DirectLinc
DirectLinc is a UK-based, privately held transportation and logistics company providing specialist and containerised haulage, genset-equipped temperature-controlled transport, ambient distribution, and agri-bulk services through its FLX Logistics, FreshLinc, and FLB divisions to retailers, food manufacturers, growers, and importers across the UK and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersHuntingdon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DirectLinc does
DirectLinc is a UK-based, privately held transportation and logistics company headquartered in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, operating as part of the Freshlinc group of companies. It provides bespoke specialist and containerised transport solutions, including container transport from all major UK ports and rail terminals, specialised crane transport, genset-equipped skeleton trailer services for temperature-controlled containers, and ambient curtain-sided distribution. The business is structured around three operating divisions: FLX Logistics, which delivers ambient logistics across the UK and Mainland Europe through a network of 1,200+ vehicles and partners; FreshLinc, which manages temperature-controlled fresh, chilled and horticultural supply chains for retailers, food manufacturers, growers and importers; and FLB (FreshLinc Bulk), an agri-bulk operation serving grain, sugar beet and cereal customers under TASCC and FIAS accreditation.
The underlying operating technology is a modern transport management system providing real-time tracking and Proof of Delivery (POD) retrieval across the fleet, complemented by a genset-equipped skeleton trailer asset base that enables reuse of empty temperature-controlled containers on return port legs. The fleet composition is multimodal, combining skeleton trailers, genset trailers, curtain-sided vehicles, and crane-equipped vehicles, with 100+ core vehicles backed by a 600+ vehicle group network.
Revenue is generated through transaction fees on both ad hoc and contractual transport engagements, served via direct enterprise sales with dedicated account managers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Customers operate across food retail, food manufacturing, agriculture (growers), import/export logistics, and agricultural bulk, with a 24/7 operating team supporting service delivery.
DirectLinc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DirectLinc
- Legal name
- DirectLinc
- Website
- https://direct-linc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- DirectLinc is a UK-based, privately held transportation and logistics company providing specialist and containerised haulage, genset-equipped temperature-controlled transport, ambient distribution, and agri-bulk services through its FLX Logistics, FreshLinc, and FLB divisions to retailers, food manufacturers, growers, and importers across the UK and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DirectLinc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Services
- NAICS
- General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)
- SIC
- Trucking (No Local) (4213)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dedicated / Contract Carriage Brokerage (Shippers’ Managed Capacity) (TLACACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) / Groupage Forwarding (TLACACAB), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Pool Distribution / Multi-Stop LTL Carriers (TLADAEAF)
Keywords
Where DirectLinc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huntingdon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DirectLinc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Container Transport Services: Provides container transport services from all major UK ports with inland positioning enabling reaction to short lead times. Operates on both ad hoc and contractual basis.
- Specialist Transport Services: Bespoke specialist and containerized transport solutions including crane transport, ambient distribution, and temperature-controlled container movement for import and export.
- Genset Trailer Services: Temperature controlled container transport using genset-equipped fleet enabling reuse of empty containers on return routes, reducing food miles and CO2 emissions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
DirectLinc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DirectLinc is a UK logistics provider that delivers national container and specialist transport services from all major UK ports and rail terminals, leveraging an inland position to react to short lead times. The company operates a core fleet of 100+ vehicles backed by a 600+ vehicle group network and offers both ad hoc and contractual engagements. Its portfolio includes containerised transport, specialised crane transport, genset-equipped temperature-controlled trailer services, and ambient curtain-sided distribution, with 24/7 dedicated account management.
Product overview
DirectLinc is a logistics provider offering a unified portfolio of transport services. The core DirectLinc Container & Specialist Transport service provides national coverage for containers and specialist cargo from UK ports and rail terminals. The offering is supported by a fleet of Genset Equipped Skeleton Trailers that enable temperature-controlled container transport and reuse on return routes. Three divisions extend the portfolio: FLX Logistics handles ambient logistics across the UK and Europe with over 1200 vehicles; FreshLinc manages temperature-controlled fresh, chilled and horticultural supply chains; and FLB (FreshLinc Bulk) provides agricultural bulk transport services for grain, sugar beet and cereals. Together, these services provide integrated logistics solutions from local to national levels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FLX Logistics: Leading ambient logistics management company providing cost-effective transport solutions throughout the UK and Mainland Europe with over 1200 vehicles and partners.
- FreshLinc
- FLB
Products and services
- DirectLinc Container and Specialist Transport A market-leading logistics service offering national container and specialist transport coverage from all main UK ports and rail terminals, with an inland position that drives efficiency and enables direct solutions on short lead times.
- Genset Equipped Skeleton Trailer Service Service provided via a fleet of genset-equipped skeleton trailers that re-use empty temperature-controlled containers on return routes to ports, achieving over 4 million empty return-to-port legs per year in the UK and reducing food miles and CO2 emissions.
