Our History

Its founder John Dobbs knew DOBBS Logistics Ltd as Dobbs of Eastbourne at its creation back in 1961. John, at the age of 21, seeing an opportunity for supplying a personal delivery service to a few local manufacturers, alongside a domestic removal service, started out with just a Morris Commercial 15cwt. His reputation soon went round for the quality of service provided and very quickly a fleet of vehicles was to follow, along with a modest sized warehouse for storage. Articulated vehicles were still fairly rare in the distribution sector in the sixties and the fleet consisted mainly of 16 ton rigids.

In 1971 the company went Limited and became Dobbs of Eastbourne (Transport) Ltd. It went from strength to strength, the client base continued to grow and the early seventies saw the company move onto the now more popular articulated vehicles for the majority of its distribution. Working and creating close relationships with both individual and blue chip companies, national and international distribution had arrived. During this period the company became very active members of the Road Haulage Association and indeed remain so today.

In 1990 the company relocated to a modern Industrial Estate within the town, this provided the platform for the expansion of the Storage and Commercial Removal elements of the business. Business in the nineties remained consistent with controlled organic growth taking place through to 1998. In May of that year Dobbs merged with another local haulier, Eurohaul, and re-branded the now enhanced company to ‘DOBBS Logistics Ltd’.

Eurohaul, although carrying out UK haulage, were experts in the field of European and Worldwide distribution, and had excellent relationships with many of the leading freight forwarders. Dobbs were very much specialists in the UK groupage and full load market. The two company profiles complemented each other and the new name detailed perfectly the role they were providing, a full logistical solution. From storage to order fulfilment, through to delivering standard or abnormal loads right to the door, it was now available all under one roof.

Dobbs Logistics currently has a modern fleet of 32, comprising of vehicles from Sprinter vans, right up through the weight bands to 44 tonne Artic’s. We have curtainsiders, flat and box trailers and purpose built double decked tautliners.

2003 saw DOBBS become part of ‘The Pallet Network’ (TPN), it was seen as an essential ingredient in the portfolio of services available at that time. Following 17 successful years it was felt a change was necessary in order to continue moving forward with our growth plans and in October 2019 we  joined Pallet Track. In January 2023, Dobbs Logistics were acquired by Palletforce Ltd, a subsidiary of EV Cargo, this change will enable us to further develop our services and strategic growth plans.

After being based in Eastbourne for 45 years the company acquired some prime industrial land in Hailsham, East Sussex, 2006 saw the opening of a purpose built warehouse along with high specification offices on the site. The facility was built to house the expanding fleet. Having outgrown those premises we re-located to St Leonards-on-Sea to extend our storage capabilities even further.