Small Island Road Haulage Deal Sees Dropped Trailer Freight Secured for Another Lustrum

UK – The small island ferry services which provide essential services to those living and working off the mainland are key in many regions of the world and now haulier Steve Porter Transport and cross Solent ferry company Red Funnel have agreed to continue their agreement which sees the Hampshire based road haulage operator remain the RoRo ferry group’s Preferred Freight Partner ensuring that Steve Porter remains the Isle of Wight’s largest independent freight carrier for the next five years.

Steve Porter took over Red Funnel’s own distribution division some five years ago, thereafter signing a deal with Meacher’s Global Logistics for onward UK trunking services for goods to and from the island with Porter’s offering a bespoke cross-Solent drop-trailer operation from Southampton to East Cowes. The deal ensures the haulier maintains its favoured priority status for freight moving across the waterway. Malcolm Gibson, Managing Director of Steve Porter Transport Group said:

“This unique alliance will ensure that we can offer the most competitive cross Solent freight options for our customers as we continue to build our drop trailer offering to supermarkets, retailers and organisations currently moving significant volumes of cross-Solent freight.”

The renewed deal was clearly welcomed by both parties and commenting on the alliance Lee Hudson, Red Funnel’s director in charge of sales said:

“Red Funnel has been operating the Southampton-Cowes ferry route since 1861 and we have created a very strong partnership over the past five years with Steve Porter. Both businesses have taken advantage of over 120 years of combined business expertise on the Island and we have forged a unique relationship between our two highly skilled and motivated teams to provide a top quality, one stop service for an extremely wide range of customers.”

Photo: Chief Executive of Red Funnel Kevin George with Steve Porter MD Malcolm Gibson.