Davies Turner is a renowned and long-established freight forwarding and logistics company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1870, the company has built a legacy of excellence in transportation and logistics, making it one of the oldest independent freight forwarders in the UK.
As one of the pioneering economic operators in Europe, Davies Turner has grown to become a global leader in the freight forwarding industry, continuously evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing market.
A family-owned business, Davies Turner operates a robust network of 23 branches across the UK, many of which are home to expansive warehousing facilities. At the heart of its operations is the company’s headquarters in Coleshill, which serves as the central hub for its extensive network.
Recently, the company introduced a state-of-the-art multi-user fulfilment centre and logistics hub in Atherstone, Warwickshire. This impressive facility spans four levels, with each floor offering 35,000 square feet of space and a remarkable capacity for 20,000 pallet locations. The company’s regional influence is further evidenced by its Rotherham site in South Yorkshire, which features offices staffed with seasoned professionals, all under the leadership of Branch Manager, Andrew Ford.
“We specialise in the more awkward and out of gauge shipments that our competitors might not have the same experience with. Over the years, this has included vehicles and machinery of all shapes and sizes and even small rail engines. We can help with shipping anything out of the ordinary that may need a special licence and enjoy the challenge of shipping more unusual items!”
Davies Turner stands as the only freight forwarder operating a dedicated weekly rail import service from mainland China to the UK, providing a vital lifeline for many UK businesses. This express freight rail service departs weekly from Xian in Central China, accommodating both groupage and full load shipments. With the growing concerns over the slower speed of ocean freight and the high cost of air freight, rail offers a cost-effective and reliable alternative. The LCL rail freight service delivers goods in just 19-23 days from terminal to terminal, and is, on average, 70% more affordable than air freight.
In alignment with the UK Government’s ambitious 2050 Net Zero targets, businesses are increasingly encouraged to prioritise transparency regarding their carbon emissions. Recognising the importance of sustainable logistics, Davies Turner is leading the way in adopting greener practices. By promoting rail transportation as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to air freight, the company is committed to significantly reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining efficient service.
For instance, consider the stark contrast in emissions: A 40-ft container laden with 20 tons of cargo generates a mere 4% of the equivalent CO2 emissions when transported by rail compared to air shipment. Embracing this ethos, Davies Turner has embarked on a transformative journey, forging a partnership with Pledge to meticulously track and report all company carbon emissions.
This strategic collaboration not only underscores Davies Turner’s dedication to environmental stewardship but also empowers clients with a tangible means of quantifying and addressing carbon emissions across international supply chains. By embracing such initiatives, the company and its clientele are poised to make significant strides towards achieving Scope 3 emission targets and fostering a more sustainable future.
With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, disrupted shipping market in the Red Sea and Panama Canal, and sporadic port strikes, many businesses have faced huge shipping delays over recent months.
“With many volatile hot spots around the world currently, we monitor situations closely on behalf of our customers. Having a regular Chinese rail service that navigates deftly round the Red Sea Shipping crisis, keeps supply chains running across the world. To reiterate this point, in December 2023 a customer asked to trial a rail shipment with us from Shanghai to the UK, alongside a pre-existing ocean shipment from the same route with a different company. The results were conclusive: the rail shipment took 18 days terminal-to-door, whereas the ocean shipment took 45 days and also ran over the estimated time schedule,” said Andrew.
Davies Turner has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner for businesses seeking efficient and cost-effective logistics solutions in the UK and beyond. With a focus on sustainability, and its reliable and trusted customer service, it comes as no surprise that Davies Turner was named Number One Logistics Service Provider by Logistics Manager Publication in December 2023, in its annual list of the Top 50 UK logistics service providers. One of the key metrics for this decision was the 74.4% increase in turnover for the financial year, ending in 2022, with a record turnover of £350.6 million. Alongside the exclusive new opening of the £40 million state-of-the-art logistics hub in Atherstone, this is a very exciting time for Davies Turner.
For all Air, Sea, Rail and Road freight quotations and further information, please see the details below:
T 01709 529709
rotherhamsales@daviesturner.co.uk
www.daviesturner.com/specialist/rotherham-specialists