A HAMPSHIRE haulier is boosting its fleet of trucks to meet soaring demand from the roadworks industry.

TJ is a bulk haulage and waste management specialist based in Fareham which is supporting major motorway and road improvements in the region.

Now bosses anticipate it will be running a record 143 trucks in its fleet by the end of the year to meet demand.

The announcement, which comes on the firm’s 20th anniversary, follows an increase in work for contractors involved in roadworks across the south.

It has been awarded work for contractors involved in major works taking place from Bristol to the M1 in the East Midlands and the M25 in Greater London.

This includes the delivery of hot asphalt and aggregate, including the firm’s own recycled products used for temporary roadways and car parks.

Now the company, founded by Terry ‘TJ’ Higgins, wants to rapidly increase its fleet of 122 lorries.

Company transport director Neil Glazebrook said: “The reliable transport of aggregates and asphalt, where safety and time are of the essence, is vital for our clients and we are increasingly being asked to support operations at sites across the country.

"As part of a strong pipeline of work, we now have 122 vehicles in the fleet, with a further 19 due to be added throughout this year, bringing the total to 143 by the end of 2015.”

The firm, which employs 182 staff, has also kitted out 20 of its eight-wheel tipper trucks with the 360- degree detection cameras.

The new systems, costing £1,500, help cab drivers improve safety by eliminating blind spots and ensuring real-time video evidence.

It follows its blue and white company logo being redesigned with reflective material.

TJ is also aiming to be among just 200 companies in the UK with silver status in the highly-regarded Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

Neil said: “We are continually raising the bar in professional standards regarding the safety and efficiency of our fleet.”