In our second stop around our depots, readers are given a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Fagan & Whalley operation… Our Padiham depot!
One of five UK locations in the Fagan & Whalley network, Our Padiham depot has been a key site for the company since it was acquired and opened in 2001 when we moved from the original depot in Hapton.
Formerly serving as our Head Office, our Padiham depot has been considered the main site of Fagan & Whalley for the past 20 years, and up until 2006, it was the only operational site in our network.
“When company expansion led to the purchase of Albion House in 2016, all non-operational staff moved to occupy the new premises, and our Padiham depot was refurbished to give staff greater welfare facilities, as well as upgraded facilities for drivers and vehicles,” says Managing Director – Operations, Daniel Fagan. “The refurbishment involved works carried out internally and externally, with a large canteen and driver rest area fitted, new drive-through wash facilities, and enhanced Health and Safety measures.
Now operating as the main hub, Our Padiham depot hosts the transport planning teams and incorporates the primary Fagan & Whalley vehicle maintenance facility.
“Our Cross-dock operation was located at Padiham until 2021. Through significant growth, this was relocated to a purpose-built location at our Frontier Park depot on the outskirts of Blackburn. The Padiham depot is still active 24/7 and is usually at its most active on Fridays and Saturdays when our Professional distance drivers are returning from a week on the road.
As well as our main transport and distribution hub, our Padiham depot houses our main testing and maintenance facility, which features an eight-bay workshop, including three service pits and a roller brake tester. In operation 24/7, the Padiham workshop is manned by a team of experienced technicians, including apprentices and of administrative staff.
“All of our vehicles are maintained in-house, with each vehicle receiving maintenance every six weeks and each trailer being assessed every ten weeks,” explains F&W Head of Maintenance, Adam Burgess.
“All maintenance works are carried out by our dedicated team, delivering a full range of skill sets, from trainee- and apprentice-level maintenance staff right through to Scania and IRTE-trained Master Technicians.
“This vital work, often understated, keeps the fleet safe, legal, and compliant. Not only that, but our maintenance teams are also responsible for ensuring all of our vehicles succeed in portraying the brand’s professional image that we’re so proud of whilst they’re out on the road.”
Looking to work with a dedicated team of logistics specialists? Contact our offices to find out more about the transport and distribution services we offer for palletised and non-palletised freight!
