Collett & Sons
Collett & Sons is a UK family-owned multi-modal heavy haulage specialist (founded 1928) providing transport, heavy lift, marine agency, warehousing, and consulting for abnormal loads across renewable energy, power generation, and infrastructure sectors in the UK and Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1928
- HeadquartersHalifax, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Collett & Sons does
Collett & Sons Ltd is a UK-headquartered, family-owned multi-modal heavy haulage logistics specialist founded in 1928 and based in Halifax, England. The company provides integrated transport, heavy lift, marine agency, warehousing, and consulting services for oversized and abnormal loads that cannot be moved by standard vehicles. It serves renewable energy (wind turbine components), power generation and grid infrastructure (transformers), oil and gas, aerospace, heavy engineering, civil infrastructure, HS2 rail, and environmental systems clients.
The company's core technology platform is its specialist fleet: Europe's largest crane vehicle (Effer 205 tonne/metre), the UK's largest girder bridge trailer (550 tonne capacity), SPMTs with 360-degree steering, Goldhofer FTV850 blade lifters (first UK operator to deploy this technology), 36 Goldhofer modular axle lines, the JS-125 500Te Jack-Up System, and over 120 specialist trailers with 100+ axle lines. Operationally, Collett operates an in-house DVSA Authorised Testing Facility, a heavy-lift training centre, and 55,000+ square metres of secure indoor and outdoor storage across six UK/Ireland depots (Halifax, Bradford, Goole, Grangemouth, Ireland, Sherburn in Elmet).
The business model is enterprise, project-based, and bespoke: senior managers and project managers engage directly with major infrastructure and energy clients through tenders and long-term relationships; each project is custom quoted based on cargo type, dimensions, weight, route complexity, permits, and equipment requirements. Revenue streams include one-time heavy transport contracts, heavy lift and contract lifting professional services, marine agency professional services, managed warehousing/storage, and transport consulting. Differentiators include nearly 100 years of operating history, multi-generational family ownership under Managing Director David Collett, UKAS-accredited ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001 certifications, and repeat engagements with marquee clients such as National Grid, Vattenfall, GE Vernova, and Energia Renewables.
Collett & Sons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Collett & Sons
- Legal name
- Collett & Sons Ltd
- Website
- https://collett.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1928
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Collett & Sons is a UK family-owned multi-modal heavy haulage specialist (founded 1928) providing transport, heavy lift, marine agency, warehousing, and consulting for abnormal loads across renewable energy, power generation, and infrastructure sectors in the UK and Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Collett & Sons industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heavy Haulage Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)
- SIC
- Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialized Equipment Transport (Flatbed, Step-Deck, Lowboy, Car Carrier) (TLAIAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chartering & Heavy-Lift Vessel / Barge / RoRo Solutions (TLACAIAJ), Gear & Lifting Equipment Rental (Cranes, Spreaders, Forklifts, Reach Stackers) (TLAHALAD), Specialized Trailer & Heavy Transport Equipment Providers (SPMT, Lowboy, Multi-Axle) (TLADAGAM)
Keywords
Where Collett & Sons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Collett & Sons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Heavy Transport & Haulage Services: Project-based heavy transport services for abnormal loads including wind turbine components, transformers, and industrial equipment. Revenue generated through contracted project work with significant one-time deliveries.
- Heavy Lift Services: Crane hire, contract lifting, and jacking & skidding services for positioning heavy equipment. Includes engineering and project management.
- Marine Agency Services: Ship's agency, vessel chartering and port operations for project cargo providing fully managed marine service.
- Warehousing & Storage: Over 55,000 square metres of secure indoor and outdoor heavy lift storage across multiple depots. Includes power distribution warehouse partnership.
- Transport Consulting: Route planning, swept path analysis, traffic management plans, route access surveys and visual route inspections.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based custom pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Collett & Sons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Collett & Sons is a multi-modal heavy haulage logistics specialist providing integrated transport, heavy lift, marine agency, warehousing, and consulting services for oversized and abnormal loads across the UK and Europe. The company operates a fleet of over 120 specialist trailers, 100+ axle lines, SPMTs, Europe's largest crane vehicle, and the UK's largest girder bridge trailer, supported by over 55,000 square metres of storage across six depots.
