About Us

Operating since 1978, The Special Carrier specialises in transport solutions for the international freight industry.

By concentrating on this market, we are able to ensure that our focus is clear and our work is unrivalled.

No matter what your transport need, The Special Carrier will never say ‘no’ – we will always find a solution! We’re all about delivering great service, fast. That means that even if your delivery has a very tight timeframe, we’ll push to get it to its destination on time.

Our transport and logistics solutions are as effective as they are because we always bear our customers’ requirements in mind. Regularly communicating with our clients is vital in guaranteeing that the service they’re receiving is bespoke. We develop great relationships with our loyal clients, who regularly give us top marks in their feedback!

Once our clients’ needs are established, it is then our meticulous attention to detail, combined with our determination to deliver impeccable service, that sets us apart. These are the qualities that our clients praise us for time and time again.

To give you peace of mind that your transport requirements are being met, we offer 24-hour monitoring on all vehicle movement. Upon arrival, we will contact you to confirm the delivery time and pass on the details of the person signing for the goods. We know your delivery is important to you, and this is just one of the ways we offer reassurance that we’re doing our job to the highest possible standard.

Company History

Originally incorporated in 1978 and trading as a Customs Clearance Broker in the Port of Dover, the Company expanded to become the largest independent and privately owned Customs Clearance Agent. Employing over 100 people in nine offices operating 24 hours a day – 7 days a week located in all the major Ro-Ro ports from Felixstowe around the coast to Poole, Dorset, processing more than 10,000 customs import entries a month.

In 1985, the original Company became a Holding Company and a new Company which became The Special Carrier Limited was formed to continue providing 24-hour customs clearance services.

Then something special happened. A client in the Oil Exploration business who used the Company for sea freight and customs documentation had a serious problem with one of their own vehicles on a Saturday night, unable to contact their usual forwarders or carriers they called their clearance agent for help, they wanted to know if we had a vehicle about to ship that could take a small shipment to meet a seismic survey ship in Rotterdam before it sailed at 0800 Sunday morning.

The Birth of The Special Carrier

At the time the Port was unusually empty, but after several calls to the Managing Director at home, The "Specials” Carrier was born, using the office "run around" van one of the shift clerks on duty drove to Bromley to collect the goods, whilst another member of staff was recruited to drive to Rotterdam during the night. From this point on the Company began operating an “ad hoc” service providing dedicated express vans to a number of clients of the Customs Clearance business.

In the early days, The Special Carrier just hired in the odd vans as and when they were needed and used existing members of operations staff.

The specials operation developed slowly mainly due to the concentration of effort on the core business to maintain service levels and retain staff in the run up to the Single European Market.

The introduction of the Single European Market on the 1st January 1993 and the removal of frontier import controls, resulted in the loss 90 percent of the Company`s Business and the closure of all but two offices and the loss of over seventy jobs.

After the dust had settled and the Company had reorganised, the Directors concentrated on several different business ideas and ventures but it was soon realised that The Special Carrier had the most potential and should be given priority.

A Stable Base for the Future

In 1993 the Company directly involved three members of staff including Directors, By the end of the 1994 the Company employed 40 people and operated 12 vehicles with a turnover in the region of nearly a £1,000,000.

In July 2002 the remaining shares held by the Holding Company were acquired by the Directors.

In 2003 the Company acquired a 1.5-acre site in Dover and began development of a new European Operations Centre.

The Special Carrier relocated to the new purpose built premises in March 2004 operating 24hours a Day – Every Day! A full special dedicated express fleet of vehicles ranging from Sprinter Vans to 18 tonne trucks.

The Company still concentrates exclusively on the "specials" market and has continued with a policy not to enter the general freight market to avoid any conflict with existing customers.

Whilst, the Company has spawned many of its major competitors in the South East both directly and in-directly – there’s no doubt that when you need something special – you need THE SPECIAL CARRIER – it’s not like there’s really any alternative . . .

What We Deliver

Events

Company

On The Road

Contact Us

Jobs

Where We Deliver To

Confirm Message Send