Since 1994, the logistics sector has changed dramatically. We have created a timeline that will take you all the way back to our establishment in 1994. Learn everything about the history of our family company.
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Despite the worldwide setbacks in the world of logistics due to the COVID-19 disease, we have begun the construction of our new office in Poland. This office should be fully operated by the summer of 2021. One of the reasons for building a bigger office was because the number of employees are growing for the past number of years. Now, in 2020 we can proudly announce that we have over 1,000 employees in the Boekestijn family. Together with this news we also have our 500th truck on European roads. We are proud to say that without our whole team, none of this would have been possible.
This year Boekestijn Transport is celebrating its 25th anniversary. With great sadness, the director and co-founder Arno Boekestijn unfortunately did not get to experience this milestone with us. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack. The anniversary was celebrated privately with pride but deep regret and sadness. With the help and boundless support of all colleagues, Arno 's life was commemorated. In honor of the 25th anniversary, the first new mirrorless Mercedes Actros Gigaspace was equipped with a very special anniversary edition.
Construction on our Mill facility has begun. In November we moved to the newly renovated office. We were invited to speak at a number of events including, Lean & Green Intermodal, Top Sector Logistics, The University of Poznan and the TAPA conference showing that we had grown into a renowned company in the logistics sector.
Plans begin to expand the office in the Mill. Our growth continues, by the end of the year we will reach a total of 300 trucks.The subsidiary in Oberhausen is opened, with almost 50 parking slots for trucks and trailers it becomes a new home base for the drivers. We apply for the correct permits, this process takes more than a year. We surpassed our own expectations & succeeded in opening a subsidiary in Belarus and Ireland within a couple of weeks of each other.
Our fleet number reached 250 trucks, the number of our employees grew to over 500 and this year we drove our 100.000.000st kilometre! Our plans from the late 90's were: By 2016 we would have at least 3 offices in Europe, that there will be 250 trucks and we would have driven at least 99.999.999KMs.
Our subsidiary in Poland is established for 15 years. For the 6th time, we move our office. This time we move to Gadki, the logistic heart of Poznan where a big party was thrown. Also this year we celebrate that our fleet number increased to over 200 trucks.
Boekestijn Transport Service provides a new solution, together with our partner ERS Railways, a rail transport from Rotterdam to Poznan. The container arrives via Deep/Short Sea shipping in Rotterdam or the pre-carriage is done from the Netherlands to Rotterdam by a transport partner in the Netherlands. Subsequently, ERS Railways takes care of transport by rail. Once arrived in Poland, we take care of the on-carriage with our own drivers. The important side-effect is the emission of CO2. There is proof that a load from the Netherlands to Poland in the intermodal option has caused up to 70% less CO2 emissions compared to road transport! However, the costs of transport, in most cases, be decisive. Recent cargo flows have shown that the transport price can be reduced by up to 25%!
The first mobile onboard computers were put in place enabling other applications to be installed. In this way, Boekestijn’s trucks are compatible with all our customers’ systems. The driver’s card data can also be sent digitally, so Boekestijn Transport Service has all the tachograph data available for the control centre. This allows us to always send the right instructions to our drivers when appropriate. With regard to high-value cargo and temperature-controlled cargo, it is possible to expand the system so that it can be connected, on request, to external service providers. They can then monitor the various systems themselves. In the event of an escalation, the correct procedure can then be executed.
This year Boekestijn Transport grew to a total of 140 trucks. On March 23rd, Boekestijn was the first company in the Netherlands to get the TAPA-TSR1 certification and the third company in Europe. With this certification we are the first in High Value and Secured Transport.
The Alcolock ensures that the driver takes a breath test before the engine can be started. This feature consists of the main unit mounted on the dashboard with a handset connected via a cable. "We have never had to deal with drivers who had been drinking, but prevention is better than cure. With these safety features, we make the world of logistics a safer place, we prevent damage and also protect other road users. And of course, we are also taking good care of our employees.
In 2010, Boekestijn Transport celebrated 100 Boekestijn trucks on the road. We purchased more trucks which meant we needed more drivers to man these trucks. We opened a subsidiary in Moldova where we started the Boekestijn Driving School. All the our driver's are trained and recruitment are now done internally from this location.
