The administration of Transafe Logistics in Grimsby was connected to its sister company’s financial challenges brought about by serious mechanical problems across its MAN fleet, according to insolvency experts.
PT Hire collapsed after it began to experience issues with MAN’s Euro 6c engines within its fleet; at one point it had more than 80 lorries off the road.
According to administrators at FRP, Transafe Logistics was “heavily reliant” on the hire firm, because it rented trucks from it.
When PT Hire entered administration in October 2024, lenders commenced vehicle repossession and Transafe started to lose the HGVs it needed to operate.
FRP said: “This had a devastating impact on Transafe’s ability to trade.”
The haulier was incorporated in 2004 and traded out of two operating centres in Stallingborough and Doncaster. At its peak it was turning over £8.7m, employed around 90 staff and operated around 58 HGVs.
But when PT Hire entered administration it too began to struggle and so moves were made to sell the business as it was seen as providing a better outcome for creditors than alternative insolvency measures.
A deadline for interested parties was set for 20 December and on that date the administrator had received one offer of £20,000 from a connected party.
“The connected party was Trucksafe Logistics, an entity owned by [Transafe director] Mr Stuart Dytham and operated by two employees of Transafe Logistics, Ian Dowsing and Adam Grainger, who are both directors of the connected party,” the administrator said.
“The company is also connected as the director of Transafe Logistics, Ann Dytham, is the company secretary of the purchaser.”
Ann previously told Motor Transport that over the last decade, PT Hire had only rented out MAN trucks to customers and she spoke of the devastating decision her and her husband made to place the business in administration after building it up over 40 years.
MAN was approached for comment but it declined.
