Dedicated Transport Solutions Acquires Patrick Logistics in Cramlington
Dedicated Transport Solutions (DTS), supported by Winch & Co, has announced its acquisition of Patrick Logistics, based in Cramlington.
Since being acquired by Winch & Co in April 2022, DTS has undergone significant transformation, culminating in this week’s announcement of its collaboration with Patrick Logistics. The acquisition is part of DTS’s strategic expansion into the general road haulage sector, including routes into Scotland. Previously, DTS focused on niche distribution and storage services. This new venture comes after a challenging period in the commercial property market, which saw DTS sell its industrial site in Cramlington earlier than expected. The deal with Patrick Logistics is set to boost DTS’s annual revenues by over 50% and double the size of its commercial fleet.
Nathan Winch, Chief Executive of Winch & Co, remarked, “DTS is a great success story. Despite facing numerous challenges for 18-24 months post-acquisition, the team has persevered, and we’ve secured a strong foundation to grow further, particularly through the acquisition of Patrick Logistics.”
He continued, “DTS has worked with Patrick Logistics for years as both a supplier and customer, making this collaboration a natural fit. This partnership reinforces our confidence in the team and their ability to stay on course, even in the face of adversity. The deal will strengthen both companies, enabling us to tap into more back load opportunities and drive operational efficiencies, especially in procurement.”
Debra Hart, Commercial Director at Winch & Co, added, “Our history of working with Patrick Logistics as both a customer and supplier made this collaboration a logical step. By integrating our back-office capabilities with Stephen’s expertise in generating back loads on every job, we’re aiming to achieve greater economies of scale, particularly in purchasing. We’re also looking to recruit new Class 1 drivers.”
Stephen Patrick, Managing Director of Patrick Logistics, shared his thoughts on the deal: “We’ve known DTS for quite some time and have always found them easy to work with. When discussions began, it felt like a perfect match. The team at Winch & Co made the entire process seamless. I’m excited to help integrate our fleet and personnel with DTS and look forward to working closely together.”
DTS will continue servicing both its existing customers and Patrick Logistics’ clients, utilizing the Patrick fleet to ensure seamless service delivery. As many customers are already shared between the two businesses, the integration is expected to progress smoothly. Over the next six months, DTS will acquire Patrick’s clients, fleet, and assets, while maintaining the company’s exclusive, dedicated service to accommodate the expanded customer base.
