Van Elle has agreed a five-year heavy haulage deal with WS Specialist Logistics. This will include the disposal of Van Elle鈥檚 in-house HGV fleet and transfer of its transport management team and directly employed drivers, into a new division of WS Specialist Logistics dedicated to heavy plant haulage, which will manage and operate the entire fleet.
The thinking is that this will reduce overheads, increase profits and allow Van Elle to reallocate the capital employed into growth initiatives.
WS Specialist Logistics has paid Van Elle 拢2.9m for the assets being transferred and assumed operational management from 1st May 2025. As a result, Van Elle has been able to reduce its funding facility with ABN Amro from 拢11m to 拢8m, of which approximately 拢6.5m will remain undrawn after completion.
Van Elle chief executive Mark Cutler said: 鈥淭his new partnership with WS Specialist Logistics is a logical initiative for the group; releasing capital to invest in areas of greater return as we enter a long-awaited period of anticipated growth in our core markets. WS Specialist Logistics have been an excellent partner to the business for several years and we look forward to drawing on their expertise to further improve our transport operations whilst keeping the support of our fantastic, loyal in-house transport team and drivers that perform so well for us 24/7.鈥�
WS Transportation was formed in April 2014 by William Stobart and his son Edward Stobart. William is a co-founder of Eddie Stobart Ltd and is still involved with Eddie Stobart as a shareholder and adviser.
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