Clugston

What Clugston does

Clugston Distribution Services Ltd is a privately held, family-controlled UK road transport and logistics operator headquartered in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, tracing its origins to 1922 and now operating eight integrated service divisions from a four-depot network (Scunthorpe, Driffield, Felixstowe, Hull). The core business centres on bulk road tanker and general distribution: food-grade and industrial bulk powder haulage (flour, sugar, starch, cement, lime, polymers), bulk fuel distribution using 44-tonne six-compartment tankers, steel and long-product haulage up to 24 metres, and special movements/abnormal loads across the UK and Europe. Complementary divisions include a DVSA Authorised Testing Facility and Renault Trucks franchised workshop (Commercial Vehicle Maintenance), a 24-hour silo evacuation service, and Clugston International, which exports used commercial vehicles globally.

The operating platform runs on a modern fleet of over 100 vehicles and trailers equipped with satellite tracking and telematics-based transport management, supported by an in-house 12-bay engineering workshop staffed by 30 technicians. Recent technology deployments include Mouvex MX12 hydraulic blower packs on new Renault T food-grade units, Van Hool FSW single-seam 60m3 tipping silos, and intermodal tank operations from the Felixstowe depot. The company holds ISO 9001, FORS Silver (Felixstowe), FORS Gold (Freightmaster), ADR, SLP and DVSA accreditations that function as tender prerequisites in construction, fuel and hazardous logistics. Revenue is generated via transaction-fee pricing on contracted and spot-hire arrangements, professional-services fees from the workshop, and hardware sales through Clugston International, with all pricing bespoke and quote-based.

Clugston serves industrial powder manufacturers, food manufacturers (including Birds Eye/Aunt Bessie), fuel distributors and refineries, steel producers and stockholders (most prominently British Steel under a 100-year partnership dating to 1924), and construction-sector clients following the February 2026 acquisition of Freightmaster Ltd. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise field sales with key account management for major manufacturers and distributors, complemented by a quote-based enquiry channel for SME and ad-hoc customers. The company is led by CEO Alistair Clugston and Managing Director David Millard (appointed November 2025), with no institutional investment, public listing or external funding disclosed.

Name

Clugston

Legal name

Clugston Distribution Services Ltd

Website

https://clugston.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clugston Distribution Services Ltd is a privately held UK road tanker and general haulage operator, founded 1922 and family-owned, running 170+ staff and 100+ vehicles across bulk food and industrial powders, fuel, steel, special movements, silo evacuation, vehicle maintenance and used-truck export from depots in Scunthorpe, Driffield, Felixstowe and Hull.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road Transport and Logistics Services

NAICS

Truck Transportation (484), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), General Freight Trucking (4841), Support Activities for Road Transportation (4884)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Tanker Truck Leasing & Rental (Fuel, Chemical, Food-Grade) (TLABABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Materials & Oversized E-commerce (Residential) Delivery (TLAAAKAH), Utility / Service Body Truck Leasing & Rental (Bucket, Field Service, Telecom/Power) (TLABABAJ), Dump & Tip Trucks Leasing & Rental (TLABAEAD)

Keywords

• Bulk powder transport
• Road tanker logistics
• Fuel distribution services
• Steel haulage transport
• Abnormal load movements

Headquarters

HQ city

Scunthorpe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bulk Powder Transportation: Transport of dry bulk powders including food-grade products (flour, gluten, starch, sugar), industrial products (cement, lime, polymers), and silo evacuation services. Revenue generated through contracted and spot hire arrangements.
2. Bulk Fuel Distribution: Delivery of fuel products including diesel, unleaded petrol, aviation fuel, and marine fuels. Operates 44 tonne 6-compartment tankers with pump discharge. Works on contracted and spot hire basis.
3. Steel and General Haulage: Transportation of long steel products, palletised goods, timber, and construction materials. Services include flatbed extenders, curtain siders, and low loader services for products up to 24 metres in length.
4. Commercial Vehicle Maintenance: Vehicle maintenance and repair services including Renault Trucks franchised service, COBO Tankers approved repairs, MOT/ADR testing, and tachograph calibration. Revenue from service contracts and individual maintenance jobs.
5. Clugston International: Export and sale of quality used trucks and transport equipment worldwide. Provides maintenance assistance, diagnostic support and spare parts to global client base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clugston Distribution Services is a UK road tanker and general distribution logistics provider operating eight service divisions: bulk food powder transport, bulk fuel distribution, bulk industrial powder transport, commercial vehicle maintenance, steel and general haulage, silo evacuation, used truck export (Clugston International), and abnormal load movements. The company operates 100+ vehicles from depots in Scunthorpe, Driffield, Felixstowe, and Hull, serving enterprise customers across the UK and Europe under contracted and spot hire arrangements.

