Carpentier
Carpentier is a Calais-headquartered, fourth-generation family-owned French transport and logistics group operating road freight, bulk tanker, and warehousing services across the EU-UK transmanche corridor and into Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, serving agri-food, construction, and e-commerce clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1928
- HeadquartersCalais, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Carpentier does
Carpentier (legal entity TRANSPORTS CARPENTIER, SAS) is a French family-owned transport and logistics group founded in 1928 in Calais and now in its fourth generation of ownership under President David Sagnard. The group operates through three complementary entities: C+ Transports (national and international road freight, 1 pallet to 30 tons, focused on the France-UK corridor), Carpentier Silo (bulk pulverulent and gravity tanker transport for sugar and other food-grade commodities), and Carpentier Logistique (storage, order preparation, cross-docking, and labelling from a 20,000 m² warehouse on the Port of Calais, expanded to 89,000 m³ of total storage capacity after 2020 and 2023 builds). A fourth stream, FLO Palettes, delivers 24/48-hour palletised messaging across France and the UK through the ~55-member FLO Palettes network of which Carpentier is the sole Pas-de-Calais operator.
The company runs approximately 22,500 km per day with 30 daily Channel crossings (5,000 per year) and serves six countries (France, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, plus Spain/Turin via VIIA rail-highway partnerships). Its technology stack is conventional logistics IT: GPS fleet tracking, EDI for transport management, a G.E.D. electronic document management system, real-time geolocation, and a Baryshop online ordering portal; there is no disclosed AI/ML, mobile app, or public API. Revenue is generated through transaction-fee road freight, managed-services warehousing, palletised messaging, parcel pickup point services for retailers (Cdiscount, IKEA, Leroy Merlin, Maisons du Monde), and short-term equipment rental. Pricing is bespoke B2B and not publicly disclosed.
Carpentier sells primarily through enterprise field sales targeting agri-food processors, construction (BTP) firms, and EU-UK cross-border shippers, supplemented by membership in the ~110-company Groupement FLO and the VIA CALAIS port cluster (with M&L as port handler and VIIA for multimodal). The group holds ISO 9001:2015 (AFNOR, valid through 2024), OEA customs certification, Qualimat-Transport for bulk food hygiene, and Label Objectif CO2, and was named PME de l'Année 2018 by L'Officiel des Transporteurs. Customers include Hauts-de-France sugar beet processors, BTP companies, and large retailers using the Calais parcel pickup point. The group employs approximately 125 staff across drivers, logistics, and administration.
Carpentier firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carpentier
- Legal name
- TRANSPORTS CARPENTIER
- Website
- https://groupe-carpentier.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1928
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carpentier is a Calais-headquartered, fourth-generation family-owned French transport and logistics group operating road freight, bulk tanker, and warehousing services across the EU-UK transmanche corridor and into Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, serving agri-food, construction, and e-commerce clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carpentier industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Road Freight Transport and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload (484122), Transportation and Warehousing (48-49), Support Activities for Transportation (488)
- SIC
- Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cross-Docking & Transload Facilities (Non-Temp Controlled) (TLALAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bulk Transloading & Intermodal Bulk Transfer Facilities (Rail/Truck/Conveyor/Barge) (TLAHABAN), Project Cargo & Heavy-Lift Transload (TLALAFAL), Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping) (TLAJAFAL)
Keywords
Where Carpentier is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calais
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carpentier 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
- Road Transport Services: National and international road freight transport for goods from 1 pallet to 30 tons, including transmanche crossings via ferry or Channel Tunnel
- Bulk/Cistern Transport: Specialized transport of bulk goods in pulverulent and gravity cisterns for sugar and mineral transfers
- Logistics and Warehousing: Storage, order preparation, inventory management, labeling, and cross-docking services from 20,000m² warehouse near Calais port
- Palletized Messaging: Express 24/48h delivery of 1-5 pallet lots via FLO Palettes network across France and UK
- Parcel Pickup Point: Collection point services for e-commerce orders from Cdiscount, IKEA, Leroy Merlin, and other retailers
- Equipment Rental: Short-term rental of platform trailers for construction equipment transport with driver
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Carpentier product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transports Carpentier is a Calais-based transport and logistics group providing national and international road freight (1 pallet to 30 tons), bulk food-grade tanker transport in pulverulent and gravity cisterns (notably for sugar), cross-Channel (transmanche) freight between continental Europe and Great Britain via ferry or Channel Tunnel, 20,000 m² warehousing with order preparation and cross-docking, palletized shipping through the FLO Palettes network, and parcel pickup services for e-commerce retailers. The group operates through three complementary entities (C+ Transports, Carpentier Silo, Carpentier Logistique) covering six countries and approximately 89,000 m³ of storage.
Product overview
Carpentier operates as a diversified transport and logistics group headquartered in Calais, France, consisting of three complementary entities: C+ Transports (road freight across Europe and the UK), Carpentier Silo (bulk tanker transport for food-grade commodities, especially sugar), and Carpentier Logistique (warehousing and fulfillment services). The company also offers Transmanche cross-channel transport via ferry or tunnel, Messagerie Palettisée through the FLO Palettes network, and parcel pickup services. Founded in 1928, the group provides end-to-end logistics solutions including storage, order preparation, cross-docking, and tracking across approximately 89,000m³ of storage capacity at the port of Calais.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C+ Transports: National and international transport of goods from 1 pallet to 30 tons between continental Europe and Great Britain
- Carpentier Silo
- Carpentier Logistique
- Objectif CO2
- FLO Palettes
Products and services
- C+ Transports (Road Freight)
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced CO2 emissions by 15% per tonne-kilometer between 2013-2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carpentier
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Carpentier technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Carpentier partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Groupement FLO (France Lots Organisation)coreAssociation of ~110 transport and logistics SMEs founded in 1993. Carpentier operates within this network for mutualization of means, capabilities, and innovative solutions. Covers 9 specialty areas including lot transport, urban distribution, palletized messaging, temperature-controlled transport, bulk liquids/solids, and multimodal transport.
