Southampton-based Meachers Global Logistics has acquired AFS Haulage, also based in Southampton, in a deal that will increase both its fleet and its offering.
Meachers says the acquisition opens new routes to market, such as Palletways, and brings specialist vehicles to its fleet, including HIAB and flatbeds.
AFS employees will join the Meachers’ team, and for the time being, will continue to drive AFS-branded trucks. However, Meachers says that it anticipates the AFS brand coming under the Meachers’ brand “over time”.
In a statement, Andy Seagrave, the previous Managing Director of AFS Haulage, said he had been looking for someone to take over the business for some time time:
“I’ve been searching for a long time to find someone to take over and look after the business and Meachers is the perfect fit. We are both solid companies with similar cultures and I have every confidence that the Meachers’ team will handle the haulage requirements of our customers expertly as it is incorporated into its main business. I wish them all the best for future success.”
Meanwhile, Meachers’ Managing Director Stuart Terris said he had been long admirer of AFS:
We are delighted with the successful acquisition of AFS, a company we have long admired for its specialist haulage operations and excellent reputation in the South. This allows us to expand our international freight and transport logistics services to offer customers even more industry knowledge and expertise when providing solutions for freight forwarding, supply chain management, UK warehousing, distribution, training, transport and contract management.
Photo credit: Meachers Global Logistics