PD Ports has bolstered its services for customers importing grain and powder products at Teesport with a £1 million investment in five specialist bulk tipper trucks. The new fleet includes STAS Agrostar bulk tipper trailers, specifically designed for handling complex compound products such as grain and powder, which arrived this summer alongside five Volvo trucks.

This investment underscores PD Ports’ commitment to port-centric logistics and enhancing its end-to-end service offerings for all customers at Tees Dock. To support the new fleet, PD Ports has employed an additional 10 drivers, while existing drivers have undergone extra training to operate the advanced trailers.

A £1m investment in five specialist bulks tipper trucks has strengthened PD Ports’ services for customers importing grain and powder products at Teesport.

The STAS trailers are equipped with advanced safety features, including a pneumatic automatic tailgate that can be operated from inside the driver’s cab, enhancing safety during the unloading process. The tailgate is suspended by a double hinge, allowing the door to swing up higher to prevent damage. Each trailer is also fitted with a heavy-duty, wear-resistant floor and underbody vibrators to ensure that product does not become stuck. Additionally, the trailers feature a PM1155 weighing system, operable by remote control, which can weigh the load to within 10kg.

The addition of the bulk tipper trucks is the latest in a series of investments at Tees Dock’s bulks quay, including £9 million spent on two 140-tonne rail-mounted Liebherr electric-hydraulic mobile harbour cranes, self-propelled hoppers, and additional load shovels. These investments have significantly improved vessel discharge times and overall efficiency for customers.

In support of the new fleet, PD Ports has achieved TASCC (Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops) accreditation, which combines food and feed safety legal requirements with industry best practices and specific customer needs to ensure confidence in the food and feed chain. All drivers have received product-specific training as well as TASCC training to maintain high standards of service.

Chris Poole, PD Ports’ Transport Manager for Bulks, who recently joined the company with 20 years of experience in the haulage industry, commented: “Bulk products are a huge part of our business at Tees Dock, but until now we haven’t had an in-house transport service for free-flowing powder or grain. We’ve worked hard to build a strong relationship between our team in transport and the team in bulks so that we can offer customers the option of a service that sees us handle their product from quay to end destination, making it more efficient and cost-effective. By achieving TASCC accreditation and training all drivers in the details of each product, we can be sure to provide the best service and maintain the highest standards.”

This investment in specialist tipper trucks and ongoing improvements at Tees Dock reinforce PD Ports’ position as a leading logistics provider, dedicated to delivering efficient, safe, and comprehensive services for bulk product imports.

For more information visit www.pdports.co.uk