Courier Express: From One Van to Trusted Logistics Partner

The Courier Express Journey

In 1993, Courier Express started with just one van and a simple mission: deliver on time, every time.

More than three decades later, we’ve grown into a logistics partner trusted across the UK and internationally, supporting sectors from medical and pharmaceutical to manufacturing, retail, and live events. Our story is one of resilience, steady expansion, and keeping customer service at the heart of everything we do.

Key milestones along the way

1993: Courier Express is established in West Sussex as a family-run business.
2011: Acquisition of Brighton Carriers (founded in 1972), expanding our haulage and freight forwarding services.
2013–2018: Relocated to larger premises, added 30,000 sq ft of warehousing, extended operating hours, and achieved ISO 9001 accreditation.
2020: Strengthened our international department to help customers navigate Brexit complexity and keep trade moving.
2021–2022: Expanded our fleet and warehousing to 45,000 sq ft and achieved FORS Silver accreditation.
2024: Secured major new contracts, including daily palletised distribution for a national pet products company.

How we’ve grown – our guiding principles

Customer Simplicity
Logistics is complicated, but it shouldn’t feel that way to our customers. That’s why we invested in in-house customs expertise, technology to keep deliveries visible in real time, and processes that make even the most complex movements straightforward.

People First
Our drivers and staff are the backbone of the business. We run a driver bonus scheme to reward conscientious service, provide specialist training in areas like medical and temperature-controlled logistics, and empower our team to solve problems fast.

Adaptability
From Brexit to fuel price spikes, we’ve built resilience into the business. Our weekly fuel surcharge, linked directly to Shell’s prices, ensures transparency and fairness. We’ve also grown international freight forwarding by finding smarter ways to serve clients during global trade disruption.

Sustainability
Our path to net zero is already well underway. From offsetting all diesel purchases since 2021 to installing onsite HVO fuel storage and pumps, we’re investing in a greener fleet and future-proof operations.

“Our job is to take the complexity away and deliver what we promise. Being there for customers – on the phone, every time – is how we’ve built long-term trust.” – Ben Lloyd, Managing Director.

Looking ahead

Today, Courier Express operates with a strong reputation for reliability, flexibility, and innovation. What hasn’t changed since 1993 is our commitment to personal service, transparent pricing, and being the logistics partner our customers can trust, no matter the challenge.

Our journey from a single van to a trusted logistics provider shows that growth is about more than scale. It’s about staying true to your values, adapting to change, and delivering for customers every single day. At Courier Express, we’re proud of where we’ve come from – and even more excited about where we’re going.