What Explore Transport does

Explore Transport Limited is a UK specialist transport and rail services provider headquartered in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, founded in 2015 by managing director David Cox. The company operates a Euro-6 compliant fleet of more than 150 tractor units and 500 trailers across seven nationwide depots (Worksop, Aveley, St Neots, Winsford, Dagenham, Burton-on-Trent, Newark, and Solihull), supported by approximately 300 employees and delivering annual revenue in excess of £70 million. Its services are organised around five core lines: General Transport, Heavy Haulage (abnormal loads up to 250 tonnes using Faymonville, Nooteboom, and Broshuis equipment), HIAB Hire and Contract Lifting (including remote-controlled HIABs with Variable Stability Legs), a Rail Division supplying Road Rail Vehicles for track maintenance and construction, and an Inner-City Transport line built around a proprietary Urban Tractor Unit with direct-vision cab design. Customers are enterprise clients in the construction, rail, and aerospace sectors, with industry accreditations including FORS Gold, CLOCS, FTA, Allmi, and Achilles Link-Up forming the basis of pre-qualification for procurement-led contracts.

The business model is direct B2B enterprise sales delivered through a depot-based field force, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is generated from hardware-intensive transport services (fleet utilisation on contracts) and professional services such as contract lifting and rail on-track plant hire. The operational backbone is a bespoke in-house Transport Management System providing real-time GPS tracking, live telematics on fuel burn, idle time, and asset utilisation, and ETA updates accessible on phones and tablets, with central planning staffed seven days a week. Explore Transport targets the lowest empty mileage in its sector via depot density and backhauling, uses FORS/CLOCS-trained drivers including a specialist London team, and operates 24/7 UK-wide coverage with a dedicated London Consolidation Centre in Dagenham separating long-haul trunking from last-mile urban delivery. The company is privately held by founder David Cox with no disclosed institutional shareholders or funding rounds.

Name

Explore Transport

Legal name

Explore Transport Limited

Website

https://exploretransport.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Explore Transport is a UK specialist transport and rail services provider operating 150 trucks across 7 depots. Founded in 2015, it serves construction, rail, and aerospace industries with general haulage, heavy haulage, HIAB lifting, and rail vehicles, generating £70M+ annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Haulage and Rail Services

NAICS

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), Rail Transportation (482)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Infrastructure Equipment Transport (Cranes, Excavators, Bridge Beams) (TLADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Trailer & Heavy Transport Equipment Providers (SPMT, Lowboy, Multi-Axle) (TLADAGAM), Rail Heavy Haul & Dimensional Loads (Out-of-Gauge) (TLADAGAL), Heavy Vehicle & Equipment Transport (RVs, Trucks, Buses) (HSAKAFAH)

Keywords

• Specialist haulage services
• Heavy haulage transport
• Contract lifting services
• Rail plant hire
• Abnormal load logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Worksop

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transport Services: General transport, heavy haulage, and specialist transportation services. The company operates a fleet of 150+ trucks and 500 trailers serving construction, rail, and aerospace industries with revenues exceeding £70 million annually
2. HIAB and Contract Lifting Services: HIAB hire and contract lifting solutions including rigid HIABs, wagon and drag HIABs, lowloader HIABs and articulate HIABs, with fully qualified operatives and project management services
3. Rail Division Services: Road Rail Vehicles (RRVs) equipped with cutting-edge technology for track maintenance, renewals, OLE and structures or construction work

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Explore Transport is a specialist UK haulage and rail services provider operating a Euro-6 compliant fleet of 150+ tractor units and 500 trailers from 7 nationwide depots. Its core offering covers general transport, abnormal load heavy haulage (up to 250 tonnes), HIAB hire and contract lifting, and rail division services including Road Rail Vehicles for track maintenance and construction, all coordinated through a bespoke Transport Management System with real-time GPS tracking.

