Line-down? How Black Country engineering firms get a part moved in an hour
For production managers and buyers: how same-day courier works for urgent parts, tooling and castings across the Black Country, with costs and a checklist for the booking call.
A stopped line in a fabrication shop costs £300–£2,000 an hour depending on the machine and the shift. The replacement bearing, tool insert or hydraulic hose is often sitting at a supplier 12 miles away. The courier is the cheapest part of the problem; the delay is the expensive part.
How fast, honestly
- West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick: a vehicle is usually with the supplier within 30 minutes of booking.
- Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley: 30–45 minutes.
- Telford, Coventry, Stoke: 45–60 minutes to collection, then direct.
What it costs
| Run | Miles | Car | SWB van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton to West Bromwich | 10 | £25.00 | £45.00 |
| Dudley to Birmingham | 12 | £25.00 | £45.00 |
| Walsall to Coventry | 30 | £40.50 | £63.00 |
| Telford to Birmingham | 34 | £44.30 | £68.20 |
Priority (nearest vehicle dispatched immediately) adds 25%. For a line-down, book priority; the extra £11 on a £45 job is nothing against the machine's hourly cost.
Before you phone, have these ready
- 1.Supplier's address, postcode and the name of who's got the part on the counter.
- 2.Part size and weight: a bearing is a car job, a 90 kg gearbox is a van with two people.
- 3.Your goods-in contact and whether the delivery is to the main gate or a specific bay.
- 4.A PO number if you need it on the invoice.
Account customers skip the card
Engineering firms book with us by phone or WhatsApp on account: no card at the point of booking, one invoice at month end, every proof of delivery attached for your quality records. Most of our account customers in the Black Country book two to ten line-down jobs a month.
Prices quoted are our published rates at the time of writing, with no VAT added. Enter your postcodes for a fixed price today.