The Beating Heart of the North: Perth Depot’s Overnight Network Revolution

One year on, M&H Carriers' Perth depot has transformed its regional trunking operations, expanded its reach into Fife, and strengthened delivery connections across Scotland. One of Scotland's leading delivery and logistics firms, M&H Carriers, is marking the first anniversary of its Perth depot by celebrating a year of exceptional growth that has reshaped how the business delivers goods across Scotland. The Perth site, which opened in 2024, was part of a major investment by the company to address a growing challenge in Scotland's logistics industry: the need for faster, more reliable connections between the north of the country and the central belt.

Perth, also known as the "gateway to the north," was the natural choice - perfectly placed to connect population centres like Inverness, Aberdeen, and Oban with the rest of the UK, while also supporting remote and rural communities. And as the company now marks its first anniversary in Perth, the team is reflecting on how the depot has transformed M&H's operations. From Perth, what began with a single sub-contracted trunk run each night has since been scaled to twelve nightly trunk runs fully in-house, giving the business complete control over its overnight transfer of freight between depots.

But this change has been about more than just operational efficiency; it has transformed what M&H can offer its customers. With greater control over scheduling, the business can move freight later in the evening, connect depots faster overnight, and load vans earlier the next morning. For customers, that means more time to process orders, more reliable next-day delivery, and the confidence to grow their own businesses knowing their distribution is secure.

Managing Director Fraser MacLean said: "Perth has become the beating heart of our network, and bringing trunking in-house has been a game-changer - we can now move freight more efficiently, maintain service levels even at peak, and provide customers with a level of consistency we simply couldn't achieve before. This isn't just about running more trucks; it's about giving businesses across Scotland a logistics network they can depend on." The depot has also enabled M&H to expand its reach, providing daily deliveries across Fife.

This is giving hundreds of businesses across the region better access to next-day delivery services, helping them stay competitive and connected. Today, the Perth site now runs 16 vans, employs 75 staff, and handles more than 10,000 items per week - a scale that reflects the growing demand for affordable, reliable distribution across Scotland. General Manager of the Perth depot, Thomas Gardiner, added: "When we opened Perth, we built things from the ground up - routes, schedules, teams.

In just a year, we've gone from one trunk run to twelve every night, and the team has worked tirelessly to make it happen. The result is faster, more predictable deliveries for customers, and the capacity to grow even further. That's the real win for us - seeing the difference it makes for the businesses we serve."

Thomas is also currently mentoring the next generation of leaders - Kris MacGregor and Callum Cruickshank - through a structured programme designed to prepare them for senior roles. This hands-on development approach is about building confidence and capability, while ensuring a strong leadership pipeline for years to come. Furthermore, the depot has also quickly become an integral part of the Perth & Kinross community, supporting events such as the Perth Mela Festival and the Perth Veterans Parade, by providing vehicles and logistical support.

With demand continuing to rise, M&H Carriers plans to further increase capacity and strengthen its network links from Perth, ensuring that businesses across Scotland continue to benefit from reliable, affordable, and efficient delivery services. M&H Carriers is one of Scotland's leading distributors and hauliers, delivering parcels, freight, pallets and two-person products across the country. Working with businesses, private individuals and national carrier networks like DPD, DHL, DX, APC, UPS, FedEx and Pallet Track, the firm is dedicated to supporting SMEs and providing all with affordable, reliable distribution services.

M&H Carriers' delivery hubs are in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Argyll and Perth - with satellite depots in Aviemore, Broadford, Elgin, Fort William, Helmsdale, Invergordon, Kyle of Lochalsh, Lochgilphead, Muir of Ord, North Uist, Oban, Stornoway, Tarbert and Thurso.