Product overview
Collett & Sons is a multi-modal heavy haulage logistics company offering an integrated suite of transport, heavy lift, marine, and consulting services. The core portfolio includes Heavy Transport for abnormal loads, General Haulage, Crane Hire & Contract Lift, Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT), and Warehousing & Storage. These are supported by Marine services (Shipping Agency, Vessel Chartering, Ports & Stevedores) and Consulting services (Swept Path Analysis, Route Access Surveys, Traffic Management Plans, Topographical Surveys). The company operates specialized equipment including Scheuerle girder bridge trailers (150T to 550T capacities), Goldhofer modular axles, Nooteboom blade trailers, and the Effer 205 tonne/metre crane vehicle. Over 150 employees operate from six depots across the UK and Ireland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heavy Transport
- General Haulage
- Abnormal Loads Transport
- Crane Vehicles
- Pilot Cars & Permits
- Freight Forwarding
- Heavy Lift Storage
- Warehousing
- Crane Hire & Contract Lift
- Engineering & Project Management
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered 450 wind turbine components for South Kyle Wind Farm - 50 Nordex N133 turbines
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Collett & Sons
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Collett & Sons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Collett & Sons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wilson Power SolutionscoreStrategic partnership for power distribution warehouse at Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire. Wilson Power Solutions fully rents the facility to store transformers, while Collett manages daily transport operations and heavy-lift services between Wilson's main facility and the warehouse.
- KolektorcoreTransformer manufacturer for whom Collett delivered and installed three transformers to New Cumnock Substation in Scotland. Collett provided end-to-end support including vessel discharge, port storage, transport, transhipment and installation.
- HLI Rail & RiggingcoreClient for whom Collett transported a 146Te Yankee Dryer to ICT UK's new Deeside facility. Scope included vessel discharge, girder bridge transport, SPMT transhipment and final positioning.
- GE (General Electric)coreMultiple partnerships for wind turbine component deliveries including Drumlins Park Wind Farm (GE 158RD turbines) and transformer transport projects through GE Vernova for Pathfinder Substation.
- WagenborgcorePartnership for Corduff Substation transformer delivery in Ireland. Wagenborg handled initial marine transport while Collett managed final road transport and installation.
- ExpeditorscoreClient for Saltend Power Station two-stage project involving delivery of new 100Te gas turbine rotor and removal of old unit for refurbishment overseas.
- Rhenus Project LogisticscoreClient for delivery of two 160Te inlet valves to Dinorwig Hydro-Power Station as part of essential upgrade scheme.
- GoldhofercoreEquipment supplier for 36 Goldhofer THP/SL-L modular axle lines, the first Goldhofer modular equipment in Collett's trailer fleet. Mark Howe, UK Sales Representative at Goldhofer, stated the partnership supports complex transport projects.
- GreinercoreManufacturer of the 350 Tonne capacity modular side girder bridge system (SGB), described as the 'missing piece of the puzzle' for Collett's girder bridge fleet.
- DOLLcoreTrailer manufacturer of the Blade Adapter (clamp and dolly system) used for the first time in Ireland and UK for transporting 80m wind turbine blades to Cushaling Wind Farm.
- National GridcoreMajor client for transformer deliveries to substations including Biggleswade, Gretna Grid Stability Facility, and Neilston Grid Stability Facility as part of National Grid ESO's Stability Pathfinder programme.
- VattenfallcoreSwedish multi-national power generation company for whom Collett delivered 50 Nordex N133 wind turbines (450 components) to South Kyle Wind Farm, Vattenfall's largest UK onshore wind farm.
- IQA Elecnor GroupcorePartnership for 148Te transformer transport and installation at Neilston Grid Stability Facility in Scotland, part of National Grid's Pathfinder Programme Phase II.
- GE VernovacorePartnership for Pathfinder Substation project involving transport and installation of four 145Te transformers from Buckie Harbour to Pathfinder, Blackhillock Beatrice Onshore Substation.
- ELS (Exceptional Load Services)minorPartnership with Edwin Sunderland at ELS for securing permits and liaising with local authorities including Garda escorts for Irish wind farm projects.
- Training4TransportminorApproved training centre for specialist haulage training courses and JAUPT-approved driver CPC periodical training, located at Halifax head office.