- FLO PalettescoreNetwork of ~55 transport companies specializing in palletized messaging (1-5 pallets) with 24/48h delivery across France and UK. Carpentier is the sole FLO Palettes member in Pas-de-Calais. National hub in Gidy near Orléans with 3 regional hubs.
- VIA CALAIScoreVIA CALAIS is an entity grouping transport and logistics companies on the Calais-Boulogne port area. Members include Calais Truckstop, M&L, Groupe Carpentier, ASA, Yto Solutions, and Data center. Provides comprehensive solutions including transport, logistics, customs clearance, port handling, truck parking, and tanker washing.
- M&L (Manutention et Logistique)coreFirst port handler at Calais with 32,000m² storage and railway transfer platform. OEA (Authorized Economic Operator) with dual certification for 'customs simplifications' and 'security/safety'. Handles port logistics, customs documentation, and transshipment for Carpentier's cross-channel freight.
- VIIA (SNCF Logistics subsidiary)minorRailway highway operator offering combined transport services. VIIA terminal at Calais enables transfer of unaccompanied trailers to ferries connecting to Great Britain. Also operates Calais-Turin and Calais-Spain routes for multimodal freight.
- Pépinières NAUDETminorPartner for reforestation initiative '10 pallets for the planet' where one tree is planted for every 10 pallets transported through FLO Palettes network. NAUDET manages tree planting across French countryside for environmental compensation.
- AFTRAL (training organization)minorTraining organization for driver licensing and professional development. Carpentier works with AFTRAL for SPL (Super Priority License) training for new drivers, funded through Pôle Emploi.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Carpentier competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Geodis: French-headquartered global 3PL offering road freight, warehousing, and contract logistics across Europe. Overlaps with Carpentier's C+ Transports road freight and Carpentier Logistique warehousing services, but operates at vastly larger scale.
- XPO Logistics: Global asset-based truckload and contract logistics provider (incorporating former Norbert Dentressangle). Overlaps with Carpentier's long-distance road freight and European distribution services.
- DB Schenker: Major European road freight and contract logistics incumbent. Competes for the same cross-Channel, palletized, and warehousing customers but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Direct peers
- STEF: French specialist in temperature-controlled and food-grade transport and logistics. Closely comparable to Carpentier Silo's bulk food tanker operations and Qualimat-compliant agri-food focus, with similar European footprint.
- Heppner: French family-influenced transport and logistics group with strong European road freight and cross-border capabilities. Mirrors Carpentier's mix of general freight, warehousing, and dedicated B2B customer relationships.
- Groupe Mousset: French family-owned transport and logistics group specializing in bulk, industrial, and dedicated solutions. Highly comparable business model (family ownership, bulk/industrial verticals, regional French footprint) to Carpentier.
- Palletways: European palletized express network with 24/48h delivery across multiple countries. Direct competitor to FLO Palettes and the palletized messaging service Carpentier offers.
- Charles André: French road transport specialist with bulk, heavy-haul, and industrial logistics services. Comparable to Carpentier Silo bulk tanker work and BTP/construction equipment transport offering.
- Dupessey & Co: French mid-market transport and logistics provider with road freight, warehousing, and dedicated industrial solutions. Comparable scale and service mix to Carpentier's three-entity structure.
- FM Logistic: European family-influenced contract logistics and warehousing operator with multimodal road transport capabilities. Comparable to Carpentier Logistique's warehousing, cross-docking, and supply-chain value-added offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carpentier social profiles
Digital presenceCarpentier compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Carpentier financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carpentier leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Carpentier subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Carpentier funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carpentier 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 Carpentier
What does Carpentier do?
Transports Carpentier is a Calais-based transport and logistics group providing national and international road freight (1 pallet to 30 tons), bulk food-grade tanker transport in pulverulent and gravity cisterns (notably for sugar), cross-Channel (transmanche) freight between continental Europe and Great Britain via ferry or Channel Tunnel, 20,000 m² warehousing with order preparation and cross-docking, palletized shipping through the FLO Palettes network, and parcel pickup services for e-commerce retailers. The group operates through three complementary entities (C+ Transports, Carpentier Silo, Carpentier Logistique) covering six countries and approximately 89,000 m³ of storage.
Is Carpentier a public or private company?
Carpentier is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Carpentier founded?
Carpentier was founded in 1928. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carpentier based?
Carpentier is headquartered in Calais, France, in the Europe region.
How does Carpentier make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Road Transport Services are the primary driver. The others are bulk/Cistern Transport, logistics and Warehousing, palletized Messaging, parcel Pickup Point and equipment Rental.
Who are Carpentier's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Geodis, XPO Logistics and DB Schenker. Direct peers are STEF, Heppner, Groupe Mousset, Palletways, Charles André, Dupessey & Co and FM Logistic.
Does Carpentier have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carpentier.
What industry is Carpentier in?
Carpentier's product category is Road Freight Transport and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLALAAAE, Cross-Docking & Transload Facilities (Non-Temp Controlled), with a secondary code of TLAHABAN, Bulk Transloading & Intermodal Bulk Transfer Facilities (Rail/Truck/Conveyor/Barge). Its NAICS code is 484121 and its SIC code is 4210.