Product overview

Clugston Distribution Services is a transport service provider operating a multi-service platform offering road tanker and general distribution solutions. The core portfolio comprises eight integrated service divisions: Bulk Powder Food Division (food-grade tankers for powders like flour and sugar), Bulk Fuel Distribution (6-compartment fuel tankers across the UK), Bulk Powder Industrial Division (industrial powders including cement and polymers), Commercial Vehicle Maintenance (franchised Renault service with DVSA MOT/ADR testing), Steel and General Haulage (long products up to 24m), Silo Evacuation Services (24-hour emergency response), Clugston International (used truck export/trading), and Special Movements (abnormal loads). The acquired brand Freightmaster Ltd adds flatbed and low loader services for construction. The company operates throughout the UK and Europe serving SME to multinational customers with approximately 170 employees and a fleet of over 100 vehicles and trailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freightmaster: Specialist transport company acquired by Clugston Holdings Ltd, specializing in flatbed and semi-low loader transport with focus on precast concrete panels and construction industry
• Clugston International

Products and services

• Bulk Powder Food Division Specialized transport service for bulk food powders including flour, sugar, starch, and grain products using food-grade tankers and silo tipping tanks, operating 7 days a week across the UK.
• Bulk Fuel Distribution UK-wide fuel distribution using modern fleet of 44 tonne, 6-compartment tankers with pump discharge capability for motor spirit, diesel, aviation fuel, and other liquid chemicals.
• Bulk Powder Industrial Division Independent bulk powder distribution for industrial products including cement, lime, polymers, plastics, minerals, and chemicals using tipping trailers, pressurised tank trailers, and intermodal containers.
• Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Full maintenance and repair services for all makes of commercial vehicles including Renault Trucks franchised service, COBO Tankers approved repairs, DVSA MOT/ADR testing, and 24-hour breakdown service.
• Steel and General Haulage Specialist handling and distribution of long and palletised products including steel sections, strip coil, tubes, piling, rod in coil, timber, and construction materials up to 24 metres in length.
• Silo Evacuation Services Emergency and scheduled silo evacuation services for powdered and granulated products including food powders and polymer/PET materials with 24-hour response capability nationwide.
• Clugston International (Used Truck Export) Export and trading of quality used trucks and transport equipment worldwide, providing maintenance assistance, diagnostic support, and spare parts to a global client base.
• Special Movements (Abnormal Loads) Abnormal load transport services including route surveys, permit applications, escort vehicles, and project planning for modular buildings, bridge sections, engineering plant, and oversized cargo throughout the UK and Europe.
• Freightmaster Ltd (Acquired Specialist Transport) Specialist flatbed and semi-low loader transport services acquired in February 2026, focused on precast concrete panels and the wider construction industry with FORS Gold accreditation. Operates 12 x 44t trucks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 years in business since 1922
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• British SteelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100-year partnership transporting steel long products. British Steel celebrates Clugston as a valued UK haulier, with partnership spanning almost all of Clugston's 100 years in business. Services include transport of steel sections, strip coil, tubes, piling and rod in coil up to 24 metres in length.
• Van Hool Industrial VehiclescoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of bulk powder transport equipment including tipping silos and tanker trailers. Delivered 4 new 60m3 tipping silos for food product transport using FSW single-seam vessel construction. Relationship includes presence at Road Transport Expo showcasing Van Hool products.
• Cobo Tankers and ServicescoreTechnology or Integration7-year relationship with leading tanker manufacturer. Clugston assists Cobo in UK ADR tanker business. Attended Cobo's annual factory visit in Santander, Spain. Clugston is COBO Tankers approved repair agent.
• UKIFDA (UK Independent Fuel Distributors Association)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUKIFDA is the premier trade association for liquid fuel distribution industry. Clugston supports Cobo Tankers at UKIFDA exhibitions and events, positioning as a committed partner in the fuel distribution sector.
• Logistics UKsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association membership providing industry representation and compliance guidance for road transport operations.
• Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORS provides accreditation for fleet operators. Clugston achieved FORS Silver at Felixstowe, Freightmaster holds FORS Gold. FORS accreditation is required by many major construction and logistics companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DHL Supply Chain (UK): UK division of global logistics major providing contract logistics, transport and warehousing at national scale. Broad incumbent competing for similar enterprise food manufacturing and industrial distribution contracts.
• Eddie Stobart: UK road transport and logistics incumbent with general haulage, container, and bulk capabilities and depot network across the UK. A broader incumbent with substantial UK footprint touching adjacent but not identical customer segments.
• Wincanton: Largest UK domestic logistics provider serving retail, consumer and industrial customers with warehousing and transport. Larger broad incumbent that operates bulk tanker and container divisions competing for similar enterprise contracts though at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Bulkhaul: UK-headquartered specialist in tank container and bulk liquid/powder international logistics. Directly comparable on tanker/flexitank operations for food-grade and chemical bulk powders, including the international export angle Clugston pursues via Clugston International.
• Maritime Transport: UK intermodal and bulk haulage operator running container, bulk powder and palletised freight services from a multi-depot network. Comparable because both operate depot-led UK bulk distribution with intermodal growth ambitions (relevant to Clugston's Felixstowe intermodal build-out).
• Turner Group (Turners of Soham): UK bulk tanker and general haulage operator with similar food-grade, fuel and bulk powder service lines. Overlaps directly with Clugston on bulk powder tankering and food-grade compliance (HACCP) requirements.
• Holroyd Group: UK regional bulk haulage and warehousing operator serving industrial, construction and recycling customers. Comparable on multi-divisional UK bulk transport, including tipping trailers, low loaders and abnormal loads similar to Clugston's Special Movements.
• Suttons Group (Suttons Tankers): UK-headquartered bulk liquid and powder tanker transport operator running a comparable fleet of road tankers for chemicals, fuels and food-grade products. Closest direct peer given overlapping food-grade tanker, fuel distribution and bulk powder service lines operating across UK and European lanes.

Emerging players

• Pentalver: UK container haulage and intermodal operator with strong port-adjacent depot footprint. Comparable to Clugston's Felixstowe intermodal growth strategy and overlapping bulk container handling capability.
• Manfreight: UK specialist bulk tanker operator focused on liquid and powder bulk movements. Comparable niche tanker operation serving food-grade and chemical customers with similar compliance and fleet characteristics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clugston-distribution
• Xx.com/clugstongroup

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clugston