Ceva Logistics is a more efficient operation as a result of the recession, says its newly appointed UK and Ireland executive vice-president Leigh Pomlett.
He says: "We're riding out the recessionary storm pretty well. We've had to make some changes, but you'd expect that and there's nothing unusual.
"Recessionary forces do teach you to run the business more efficiently and we've reduced our fleet size
to 3,500 units - about half of those being trucks - but the real focus has been on site consolidation. That is, having larger, but fewer sites."
In May, the company announced the closure of its Braintree, Essex depot and there are plans to shut its Wellingborough, Northants site by the end of the year as well.
Pomlett adds: "The challenge is knowing how far to cut during the recession because there is a danger of overdoing it, which could mean that you aren't in a position to capitalise when the market does pick up. It's about knowing when to make cuts and when to stop as well."
Pomlett predicts the market will stabilise in 2010 only returning to growth in 2011 at the earliest. "We will grow the business in specific markets and target sectors that we know we've got a strong presence in, such as automotive, aerospace and home delivery.
"I don't want us to become a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none."
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