Freight Transport Limited began in 1988 when the founders recognised an opportunity for a specialist transport company in wine collections and logistics from Europe to the UK.

Mike Battye and Andy Bearryman worked for Freight Clearance Limited in the Portsmouth port office. With Andy’s background in transport and Mike’s in customs clearance and forwarding they were a perfect match to evolve this idea. They proposed the new company to Jim Kearns, the then owner of FCL, who agreed to be a part of the plan and from there the FTL story began!

The first tiny warehouse was opened boasting 2000 square feet and located in the Railway Triangle Industrial Estate off the M27 in Portsmouth, within easy reach of the Continental Ferry port. Over the last 30 years the company has grown organically, and whilst still situated in the Railway Triangle we now have over 30000 square feet of warehousing and 45 of our own vehicles.

Having enjoyed a successful and enjoyable business relationship, both Jim and Andy have retired in the last 10 years. The company is now a family run business with Mike’s children coming to work within the business after their education had finished. Adam, who joined the team 15 years ago, came to FTL straight from college recently rising to the position of the Operations Director. Gemma first gained a degree at the University of Surrey and then joined the business 5 years ago, she now fulfils the role of Administration Director.

Our Mission

Freight Transport Ltd. have over 30 years of experience in our field, and we come extremely highly recommended by our extensive customer base. We pride ourselves on our incredibly high standards of reliability, security and customer satisfaction for each and every consignment, no matter the size.

Based in Portsmouth, just 10 minutes from the international port, we are ideally located to provide an excellent service you can count on for imports, exports and UK distribution.

Unlike many of our competitors we run a large fleet of our own vehicles along side our own, in house, customs department. This means we can provide an “all FTL” approach which is how we maintain our incredibly high standards at every turn.

Directors

As you may know, Freight Transport is a family run business! It wont surprise you then that our three directors are a team of Father, Son and Daughter. Our Managing Director, Mike Battye, has over 30 years of experience in the industry and has spent his entire working career building Freight Transport from the group up. Adam, Mike’s son, started at Freight Transport at 16 working in the warehouse and has since progressed all the way through the business to now fulfil the role of Transport Director. He is highly regarded within the sector and runs the transport side of the business very effectively. Gemma, Mike’s daughter, joined the business in 2015 after university. She has progressed from admin clerk to now running the administration department as Admin Director.
With family at the heart of the business the directors see Freight Transport as more than just a business but rather a huge part of their life. That personal touch can be seen throughout the business, and we believe is what sets us apart from our competitors!

Logistics Department

Our Logistics Department are a highly experienced team with ample experience in dealing with all kinds of freight and shipments. Whilst we specialise in drinks logistics, we can accommodate a wide range of shipments from all over Europe and the UK. Throughout the entire process you will have access to advice and updates from our Logistics Team who will also be on hand to deal with any issues that may arise. We will be your main point of contact as we liaise directly with suppliers and delivery points to ensure a seamless service.
Get in touch with one of our highly qualified team today to see how we can help!

Administrative Department

Our Admin staff are a highly experienced team working with Gemma to deliver a quick and efficient service that continues after your shipment is completed. We are here to help you with any administrative queries that may arise so please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Driver Team

Our team of drivers are a highly experienced and professional group who work tirelessly on the road to deliver our excellent service. We maintain an excellent level of training with our drivers including Health & Safety training, CPC training and Safety & Security training to absolutely minimise the risk of any issues occurring on the road. Our trucks are all modern and we do everything in our power to maintain standards within the fleet including having highly skilled drivers. We pride ourselves on maintaining a good level of professionalism both in the office and out on the road!