company history

Established since 1985, Sureway was started by the present director Rob Lloyd with a second hand Ford Transit van (JHD 123W). In it's early days, the business operated from Rob's parents house and his bedroom doubled as the office with the majority of work being carried out for the print industry. Business cards were dropped into various delivery points and before long more vans were taken on, drivers employed and sub contract work was taken on for some of the major national carriers. Gaining a reputation for a quality service, Sureway were asked to start moving larger consignments and in 1990 bought it's first lorry, a Ford Cargo (H69 ATC). This acquisition coincided with a move to our first industrial premises on the Fairway Industrial Centre, Filton, Bristol very close to British Aerospace and Marconi Space Systems. This proved to be a good move as very soon, Aerospace were utilising ours services and likewise, so did Marconi. This influx of work necessitated extra vehicles and these were sourced to satisfy our growing list of customers, trunking work was secured for a large national carrier and within a short period of time Sureway had a complete range of vehicles from Vans through to Artics.

As well as working nationally, Sureway were also offered International journeys with Holland being a regular trip as well as journeys to most European destinations. With work on the up, Sureway were given the opportunity to join one of the new Pallet Networks and seeing this as a way of expanding our services to our customers, joined Express Pallet Systems with a central hub in the Midlands.

It was now 1997 and unfortunately, our existing premises were now outgrown, a chance drive by found an industrial unit at Hambrook, Bristol for let with a Warehouse and large yard area to keep our trailers. The business relocated and more vehicles were sourced, Sureway could now offer a complete range of services from single pallets to full loads on a same day, next day or economy basis. In the years that followed, the business expanded at it's own pace with turnover on the increase, all of this was achieved through the quality of service offered and staff employed, the business employed no sales staff and our loyal customers continued to keep utilising our now complete range of services with additional work being secured through word of mouth.

Our existing Pallet Network were struggling to cope with increased volumes through the network and with service level suffering for the first time, Sureway were offered a chance to join a new and exciting pallet network, PalletFORCE PLC . 2001 saw the formation of Palletforce and Sureway were one of the founder depot members, the first night of operation seeing just over 500 pallets handled through the system, a figure that is now at over 7000 pallets per night with over 210,000 sq ft of transhipment area. With service levels being amongst the best in the industry, the Palletforce side of the Sureway operation was expanding fast and rapidly outgrowing our premises, Sureway sought a further move again to larger premises. This time, it was decided to buy on a freehold basis and ideally with a design and build option. With land in and around Bristol extremely hard to find, and wanting to remain on the northern side of Bristol where our loyal customers and workforce were based, negotiations started on several sites and eventually, Sureway secured a building plot on the new Cabot Park development in Avonmouth. Work began on the new warehouse in 2004 and the ribbon was cut on 1st June 2005.

Now well established as a major operator in the area, Sureway continue to offer a complete range of services and specialise in quality palletised distribution as well as offering same day, next day, economy, full loads, part loads and contract distribution. Sureway operate a varied fleet of over 30 modern vehicles and trailers, have an extremely loyal workforce with some employees having served well in excess of 10 years and a fantastic customer base with one particular customer still trading with us from day 1 and others well in excess of 10 years.