Company Timeline

DELIVERING EXCELLENCE SINCE 1936

Prestons of Potto was established in 1936 as an agricultural contracting business by Richard Preston Snr. Richard Preston used steam engines for Threshing and Wood Sawing duties in the North Yorkshire area.

Although an agricultural man at heart, his ambition was always to own a Showmans Road Locomotive – a steam engine used to transport and generate electricity. In 1956 this ambition was realised when Richard Preston Snr. purchased Lightning II, a 7HP Burrell engine.

In 1957 Richard Preston was approached by a brick manufacturer who was struggling to find transport owing to the diesel shortage during the Suez Crisis. A deal was struck and traction engine Lightning II hauled 20 tonnes of bricks between Darlington and Ampleforth every day for 3 months. When diesel became readily available again, Richard Preston purchased a lorry to maintain the contract and the haulage company was founded.

The company soon gained contracts to transport steel manufactured on the Cleveland Coast, and the development of the Teesside chemical industry allowed Prestons of Potto to evolve in to the company that it is today. Several mergers and acquisitions took place across the years and today we operate out of four depots at Potto, Stockton on Tees, Knottingley, and St. Neots. Prestons of Potto are one of the most experienced haulage companies on Teesside, with significant experience in the Steel Haulage industry.

We are a highly experienced and professional transport company, and this was recognised in 2011 when Prestons of Potto was voted in the Top 5 all-time UK Hauliers.

Our Timeline


1936

1936

Richard Preston Snr starts an Agricultural Contracting business in Potto

1957

1957

Richard Preston Snr begins a road haulage operation using his steam engine Lightning II.

1960

1960

Richard Preston purchases Potto Railway Station to become the new HQ of the haulage company

1969

1969

Richard Preston & Son Ltd is incorporated. The company continues to trade as Prestons of Potto

1977

1977

Prestons of Potto purchases FVS Transport, Stockton on Tees

1979

1979

St. Neots depot is opened at Howard Road

1980

1980

A new office block at Potto HQ is opened

1987

1987

Anne Preston recieves the MBE for her contribution to the Road Haulage Industry

1990

1990

David Preston joins the family company after a successful career at Transport Development Group. David would later go on to become Managing Director

1993

1993

Knottingley depot is opened at Hazel Road

2011

2011

Prestons of Potto is recognised in the Top 5 all time UK Hauliers by Truck and Driver Magazine

2015

2015

Potto warehouse facelift is completed

2018

2018

Prestons of Potto feature in the BBC TV series "A1: Britain's Longest Road"

2019

2019

The company transports a 45m load, their longest ever delivery

2019

2019

The company is represented in a Vintage Heavy Haulage display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair

2022

2022

Prestons of Potto take delivery of 20 new Scania trucks and 30 new trailers