GOODYEAR Tyres has opened new base of operations in Southampton for its 24-hour commercial support network, TruckForce.

The UK’s only dedicated truck tyre supplier and service provider, TruckForce’s network is made up of a combination of Goodyear Dunlop equity-owned hubs and independent service providers, offering crucial truck tyre servicing and breakdown assistance throughout the UK.

With strong road, rail, sea and air travel links, Southampton is a hot-bed of commercial traffic and therefore an ideal location for TruckForce to establish a base of operations, say Goodyear.

The new hub will meet a variety of specialist fleet requirements. For instance, technicians will provide support for hazardous and dangerous goods carriers such as Hoyer and Suttons, critical-time operators such as DPD and vehicle-movers such as ECM and BCA.

Servicing vehicles in the Southampton, Portsmouth, Andover and Salisbury areas, the new operation in Westquay Road will open with six vans and technicians, with plans to expand this department in the coming months.

By 2019, the service will have extended to also cover Brighton, Bournemouth and Poole.

The Hub is the first new TruckForce location since 2006, adding to the group’s 12 existing service Hubs throughout the UK.

The site’s manager, Andzejs Skavronskis come to the role after seven years as a depot manager for another commercial tyre breakdown service.

Chris Suttle, TruckForce regional manager, said: “Our new location in Southampton is an exciting embodiment of the success and growth that we have achieved to date, and we are immensely proud of the journey that we have been on so far. We wish the Hub’s new manager, Andzejs Skavronskis all the best and thank him for his efforts so far.”

in its successful launch.”