- Celtic ShippingminorShipping partner assisting with cargo handling over the quay at Port of Waterford for Irish wind farm projects.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Collett & Sons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Dawsongroup: UK-based specialist in commercial vehicle and equipment rental, including trucks and trailers. Partial overlap with Collett's fleet-based transport and equipment capabilities, primarily through trailer and commercial vehicle leasing rather than end-to-end project execution.
Regional players
- Harren & Partner: German heavy lift shipping and logistics specialist with breakbulk and project cargo capabilities. Comparable to Collett's marine chartering and project cargo business, with complementary strength in ocean transport for oversized cargo.
- Ainscough Crane Hire: UK's largest crane hire company with extensive mobile crane fleet and contract lifting services. Overlaps with Collett's crane hire and contract lifting offering in the UK, though Ainscough is more focused on crane hire and less on integrated transport logistics.
Direct peers
- Allelys Heavy Haulage: UK-based specialist heavy haulage and abnormal load transport company with comparable SPMT, girder bridge, and crane capabilities. Closest direct UK peer to Collett in heavy transport and heavy lift services for energy and industrial customers.
- Wagenborg: Dutch heavy transport, marine, and logistics specialist that partnered with Collett on the Corduff Substation project. Operates comparable SPMT, modular trailer, and marine chartering capabilities across Europe with a similar end-market focus.
- Fagioli: Italian specialist in heavy lifting, transport, and engineered logistics. Directly comparable to Collett in SPMT operations, transformer and industrial equipment transport, with similar focus on energy and infrastructure projects across Europe.
- De Boer Heavy Transport: Dutch heavy transport specialist with comparable SPMT, modular axle, and abnormal load capabilities. Competes with Collett in UK and European energy, civil, and industrial infrastructure projects, particularly in offshore wind and grid installations.
- Hird Limited: UK-based provider of cranes, powered access, and specialist transport services. Overlaps with Collett's crane vehicle, contract lifting, and abnormal load transport services in the UK market, though with a more limited heavy haulage fleet.
Broad incumbents
- Mammoet: Global leader in heavy lifting and transport with much larger scale, broader geographic footprint, and integrated engineered heavy lifting services. Competes with Collett for the largest UK and European projects while serving a much wider portfolio of industries.
- Sarens: Belgian-headquartered global crane rental and heavy transport major. Competes in the same abnormal load and wind turbine transport space as Collett but with vastly larger fleet, multinational reach, and balance sheet to underwrite major EPC contracts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Collett & Sons social profiles
Digital presenceCollett & Sons compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Collett & Sons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Collett & Sons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Collett & Sons subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Collett & Sons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Collett & Sons M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Collett & Sons
What does Collett & Sons do?
Collett & Sons is a multi-modal heavy haulage logistics specialist providing integrated transport, heavy lift, marine agency, warehousing, and consulting services for oversized and abnormal loads across the UK and Europe. The company operates a fleet of over 120 specialist trailers, 100+ axle lines, SPMTs, Europe's largest crane vehicle, and the UK's largest girder bridge trailer, supported by over 55,000 square metres of storage across six depots.
Is Collett & Sons a public or private company?
Collett & Sons is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Collett & Sons founded?
Collett & Sons was founded in 1928. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Collett & Sons based?
Collett & Sons is headquartered in Halifax, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Collett & Sons make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Heavy Transport & Haulage Services are the primary driver. The others are heavy Lift Services, marine Agency Services, warehousing & Storage and transport Consulting.
Who are Collett & Sons's main competitors?
Dawsongroup is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Harren & Partner and Ainscough Crane Hire. Direct peers are Allelys Heavy Haulage, Wagenborg, Fagioli, De Boer Heavy Transport and Hird Limited. Broad incumbents are Mammoet and Sarens.
Does Collett & Sons have an API?
No public API is recorded for Collett & Sons.
What industry is Collett & Sons in?
Collett & Sons's product category is Heavy Haulage Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAIAMAH, Specialized Equipment Transport (Flatbed, Step-Deck, Lowboy, Car Carrier), with a secondary code of TLACAIAJ, Chartering & Heavy-Lift Vessel / Barge / RoRo Solutions. Its NAICS code is 484230 and its SIC code is 4213.