The History of TransHeroes
The current TransHeroes is thriving and perhaps more energetic than ever. Still, the company can look back on a long history and thus a wealth of experience in the transport world. The foundation of today's TransHeroes | Smart Logistics Provider is based on two companies: Transport Team Salland from Rijssen and BTA International from Enschede. Later, through various acquisitions, the company expanded further. Read more here about the history of TransHeroes.
The History of TransHeroes
The founding of TTS Transport Team Salland
On 01-03-1986, TTS Transport Team Salland B.V. is founded in Holten. Right from the start, a conscious decision was made to operate as a freight forwarder and to hire equipment from other transport companies. This guaranteed flexibility and allowed them to serve customers optimally.
TTS specialist in transport to Eastern Europe
In the early days, Transport Team Salland mainly managed transport to Germany. One of TTS's good clients asked if they could also organise shipments to Poland. At that time, this was much more difficult than it is nowadays. This eventually led to their specialisation in transport to Eastern Europe and beyond.
Trade with the Eastern Bloc and new staff members
On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, which in the following years gave a boost to trade with countries in the Eastern Bloc. Later that year, the first staff members were also hired.
Moving to Rijssen
Transport Team Salland continues to grow and builds an office in Rijssen, as they outgrow their offices in Holten.
Creation of a warehouse
In response to customer enquiries about whether TTS could also offer warehousing, a 3,500 m2 warehouse was built behind the office building in Rijssen. This marked the start of TTS’s successful Full Service warehousing formula.
BTA International is founded
With years of transport experience, Paul Beuting establishes the company BTA International. As a forwarding agent, BTA International initially focuses on German-speaking countries, but soon develops expertise in transport to and from Portugal.
Start of customs clearance
Alongside transport and warehousing, TTS invests further in its customs activities in 1993. As more and more transport was being arranged to countries outside the European Union, this became a logical extension of TTS’s services.
Warehousing at TTS keeps growing
TTS continues to grow, both in transport and goods warehousing. To meet the increasing warehousing demand, additional warehouse space is leased in Rijssen. TTS also demonstrates a commitment to quality, receiving the ISO 9001 certificate as early as 1994.
BTA International becomes Spain and Portugal specialist
Due to continued growth, the first employee is hired and the company increasingly focuses on transport to and from Spain and Portugal. Transport to German-speaking countries is gradually reduced as services to the south expand.
Expansion of transport to Eastern Europe and Russia
Due to ongoing growth, TTS expands its transport services to all of Eastern Europe and Russia. Additionally, in 1997, the first transports to countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were arranged—a considerable undertaking at the time.
Warehousing activities keep growing!
In 2001, TTS builds yet another warehouse for its warehousing activities. By now the total capacity is 12,000 m2, spread across multiple warehouses in Rijssen.
TTS focuses on warehousing food products
Regulations are tightened in various areas. This leads TTS to further differentiate itself with the ISO 22000 food safety standard. Thanks to this certification, TTS becomes known as the party for warehousing packaged food products.
Edwin Asveld joins BTA International
The current CEO and owner of TransHeroes joins BTA International. Here he learns the ins and outs of the forwarding profession.
Number of staff members keeps growing!
By now, the team of Transport Team Salland consists of 15 employees. In 2007, at the request of the customer, an additional certification is added to allow animal feed to be stored: the GMP-B3 certificate becomes a reality.
AEO-F certificate for TTS
In 2008, TTS becomes one of the first logistics service providers to achieve the AEO-F (Authorised Economic Operator Full) standard. This sets TTS apart in terms of customs simplification and security.
Debt crisis, but TTS continues to grow!
The European debt crisis breaks out in 2009. Despite the economic headwinds, TTS manages to stay on course. The company even records modest growth!
New partners at BTA International
Together with his wife, Edwin Asveld becomes a partner at BTA International. By this point, Edwin has already worked at BTA International for five years and knows all the postcodes in Spain and Portugal by heart.
First FD Gazelle for BTA International
Two years after Edwin Asveld became a partner in BTA International, the company wins its first FD Gazelle award and even lands in the top three in Overijssel. With an impressive 62% revenue growth, the company delivers a remarkable performance. That same year, the company relocates from its office in central Enschede to the 'de Marssteden' industrial estate in Enschede.
BTA International takes over TTS Transport Team Salland
Due to age considerations, the TTS Board decides it is time to transfer the company to another party. Edwin Asveld sees this as the ideal opportunity to bring the same success as at BTA International, and acquires 100% of TTS Transport Team Salland's shares as of 01-11-2013. Both companies continue to operate independently for now.
Name change TTS Quality Logistics B.V.
In 2014, TTS revamps its corporate identity, and Transport Team Salland becomes TTS Quality Logistics B.V. TTS also continues to focus on quality, becoming able to store organic foodstuffs in 2014 and proudly receiving the SKAL Biocontrol certificate. The next FD Gazelle award is also added to the collection!
