Established 1919
Archbold: Our Corporate History
In 2019, Archbold marked 100 years in business. That’s over a century of delivering through disruption – including war, nationalisation, recessions, and major industrial shifts.
We haven’t just endured. We’ve adapted, grown, and helped shape the logistics sector itself. Archbold’s history is one of forward motion – from a single steam truck to a national logistics and fulfilment business.
This history is part of who we are, and it’s a legacy we’re proud to share.
Since 1919, Archbold Logistics has been a family-owned name in transport, logistics, and warehousing. From humble beginnings with steam-powered trucks, we have faced and overcome enormous challenges – from two world wars and the Great Depression to nationalisation, industrial unrest, and the 2008 financial crisis – coming through each stronger, smarter, and more resilient.
Our story began when 16-year-old John Frederick Archbold returned from the Boer War with a vision – and two army-auctioned Sentinel trucks – to form a business built on bravery, resourcefulness, and determination. In 1932, Don Archbold took on major contracts by subcontracting to overcome capacity constraints, showing our enduring belief that no challenge was insurmountable.
After the nationalisation of haulage in 1947, Archbold successfully pivoted to operate clearing houses across the UK and focus on exports from Leeds through major ports. By the late 1950s, we were already pioneering container services between Leeds and Paris – well ahead of standard ISO containers.
In the 1960s, Archbold’s iconic Big A livery emerged, making our brand a familiar sight on UK roads. By 1972, our purpose-built HQ in Morley (Leeds) cemented our commitment to growth, connectivity, and service.
In the early 1980s, a Just-In-Time logistics contract with Ford marked a transformative partnership, boosting turnover by 50% and modernising our operations. By 1993, we had launched Archbold Carshop Ltd, expanding into automotive retail and repair – a successful diversification that continues today.
During the 2008 credit crunch, our acquisition of Direct Parcels Ltd in Nuneaton strengthened our Midlands warehousing and distribution presence, reinforcing our national footprint.
More than a century on, Archbold remains family-owned and energised under the leadership of Alan Maher. We have grown into an efficient, digitally enabled logistics provider offering UK and international transport, warehousing, pallet services, e-fulfilment and more. Investment in technology, infrastructure, and people keeps us resilient and forward-looking.
In recent years we have reported record turnover and profits, even during uncertain times – a testament to our agility, customer-first mindset, and long-standing reputation for dependable service. Continued investment in sustainable vehicles and fleet enhancements underlines our commitment to a greener, more efficient future.
Through every era, we have built our business on honesty, trust, and excellence in service. Our central office now operates like a high-tech command centre, with real-time vehicle tracking, efficiency monitoring, and fuel management – all designed to deliver reliability and full visibility to our clients.
Archbold Logistics continues to evolve – embracing innovation, investing in people and technology, and extending our global footprint. We are proud to bring over a century of history, resilience, and customer-first service to every journey. Here’s to the next 100 years.
Whether you're looking for a logistics partner, need a quick quote or have a question for our team - we're here to help.