THE ‘challenge’ of a major contract has led to expansion at logistics company based near York.

DAW Logistics Ltd started life in 1988 as a one-man-with-a-van operation, as director Dave Wright delivered items including furniture, pallets and parcels nationwide.

A major retailer then gave Mr Wright work providing a home-delivery service, so he provided another vehicle. More work and more vehicles followed, then two years ago the need to provide customers with storage facilities led DAW to move to its present home at Full Sutton, which has office space and a large warehouse facility.

Mr Wright had worked with Stamford Bridge-based Rosti Automotive for several years, but earlier this year he was asked to provide all its main distribution work - a big undertaking which required articulated vehicles working day and night shifts, thus creating a need for more drivers and training opportunities for all employees.

“Before taking on the large contract with Rosti Automotive three months ago, I was quite apprehensive about it. I decided that if I was going to move forward with the company I should take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and take up the challenge,” said Mr Wright.

“Now we have been doing the job for the last three months I feel that, with the support I have had from my customers and employees, that it was the right decision to make and I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge.”

DAW now has 11 staff, including seven drivers, with another driver starting soon and the possibility of taking on more.

With a range of vehicles of different sizes, the firm is focusing particularly on using its larger trucks. But smaller loads continue to play an important part in its future plans, as well as storage and archiving customers’ records.