Average turnover for the Motor Transport Top 100 rose by 4.3% year-on-year, and pre-tax profit rose 29.6% in the same period, as the largest third-party logistics businesses in the UK put the impact of the recession firmly behind them.

Only 16 businesses in MT’s annual survey of turnover and profit performance saw turnover dip during their most recent financial years as growth outperformed inflation. However, 31 of the Top 100 saw year-on-year falls in profit, but that did not stop average profitability rising from £6.5m to £8.4m.

This year the Motor Transport Top 100 also has a new number one. Following its privatisation, we have included Royal Mail in the chart for the first time and its £7.7bn turnover immediately places it ahead of the combined DHL Supply Chain and DHL Express. Royal Mail’s size, and cost base, is such that it employs almost as many people (45%) as the other 99 businesses in the Top 100 combined.

Road transport businesses continue to grow however, this year the 100th entry makes it with a turnover of £19.8m. Those looking to make next year’s list will most likely need a turnover in excess of £20m.

Turnover latest year £272,889,099;

Turnover previous year £261,673,241;

Profit latest year £8,391,850;

Profit previous year £6,476,682.

  • The Motor Transport Top 100 was published in the 10 November issue of MT and in the latest MT digital edition.

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