Product overview

Explore Transport operates as a specialist transport and logistics provider offering a portfolio of interconnected services unified by proprietary technology and safety standards. The core offering includes General Transport (hauling services with a Euro 6 compliant fleet of 150+ tractor units and 500 trailers), Heavy Haulage (abnormal load transportation up to 250 tonnes using Faymonville, Nooteboom, and Broshuis vehicles), HIAB Hire and Contract Lifting (remote-controlled lorry loader services with 360-degree lifting capacity), Rail Division (Rail Road Vehicles for track maintenance and construction), and Inner-City Transport (Urban Tractor Units with direct-vision cabs for city centre deliveries up to 44 tonnes). All services are supported by a bespoke Transport Management System providing real-time GPS tracking, telematics, and ETA updates, with centralized planning available 7 days a week across 7 nationwide depots.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Transport General haulage and delivery service using a Euro-6 compliant fleet of over 150 tractor units and 500 trailers, including flat trailers, curtain-siders, step frames, low-loader plant trailers, concrete mixers and aggregate trailers, backed by a bespoke Transport Management System with real-time GPS tracking and telematics. Targeted at enterprise customers in construction, rail and aerospace sectors.
• Heavy Haulage Specialist transportation of abnormal loads up to 250 tonnes using a fleet that includes Faymonville, Nooteboom and Broshuis vehicles, combined with bespoke services including route surveys, movement orders, BE16 special orders, test drives and swept path analysis. Provided to enterprise customers with specialist heavy haulage requirements.
• HIAB Hire and Contract Lifting HIAB lorry loader hire and contract lifting service with remote-controlled HIAB units featuring Variable Stability Legs providing 360-degree lifting capacity, including rigid HIABs, wagon and drag HIABs, lowloader HIABs and articulate HIABs, supplied with fully qualified operatives and project management. Targeted at construction and industrial sites needing contract lifting.
• Rail Division Services Rail division service providing Road Rail Vehicles (RRVs) and on-track plant hire for track maintenance, renewals, OLE and structures work, construction projects and plant hire, using a high-spec fleet equipped with cutting-edge technology sourced from industry-leading suppliers. Sold to rail infrastructure contractors and authorities.
• Inner-City Transport Specialised urban delivery service using the pioneering Urban Tractor Unit featuring innovative low-level seating and full glass cab giving drivers direct vision to see, assess and avoid cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, while still handling full-length trailers up to 44 tonnes. Offered to customers requiring safe city-centre deliveries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual revenue exceeding £70 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme)coreOthersFORS Gold Certified partner demonstrating commitment to safety, fuel efficiency and environmental protection standards in fleet operations
• CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Community Safety)coreOthersCLOCS compliance partner ensuring construction logistics meet community safety standards
• FTA (Freight Transport Association)coreOthersFTA accredited member demonstrating freight transport industry excellence
• ALLMI (Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers)coreOthersALLMI accredited for lorry loader operations and safety standards compliance
• Achilles Link-UpcoreOthersAchilles Link-Up Approved supplier pre-qualification for construction, utilities and transport industries
• FaymonvillecoreTechnology or IntegrationFleet includes best-in-class products from Faymonville for specialist abnormal load transportation
• NooteboomcoreTechnology or IntegrationFleet includes Nooteboom trailers for specialist heavy haulage capabilities
• BroshuiscoreTechnology or IntegrationFleet includes Broshuis equipment for specialist transportation solutions
• Mercedes-Benz (Specialist Tractor Units)coreTechnology or IntegrationFleet includes 150 tonne, 180 tonne, and 250 tonne Mercedes tractor units for heavy haulage operations
• Scania (Specialist Tractor Units)coreTechnology or IntegrationFleet includes 65 and 80 tonne Scania tractor units for specialist transportation

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maritime Transport: UK-based container haulage and logistics operator with comparable fleet scale, depot network, and end-market focus on construction and intermodal freight. Directly comparable in business model and customer base.
• Suttons Group: UK haulage specialist with significant bulk, container and tanker operations, sharing construction and industrial end-markets. Directly comparable in fleet composition and UK depot model.
• GBA Services: UK logistics and transport provider with comparable fleet scale, focused on time-sensitive and specialist freight. Overlaps in service offering and target market.
• Howard Tenens: Privately held UK haulage and logistics operator serving construction, retail and manufacturing customers with multi-depot coverage. Similar size band and customer mix to Explore.
• Brit European: UK-based specialist haulier with general and abnormal load capability, serving construction and industrial clients. Comparable in specialist equipment and customer verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Wincanton: One of the UK's largest logistics and transport providers, offering general haulage and specialist services across construction, retail and industrial verticals. Larger and more diversified but overlapping service portfolio.
• Eddie Stobart (now part of EVRi Logistics): Long-established UK road freight and haulage brand with national depot coverage and large tractor/trailer fleet. Comparable in scale and end-markets though broader in e-commerce parcel focus.

Regional players

• Quattro Plant / Speedy Hire Transport: UK plant hire and transport specialists serving construction, utilities and rail. Comparable in HIAB-style lifting and rail-adjacent services, though primarily rental rather than full-service haulage.
• Mears Group Transport Division: UK transport services arm of Mears Group with plant and vehicle hire including HIAB-style lifting solutions. Comparable in equipment and contract services but parent operates primarily in social housing.

Emerging players

• Dawsongroup Truck and Trailer Solutions: UK specialist in commercial vehicle and trailer rental/lease with construction and heavy haulage focus. Comparable on specialist equipment and end-market exposure but operates an asset-rental model rather than owned fleet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/explorepts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exploretransportltd
• Xx.com/explorepts

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Explore Transport