In January 2009 Boekestijn was driving with 90 trucks, but 25% of them were standing still because of the crisis. Boekestijn chooses to invest instead of holding back. We took over their colleague ‘Interlog’ to gain new clients. Also, a new establishment was opened to get more clients for Boekestijn Fashion Logistics in the heart of Macedonia.
The year 2008 had an eventful beginning for all transport companies with the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the start of the economic crisis. The world of transport faced a big setback. More and more trucks were standing still this year. Boekestijn had to make a decision, are we going to invest further against all expectations? or hold back and start selling activities and trucks.
In 1994 Boekestijn acquired a new client, ‘R&W Fashion transport’. We agreed to take over R&W Fashion transport and Boekestijn Fashion Logistics becomes a new entity in May. Our press release had the following message ‘The continuity of transport for our clients is the basis for your future.’ In December we celebrated our 12.5th year’s anniversary with 75 trucks on the road!
The introduction of the new EURO-5 trucks gives us different options. We put a request out for 30 trucks. When we got 2 very good offers we decided to take them both. Boekestijn makes a huge jump forward with 60 EURO 5 trucks. The first Boekestijn Transport site goes live, with the slogan ‘’ We treat our customers the way we want to be treated ourselves’’. The phones are continuously ringing! We opened a new customer care department in Boekestijn Transport for our customers.
More and more trucks are starting to drive for 3rd parties. The open borders are having a huge impact on in the transport market. Since then we began working in the trucking of trailers. With the goal to act as a neutral transporter towards the customer. Making the best possible use of the capabilities within our fleet. A clear win-win situation for both parties. From here Boekestijn Transport made plans to increase the fleet by at least 200% in the next 5 years.
The ISO certification was achieved. Quality and Highest level of Service was our priority, and is still today. Poland becomes part of the EU, a big moment in the world of transport. No more waiting time at the borders of Poland. The work in Poland and other Eastern European countries grows.
This year Boekestijn Transport was becoming more and more well-known as a transporter in Europe. The Ferrari formula one team called us. They asked if we can transport the special Shell fuel to the circuits throughout Europe. But unfortunately, after one year they decided it was too expensive to transport the fuel around Europe and they decided to get the fuel from local factories.
In 2002 the dutch 'Gulden' changed to the Euro. This was a big advantage for Dutch companies who work with a lot of foreign countries. No more currency changes in the time an invoice was made and an invoice was paid.
A good start for Boekestijn Transport in the first year of the new millennial. More and more small businesses established themselves in this year. Therefore more transport was needed around Europe. We gained a lot of new customers this year and celebrated it with 50 new trucks.
31st of December 1999, It was an exciting moment. Luckily everything continued to work on the 1st of January without any big changes to the laws or guidelines in the transport industry. To celebrate this, Boekestijn Transport invested in 2 extra trucks at the start of the new century.
An exciting moment for a lot of companies. A turn of a century was coming. What would change? Will the software systems still work in 2000? Will governments start to use new laws in the world of road transport? Preparations were made to continue the growth of Boekestijn transport after the turn of the century.
From this year on, Boekestijn transport wanted to do every single part of logistics in house. Plans were made to create different departments to do so. The first item was our own workplace to work on the maintenance of our trucks. Mechanics joined our team and Boekestijn Truck and Trailer service was opened.
The time came to move to a new office, a bigger office with extra workspaces. More dispatchers were hired. from this day Boekestijn Transport was settled in Mill, the Netherlands. With our own truck and trailer service and a warehouse.
There was more work in Eastern Europe, a dangerous location to transport specific goods. From this year on, Boekestijn started to specialize in Eastern European countries. Extra trucks were bought for the increased work.
Expanding with 3 trucks and trailers
More work comes in and it's clear that one truck is not enough. In the picture, you see Arno, Hermien and Peter Boekestijn shaking hands with DAF to close a deal on three trucks and trailers. Work in Eastern Europe becomes a daily activity and plans are made to expand with another 5 trucks.
In 1994, the first computer was bought. Once set up, the very first network of Boekestijn Transport was online. With one driver and one dispatcher, every journey was arranged from an old bedroom that was converted to the our first office.