Les Smith Haulage, a Swindon-based transport company celebrating its 50th year in business, has made a significant £4 million investment to meet the growing demand for its services. The firm has upgraded and renewed 10 vehicles in its fleet, including six Mercedes units and four fully-branded rigid trucks, bringing the total number of vehicles to 52.
Founded by Les Smith and now run by his sons Tony, Danny, and Nick, the independent haulage provider has been a member of Palletways UK, Europe's largest express palletised freight network, for four years. Les Smith Haulage plays a key role in the network, collecting and delivering around 1,400 pallets each week for Palletways, ranging from individual items to large-scale consignments.
The company operates across Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, with a focus on Swindon and Hungerford. Nick Smith, Director of Les Smith Haulage, highlighted the importance of this investment: "This is a monumental year for us and, despite the ongoing challenges within the logistics industry, we continue to grow and expand as a business. Our 72-strong team are fundamental to our success, every single person is vital to our longevity."
Rob Gittins, Managing Director of Palletways UK, praised Les Smith Haulage's commitment: "Les Smith is a great asset to the network and their success over the past 50 years is to be celebrated. We work closely with their management team to grow our presence in these counties, and this has paid off with Les Smith recently taking on additional postcode areas and responsibilities with us."
The new vehicles boast Euro 6 engine specifications, meeting the latest emission requirements. The tractor units are the latest models on the market, incorporating improved aerodynamics, internal cab space, and safety and energy efficiency features.
Les Smith's journey began in 1965 when he moved to Swindon from London and started working as a coalman for Stallards, a Gorse Hill firm. When the haulage side of their business closed, an opportunity arose for Mr Smith to start his own venture with one of their redundant trucks.
Today, Les Smith Haulage serves numerous prominent Swindon firms and delivers to all corners of the UK mainland. The company operates across three sites in Swindon, including its new head office in South Marston. Its services encompass UK-wide next-day delivery, general haulage, Moffett truck delivery, and pallet network services.
As one of over 120 independent transport providers within the Palletways UK network, Les Smith Haulage continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing high-quality, reliable transport services, ensuring its continued growth and success in the years to come.
