HM-D is helping Britain’s businesses get back on the road.
Over the past few years, British industry has been battling supply chain issues. The problem has been compounded by a series of factors; Covid 19 closed factories and borders which stalled production and cross-border trade; adapting to Brexit created additional admin, uncertainty and delays; the knock-on effect caused lorry driver shortages; and now, war in Ukraine has spiked a surge in oil prices.
Each factor, having occurred in quick succession over the past few years, has combined to create a backlog in production and deliveries. The demand has increased, the supply has decreased, and so the costs have escalated. It now costs more and takes longer to bring products and components into the UK, the effects of which are now burdening every UK industry, business, and household.
One solution to this comes in the simple form of road-trailers, the workhorse of British commerce. The UK recently relaxed its laws on who could tow a road trailer with a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes. These trailers are typically utilised by a range of industry professionals, from construction and groundworks, to farming and horticulture. Older generations had grandfather rights to tow such trailers on their existing licence, but the younger generations had to take a separate test. Given that test centres were at capacity during covid, trying to get as many lorry drivers through their tests as possible, the government decided to return legislation back to that of previous generations, and allow people to once again tow these types of trailers on their existing licence.
The problem did not stop there, however. Trailer manufacturers suffered from the same issues that haunted every other industry – supply and demand. The trailer manufacturers simply could not get hold of the right materials at the right price or within the right time frame. Even now, if you call up one of the leading UK brands to order a trailer you’ll be waiting until the beginning of 2024 for your order.
One UK company, however, is doing things differently. Prior to the pandemic, HM-D Trailers supplied road-legal tiny house trailers to the UK market. These trailers are used to build mobile structures on, from houses on wheels to mobile food kiosks to portable shower units. As events unfolded, HM-D Trailers decided to lock-in its agreement with suppliers to maintain production and broadened its offering to provide plant & machinery solutions as well.
The quality of HM-D Trailers gives the leading UK brands a run for their money. Not only are they double-dip galvanised and come with a 5-year chassis warranty, but if HM-D doesn’t have your trailer currently in stock at their depot, then they are currently averaging four weeks in order to fulfil customer’s orders. The company also offers a buy-back scheme on old HM-D Trailers, accepts part exchange on a case-by-case basis, and offers long term rentals to businesses who would prefer to reduce their capital outlay. While HGVs and lorries have their place, a significant number of UK businesses and sole-traders rely on trailers every day to transport materials and machinery. Making these units readily available will help to reduce the bottle-neck a number of UK businesses are facing.
All models have a full set of lights connected via a 13 pin plug, and are braked. The trailers are very lightweight, but can carry heavy payloads, giving them an impressive strength to weight ratio. The units come with a spare wheel and wheel holder as standard. HM-D Trailers offers part-exchange on other trailer brands, buy-backs of previously owned HM-D trailers, and has a referral scheme for customers.
