Young entrepreneurs breathe new life into ADL Transport after acquisition

Laurens Van Osselaer, along with his wife Caroline Snoeck, acquired ADL Transport in February 2024, a specialized transportation company in refrigerated and frozen transport. Since then, they have been committed to preparing the family business for the future, with a strong focus on digitalization, fleet renewal and attracting new talent.

Origin and growth division

ADL Transport, founded in 2003 by Peter Van Stappen, has a fleet of 35 trucks and provides both day and night deliveries of packages to Full Truck Loads (FTLs). From day one, Laurens and Caroline have focused on ensuring continuity for existing customers and implementing more efficient processes. "We are proud to modernize and grow ADL Transport," says Laurens. "Our goal is to provide our customers with fast, flexible and above all reliable solutions that go beyond just transportation. We want to be a true logistics partner that anticipates the changing needs of the market." In doing so, they are strongly committed to digitalization and a complete rebranding of the company, with the aim of positioning ADL Transport more strongly in the competitive logistics sector.

Laurens, who gained years of valuable experience at Daimler Truck Belux, brings a wealth of operational knowledge to ADL Transport. He combines this expertise with the strong financial skills of Caroline, who manages the company's accounting. Together they form a strong tandem, with a complementary collaboration aimed at lifting the company to new heights. The duo sees innovation, flexibility and customer focus as key to ADL Transport's success and continued growth in the future.

ADL Transport is actively seeking new employees, particularly drivers. Laurens recognizes the challenges of the current driver shortage, but stresses that it is still possible to attract qualified personnel. "In the niche we operate in, such as deliveries where no one is present to receive, a relationship of trust with the customer is essential. Our drivers bear the responsibility of delivering goods accurately, which requires experience and reliability," Laurens explains.

Modernizing and rejuvenating the fleet also plays an important role in attracting talent. "We recently invested in three new Mercedes-Benz Actros F trucks, equipped with the latest technologies," said Laurens. "The Actros F's spacious cab, with three instead of four steps, not only provides more comfort, but also simplifies getting in and out of the truck for our drivers. With often more than 6 customers per night, this is very important for driver comfort. In turn, the LED lighting contributes to safety during nighttime trips, reduces driver fatigue and requires less maintenance. We also chose the optional LED interior lighting, which further increases driver comfort at a small additional cost."

In addition, care is taken for the technical maintenance and neat appearance of the equipment. "A well-maintained and cared-for fleet not only makes work more pleasant, but also contributes to the motivation of our drivers," Laurens concludes.

We want to grow in a calculated way, without compromising our identity as a family business

Caroline Snoeck

A family business with a clear mission

With Caroline managing the accounting department and Laurens at the operational helm, they aim for organic and sustainable growth. "We want to grow in a calculated way, without compromising our identity as a family business," Caroline said. They stress the importance of a personal approach, both for clients and employees.

In addition to successfully rebranding the company, Laurens and Caroline are also working to digitize their systems, such as implementing a TMS system and moving all data to the cloud. "Innovation is key," Laurens adds. "We want to optimize our processes and be more efficient with data so that we can make better decisions and respond faster to changes."

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and have already taken concrete steps. Rejuvenating our fleet plays an important role in this effort

Laurens Van Osselaer

Ready for the future

"We want to build on the solid foundation laid by Peter Van Stappen and grow ADL Transport even further through innovation and customer focus," said Laurens Van Osselaer. "Our goal is to provide more efficient solutions that meet the needs of our customers."

Caroline Snoeck added: "By investing in new technologies and vehicles, we strive to support both our team and our customers in a rapidly changing world. Flexibility and innovation are at the heart of our strategy."

Looking to the future, they are even considering investing in sustainable technologies, such as electric trucks. "Sustainability is important to us and our customers. Although the demand for electric vehicles is still limited at the moment, we want to be ready to take that step as soon as the market demands it," says Laurens.

But sustainability is not just a synonym for eMobility. "We aim to reduce our ecological footprint and have already taken concrete steps. Rejuvenating our fleet plays an important role in this," explains Laurens. "New vehicles have a direct impact on our fuel consumption and emissions. The same goes for modernizing our trailer fleet. The younger refrigerated groups consume less energy and emit less."

In addition to the investment in modern equipment, much attention is also paid to guiding and monitoring the drivers, which also contributes to sustainability. The permanent sales and maintenance partner Hedin Automotive plays a crucial role in this, by the way. Laurens attaches enormous importance to the delivery of their new vehicles. "Bert Pauwels of Hedin Automotive really takes the time to help our drivers on their way," says Laurens. "He personally guides them in driving the new trucks, which makes a huge difference."

A good example of Hedin Automotive's dedication is their direct involvement with drivers. "Today I got into one of the new trucks, and the eco-support was already set on the dashboard right away. That shows how well prepared they are and that they are really committed to it," said Laurens. Thanks to the partnership with Hedin Automotive, ADL Transport is assured of a smooth and professional transition to their newest vehicles.

"These investments, combined with a careful policy of training and supporting our drivers, allow us to operate more sustainably and further reduce our environmental impact."

ADL Transport is determined to build on their reputation as a reliable player in refrigerated logistics. With the acquisition by Laurens and Caroline and their ambitious plans, the company is ready for the future.

More info on the Actros F can be found here.