- Generator Equipped Skeleton Trailer Hire Trailer equipped with generator sets for transporting fresh and frozen containers for import and export, driving efficiency, reducing food miles and lowering CO2 emissions.
- Ambient Curtain Sided Distribution Distribution service using curtain-sided vehicles for ambient temperature-controlled cargo, available on ad hoc or contractual basis.
- FLX Logistics Ambient Transport Leading ambient logistics management service providing cost-effective transport solutions throughout the UK and Mainland Europe, operating a national network of over 1,200 vehicles and partners with real-time tracking and POD retrieval.
- FreshLinc Temperature-Controlled Logistics Service for retailers, food manufacturers, growers and importers specialising in total supply chain management of temperature controlled fresh, chilled and horticultural products across the UK and Europe.
- FLB Agricultural Bulk Transport Major force within the Agri Bulk supply chain providing bulk services for grain, sugar beet and cereal with TASCC and FIAS accreditation, operating a modern fleet of bulk tippers and curtain siders.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,750 containers moved in 2020
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DirectLinc
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DirectLinc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DirectLinc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DirectLinc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Maritime Transport: UK-based container haulage specialist operating a large fleet of trucks and genset-equipped trailers serving major UK ports. Closest direct peer given shared container drayage, genset reefer capability, and port-led model.
- Wincanton: UK's largest specialist contract logistics provider offering transport and warehousing to major retailers and food manufacturers. Comparable on dedicated/contract carriage, retail and grocery customer overlap, and large fleet operation.
- Pentalver: UK container haulier and empty depot operator serving Felixstowe, Southampton, and London Gateway. Comparable on UK container road transport, empty container repositioning, and port-adjacent operations.
- Manfreight: Independent UK road haulier offering container, general, and specialist transport services. Comparable on UK container and specialist haulage, family-owned mid-sized carrier profile, and port-anchored operations.
- Eddie Stobart Logistics: One of the largest UK road transport and container haulage operators with a national multi-modal fleet. Comparable on UK container transport, retail customer base, and contract logistics services.
Broad incumbents
- DFDS: European logistics and ferry operator with substantial UK road haulage and reefer activity. Comparable on UK/Europe temperature-controlled road transport and import-export container flows, but with broader ferry and logistics portfolio.
- DHL Supply Chain UK: Global logistics giant with a major UK road transport and contract logistics operation serving retail, food, and manufacturing customers. Overlaps with DirectLinc's temperature-controlled and contract carriage offerings but at much larger scale.
- GXO Logistics: Global contract logistics provider with significant UK presence following the XPO spin-off. Comparable on dedicated and shared contract transport for retail and FMCG customers, though broader and more warehousing-weighted.
- Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with strong UK road, intermodal, and reefer capabilities. Overlaps with DirectLinc on temperature-controlled UK/Europe road and import-export container movements but operates as a forwarder.
Regional players
- Turners (Somerset): UK bulk haulier with TASCC accreditation operating bulk tippers and curtain siders for agri and food customers. Direct overlap with DirectLinc's FLB division on TASCC-accredited agri bulk transport in the UK.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DirectLinc social profiles
Digital presenceDirectLinc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
DirectLinc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DirectLinc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DirectLinc subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
DirectLinc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DirectLinc 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 DirectLinc
What does DirectLinc do?
DirectLinc is a UK logistics provider that delivers national container and specialist transport services from all major UK ports and rail terminals, leveraging an inland position to react to short lead times. The company operates a core fleet of 100+ vehicles backed by a 600+ vehicle group network and offers both ad hoc and contractual engagements. Its portfolio includes containerised transport, specialised crane transport, genset-equipped temperature-controlled trailer services, and ambient curtain-sided distribution, with 24/7 dedicated account management.
Is DirectLinc a public or private company?
DirectLinc is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DirectLinc founded?
DirectLinc was founded in 2016. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is DirectLinc based?
DirectLinc is headquartered in Huntingdon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does DirectLinc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Container Transport Services are the primary driver. The others are specialist Transport Services and genset Trailer Services.
Who are DirectLinc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Maritime Transport, Wincanton, Pentalver, Manfreight and Eddie Stobart Logistics. Broad incumbents are DFDS, DHL Supply Chain UK, GXO Logistics and Kuehne+Nagel. Turners (Somerset) is listed as a regional player.
Does DirectLinc have an API?
No public API is recorded for DirectLinc.
What industry is DirectLinc in?
DirectLinc's product category is Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACACAF, Dedicated / Contract Carriage Brokerage (Shippers’ Managed Capacity), with a secondary code of TLACACAB, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) / Groupage Forwarding. Its NAICS code is 48412 and its SIC code is 4213.