The Logistics Terminal ( TLT ) is taking over one of Tilbury’s largest construction product distribution warehouses in the first of a series of terminal openings it is planning across the UK.

The company calls this model ‘PortCentric’- any product entering the UK can be stored in warehouses at the Port of Entry for immediate distribution. The products are then distributed in specified quantities directly to the client.

Jewson and Travis Perkins are customers of TLT’s sister company, Triple A Transport Services, where single packs of bricks , blocks , tiles or forest products are delivered on a next day service directly to site.

Richard Newbold, joint partner of TLT and owner of Triple A Transport Services ,says: “Suppliers of such products are facing many of the same pressures as timber yards. They are not generally selling as much as they used to with the housing market the way it is. They might want to order just one or two small loads rather than a full load.

“In recent years,however, it has become not unusual for UK brick manufacturers to take over 3 weeks to deliver smaller quantities should a builder run out of bricks.

“We are able to store imported products at our Port Centric Terminal and distribute them in small quantities on tail lift vehicles with pump trucks or on Hiab lorries direct to building sites, upon request. Delivery can take place the very next day – even on orders placed up to 11am the day before.”

The service is aimed at businesses that are looking to distribute smaller quantities of building materials, which accounts for over 70% of TLT’s existing custom.

TLT partner Mike Brown worked for Finnforest before co-founding the company. He says: “We expect to quadruple our existing 120-containers-a-week throughput within the next 6-12 Months.”