TNT Post UK diversifies into vehicle maintenance business

TNT Post UK has re-opened a vehicle maintenance unit at its 120,000 square foot depot in Rugby, central England, to service its own vehicles and those of other firms. The commercial vehicle workshop was already onsite with TNT Post moved into the Rugby site last year, but has been brought back to life to help cut the company’s vehicle maintenance costs and also generate a new source of income.

The company, one of Royal Mail’s largest private sector rivals, said the facility will allow it to undertake its own vehicle maintenance and repairs and carry out legal compliance inspections required every 10 weeks.

And, when not working on its own vehicles, the facility will be able to offer other businesses within a 25-mile radius services for maintaining trucks over 3.5 tonnes in weight.

TNT Post already has 350 contracts in place to provide for such services, and will target potential customers from those with large fleets to those with only one or two vehicles, including leasing companies and logistics firms.

TNT Post, owned by Dutch postal operator PostNL, said its vehicle maintenance unit had created new roles for local skilled workers previously employed by the local council.

As demand grows, the firm said it expected to grow the facility’s workforce further.

Nick Wells, chief executive at TNT Post UK, said the new project was a good example of the entrepreneurial side of his company.

“We are able to reduce our own costs by bringing servicing in-house and as well as offer a cost effective service to local businesses that wish to use the service,” he said.

TNT Post UK describes itself as the second largest UK postal company, handling around 300m mailpieces each month.