The drivers were employed by Axis Logistics, logistics provider for the Prax Group, which went into administration along with its parent company.
Administrator Teneo Financial Advisory has confirmed that the majority of Axis Logistics 137 staff have been made redundant “with immediate effect” with a small number retained for a limited period “to support the orderly closure of the business”.
Community, the union representing the majority of the drivers, said the “devastating news” had “come as a shock”.
Union spokesperson Paul Warren confirmed all 120 tanker drivers had been told they were being made redundant: “We are seeking further information from the administrators on next steps, and we will be communicating this to our members as soon as we know more.
“It’s just a really sad and sorry time.”
The company’s tanker fleet will be sold to raise funds.
In a statement, the administrators said that Axis had “suffered operational challenges as a result of the wider group insolvencies”, which had resulted in its administration. It added: “Unfortunately, after carefully assessing all available options, the administrators concluded it is not possible to continue to trade the Axis business.”
Deserved better
The drivers, who were told the devastating news in a Teams meeting, are being supported by Teneo’s employee team to apply for redundancy payments from the Redundancy Payments Service.
Around 50 of the tanker drivers are based at Immingham, with 25 to 30 in Thurrock, a similar number in Kingsbury and about 10 in Scotland.
The “dedicated” workforce deserved “far better”, the spokesperson added. “
Prax Group went into administration on 30 June. The company has oil field interests in the Shetlands and owns around 200 petrol stations, through its Breeze and Harvest Energy brands, as well as the Lindsey refinery.
Image from Prax Group