About van Bentum
For more than fifty years, H.J. van Bentum has specialised in international transport. As an independent family business, we manage daily transport from the Benelux, northern France and the Ruhr region, to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and vice versa. With experienced people, modern equipment and extensive knowledge of these markets, we ensure every load reaches its destination safely and as agreed.
International transport demands knowledge and experience, particularly when the United Kingdom or Ireland is the point of departure or destination. We know the routes, the market and the challenges that can arise along the way. This enables us to respond quickly and provide a reliable transport solution tailored to your load and schedule.
At Van Bentum, transport is about more than just trucks and mileage. Our people make the difference. We work with committed colleagues who take responsibility and support one another. This sense of teamwork and solidarity defines our family business and is reflected in the way we work, both with our customers and each other.
We believe in long-term partnerships, even when they begin with a single transport assignment. As an independent family business, we continue to build a strong organisation with committed people, well-maintained equipment and direct lines of communication. We combine a firm focus on quality and safety, with a willingness to go the extra mile. That is how we provide continuity and peace of mind.
Fleet & drivers
Successful transport starts with skilled people and dependable equipment. With experienced drivers, a well-maintained fleet and a strong focus on safety, we remain in control of every journey. Every day, you can count on the quality and reliability you expect from us.
work with our own drivers as well as trusted subcontractors and partners who understand our way of working. Expertise, responsibility and commitment always come first. Through targeted training and support, we enable our people to work safely, professionally and with pride.
Our equipment must perform at its best every day. That is why we inspect and maintain our fleet with great care. All our trucks are covered by fixed maintenance contracts, while our trailers are maintained and repaired in-house. With our own facilities for maintenance, repairs and cleaning, we keep communication direct and downtime to a minimum.
From our base in Woudenberg, we maintain a continuous overview of the logistics process. Direct communication enables us to respond quickly whenever circumstances demand it. From planning all the way through to delivery, we stay in firm control, ensuring every load reaches the right destination efficiently and as agreed.
Successful transport requires skilled people, clear procedures and equipment in sound technical condition. With our own maintenance and repair facilities, and several inspections each year, we go beyond the statutory MOT requirements.
We also train our employees extensively and work in accordance with stringent quality and safety standards. This ensures every load travels safely and responsibly.
Our history
After several years working as a driver for his father, Hendrik Jan van Bentum establishes his own transport company in Woudenberg with his wife, Janny. Hendrik Jan takes the wheel, while Janny looks after the administration.
By now, the fleet numbers around fifteen trucks. Van Bentum begins ferry transport to England, laying the foundations for the specialism the company will continue to develop over the decades that follow.
H.J. Van Bentum Trailer Service is established and begins operating independently, providing unaccompanied ferry transport to and from England.
Van Bentum relocates to the industrial estate in Woudenberg. The new premises provides space for offices and storage, as well as an in-house workshop and cleaning station.
Van Bentum becomes one of the first transport companies to achieve an ISO quality certification, formally embedding quality and safety within the organisation.
Van Bentum develops several innovative trailers to improve efficiency and increase payload capacity. The storage and transshipment facilities in Woudenberg are also expanded.
Henk van Bentum and his wife, Cindy, take over the family business from his parents. A new generation continues Van Bentum’s development.
Van Bentum celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of H.J. van Bentum. The business has grown from a single vehicle into an international transport company with a strong specialism in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Two fully equipped Scania 770 S trucks are given a special place in the fleet. The “HJ Editions” pay tribute to founder H.J. van Bentum, who passed away on 12 May 2024, and are driven by two long-serving drivers celebrating employment milestones.
Generations of entrepreneurship have shaped Van Bentum into the international transport company it is today. With the same focus on people, equipment, quality and innovation, we continue to look ahead and invest in reliable transport for the future.
Van Bentum participates in Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), an international programme that helps prevent plastic granules from entering the environment. As we regularly handle granules in our transport, cleaning, storage and transshipment operations, we have incorporated targeted control measures into our procedures. Our employees receive clear instructions on preventing product loss and on cleaning up any spilled granules immediately and thoroughly.
