26.08.2026 | haulage
Martello invests for a new era of specialist freightA new Manchester operation, a stronger Felixstowe team, and investment in heavy transport are positioning Martello Transport for its next phase of growth.
Growth in transport isn’t simply about putting more trucks on the road.
For Felixstowe-based Martello Transport, it’s about having the people, reach and equipment to respond as the freight its customers need to move becomes more demanding.
That’s the thinking behind a series of developments now taking shape across the business.
A new Manchester operation is up and running. Five additional appointments have strengthened the Felixstowe team. Two new Broshuis step-frame trailers are expanding Martello’s out-of-gauge offering, while two new heavy-haulage tractor units will join the fleet in October.
Together, they represent a deliberate move to broaden the range of work Martello can handle, while creating the capacity for further growth.
The Manchester operation extends Martello’s support for customers across the North West and North East, with experienced traffic operators Richard Collins and Damien Thompson joining the business.
In Felixstowe, Martello has also increased its commercial, customer service and operational resources. Glenn Giles joins as Commercial Manager; Virginia Urnikyte, Agne Baliukonyte and Kevin Smith have joined customer service; and Deividas Bunokas has been appointed as a traffic operator.
All five are additional appointments that add further strength and experience as the business develops.
But it’s Martello’s investment in specialist transport that perhaps offers the clearest indication of where it sees future opportunity.
The first of two new four-axle extendable Broshuis step-frame trailers is already operational, with the second due shortly. With a payload capacity of up to 45 tonnes at STGO Category 2, they increase Martello’s ability to handle over-height, over-width and out-of-gauge cargo.
The new equipment is already in use, including for specialist export glass movements, a practical example of the more challenging OOG work Martello is increasingly equipped to undertake.
Crucially, the proposition goes beyond equipment. Martello can manage abnormal-load requirements in-house, from planning and movement applications through to notifications and transport – giving customers a single point of responsibility throughout the process.
The next stage arrives in October.
Two new DAF XG 530 FTN 6×2 tractor units will join the fleet, further strengthening Martello’s capacity across heavy and specialist transport.
The final operating specification is under review to ensure the vehicles are equipped to meet changing market demands, including increasingly heavy Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units, while remaining within STGO Category 2.
The rapidly developing BESS sector has very different requirements from those of conventional container movements. As unit weights increase, the right vehicle-and-trailer combination becomes even more critical, supported by the planning and operational expertise needed to deliver safely and efficiently.
It’s an area Martello is actively targeting as it develops its heavy-transport offering – and an example of why preparing for tomorrow’s freight matters today.
Commercial Manager Mark Walsh says the developments are all part of the same strategy.
“It’s about making sure Martello continues to evolve with our customers and the freight they need us to move. We’re strengthening the team, extending our reach and investing in equipment that allows us to handle more specialist work.
“The industry doesn’t stand still, and neither can we. We’ve made these investments so we can continue to provide the service our customers rely on, while giving us the capability to take on new opportunities as the business grows.”
For Martello, the direction is clear: broader reach, greater operational depth and the ability to respond to a changing freight market.
As freight evolves, so too must the transport solutions behind it.