Golden Gazelle 2015
At the end of 2015, TTS Quality Logistics, together with its sister company BTA International from Enschede, wins the Golden Gazelle 2015 in the province of Overijssel. This is the crowning achievement of the hard work of all staff members from both companies. With a turnover increase of 128%, the company is the fastest grower in Overijssel in its revenue category.
TTS TransUrgent
The warehousing department is expanded by 3,735 m2 in Nijverdal. Due to a lack of capacity in Rijssen, the company moves to this modern property in Nijverdal. 2015 is also the year TTS TransUrgent is launched. The unique feature of TTS TransUrgent is that they can provide a courier truck anywhere in Europe within a matter of hours.
Warehousing expands further
In 2016, TTS's warehousing department once again gains a large number of extra square metres. By renting the former CanDo (steffex) distribution centre, TTS expands its warehouse division from 24,000 m2 to a total of 32,000 m2. 2016 is also the year of no less than 30 years of TTS!
The birth of TTS TransAir
To further expand the services of parent company TTS Quality Logistics, TTS TransAir was founded in 2016. By selecting the right people with extensive knowledge and experience in air freight, TTS TransAir took shape.
IATA-affiliated air freight division
On 1 July 2016, TTS Quality Logistics became the only IATA affiliate in Overijssel. This made it possible to purchase directly from all major airlines. In addition, at the 2016 FD Gazelles awards, the company was once again among the winners – making it the fourth time already!
Establishment of TTS TransOcean
Both TTS and BTA continued to grow steadily, leading to the creation of a new department in 2017: TTS TransOcean in Burgh-Haamstede. Following the air freight division, a sea freight branch was the last missing piece of logistical expertise.
Officially TransHeroes and a new premises in Rijssen
To bring unity to the various trading names, the official name TransHeroes | Smart Logistics Provider and a completely new corporate identity were introduced in 2017. In addition, TransHeroes also moved to a much larger distribution centre just a stone's throw from the previous location. Naturally, that year another FD Gazelle found its way into the trophy cabinet.
25th anniversary of BTA International
BTA International B.V. celebrated its 25th anniversary! A great reason for a big party with all colleagues. In 2018, TransHeroes also received an FD Gazelle Award!
Launch of the Transculator
At the end of 2018, TransHeroes launched the Netherlands' first online calculation tool for international road transport: the Transculator. This enabled anyone to calculate the price for international road transport online. The tool became a major success and marked the start of further development of TransHeroes’ customer portal.
Sale of Warehousing Division
From 1 April 2019, the warehouse division of TTS Quality Logistics continued independently under the name TTS Warehousing B.V. TransHeroes’ management made the strategic decision to focus entirely on forwarding and customs activities.
Focus on forwarding
The activities of a warehousing service provider are better suited to a transporter than a forwarder. In Leverink Transport in Rijssen, a reliable partner was found who could further develop the warehousing division. In 2019, TransHeroes was once again honoured with an FD Gazelle.
Moving to a new building: DSTRCT/74
Following the separation with warehousing, as of 1 September 2019, TransHeroes moved into an office building that was later renamed DSTRCT/74. This renovation project focused on sustainability and employee well-being. The building later received a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The year of Corona
TransHeroes navigated the year of Corona well. Despite significantly reduced volumes in the first months of the lockdown, they can look back on this challenging year with considerable satisfaction.
Expansion of the customer portal: the TransPortal
The TransPortal continues to be expanded and now online tracking of road transports is available. It is also possible to request quotes for sea freight shipments.
TransHeroes acquires Van der Wal
Vive La France! In May 2021, all shares of Van der Wal Transport Enschede were acquired. Van der Wal Enschede specialises in transport to and from France. During 2021, Van der Wal Enschede was integrated into TransHeroes. Customers of TransHeroes immediately benefited from the acquisition, with the transport routes to France receiving a huge boost.
Launch of the new TransPortal 2.0!
At the end of December 2021, TransHeroes launched the brand new TransPortal! After several years of development, 2021 saw intensive work on a completely new design. With customer input, the aim of this redesign was to make managing transport ultra-simple.
TransPortal: everything organised in one place
The new TransPortal offers every convenience so that customers can easily and clearly book, check, and track their shipments. With this, TransHeroes really sets itself apart by automating processes while maintaining personal contact.
TransHeroes acquires Forwarding Plus!
On 17 January 2023, TransHeroes acquired 100% of the shares of Forwarding Plus B.V. This acquisition aligns perfectly with TransHeroes' ambition to add more country-specific expertise to our road transport division. Forwarding Plus is particularly known for its transport to and from Czechia, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. It is a great next step after the successful acquisition of Van der Wal Enschede in 2021.