Suffolk-based Bartrums has added 15 new trailers to its fleet, all dual-branded with both the Bartrums and Pallet-Track logos, to celebrate its membership of the pallet network it joined as a founding member back in 2004.
The dual-branded trailers are the latest addition to Bartrum’s fleet of more than 200 vehicles and comes as the company makes huge investment in its fleet this year.
Bartrums operations director Tremayne Johnson said:
“As founding members of Pallet-Track in 2004 we couldn’t be prouder of our new dual-branded trailers.
“Our membership of Pallet-Track is absolutely integral to our overall portfolio of services and our significant investment into these trailers makes us really happy. All our customers will also see them so it’s a great way to raise awareness of our network and visibly demonstrate this alliance.
“This is just the start of a big year for us in terms of procurement and expanding our fleet, and we’re glad to start this with our dual-branded Pallet-Track and Bartrums trailers.”
Bartrums has earmarked some £4million this year for upgrading its fleet and creating a state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging facility. It includes the 15 high-spec trailers, with 12 of them created by respected German manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull.
Stuart Godman, CEO of Pallet-Track, said:
“It’s an exciting year of growth for Bartrums, and we’re delighted the first new vehicles to the fleet are the dual-branded trailers.
“As one of the founding shareholder members of Pallet-Track, Bartrums have played a huge part in our success. They are a first-class business, and it is great that even more customers will learn about our long-standing partnership through these trailers.
“To see this level of investment is exciting and is testament to the brilliant service they offer. We look forward to seeing the new vehicles on the road very soon!”
Schmitz Cargobull East Midlands sales manager Aaron Howarth said:
“The order reflects Bartrums’ ongoing investment in modern, high specification equipment. With the combination of flexibility, strength, safety and connected technology, the new trailers are set to deliver long-term value across Bartrums’ operation.”
Separately, Voltempo has announced that it has delivered a high-power charging solution for Bartrums, enabling the operator to scale its electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) fleet.
Supported by the UK Government’s Depot Charging Scheme (DCS), the installation includes a Rolec UltraCharge 400 unit with dual CCS2 connectors, charge monitoring, and two dedicated HGV charging bays.
From its Eye base, Bartrums operates close to 200 vehicles across the UK, from 3.5 tonnes to 44-tonne artics, spanning pallet network distribution, general haulage and bulk transport. An early adopter of EVs, the company already operates a Volvo FH Electric on bulk tipping work, which is currently charged off-site at a customer’s premises.
Voltempo led the project from initial design and planning through to installation and grid connection, providing a single point of contact throughout, that included ensuring the application for the DCS funding was seamless and successful.
Tremayne Johnson, Director at Bartrums, said:
“The key challenge has always been charging. Without our site charger, there simply is no electrification project. For Bartrums, it was the Government grant which enabled this project. Voltempo have been a pleasure to work with from start to finish, supporting us to a very large extent with the paperwork and application.
“By summer of 2026, we will have three electric tractor units on the fleet, all in customer livery, running on dedicated customer-specific operations, powered by our new charging solution.”
The installation includes a 400kW charging system with dual CCS2 connectors, charge monitoring and dedicated truck bays, located adjacent to a high-capacity substation installed as part of a 2022 site development, which reduced cabling requirements and overall cost.
Voltempo says projects like this depend on getting infrastructure right, and accessing available funding support can make all the difference to accelerate the transition to decarbonised freight transport.
Paul Jordan, Chief Commercial Officer, Voltempo, said:
“We’re delighted to support Bartrums as they start to scale their electric fleet. High-power depot charging isn’t just about installing a charger – it’s grid connection, site design, planning and making sure everything works together. That’s where we support customers of all sizes, from SMEs through to the largest national fleets, and provide expert guidance to facilitate the DCS application process from start to finish.
“Operators like Bartrums are crucial to the transition to zero emission road freight, and harnessing the DCS, combined with the right infrastructure and support, will help accelerate that transition across the sector.”
Pallet-Track owner, northstarr, is exhibiting at Multimodal on stand 8035 and Voltempo is exhibiting on stand 4082
