonne tipper can sometimes earn more in one day than the others, because it can get in where the bigger trucks can’t. It carries up to 10 tonnes and it’s got a crane so we can deliver house bricks and other products. It’s a bit of a niche market really, there’s only one in the county and that’s me. So if you need a small delivery – I’m your man. 

 

“I won’t take a job on unless I know I can do it. You can never do too much for a good customer. It’s me that they talk to and where the buck stops. We’re reliable and trustworthy and now my son’s taken to it like a fish to water. He comes in early and gets the pressure washer out and gives it a polish inside, he’s got that bit of love for the truck, which you don’t always get with the youngsters nowadays. Customers like him, he’s easy going. He gets on with a job and never causes any grief, unlike some drivers. It’s a great benefit to me and the business.” 

 

 

Having a finance partner who understood their requirements made all the difference to Bryson and his bulk and general haulier business. Acorn Commercial Finance’s personalised, knowledgeable, and efficient service ensures that businessmen like Bryson can focus on what they do best – keeping the wheels of their industry turning. 

 

Unitrak Bulk Transfer are always available for enquiries please contact sales@unitrak.ltd 

 

Contact us to see how we can help keep the wheels of your business turning on 0345 565 2603.