Practical transport
support for UK SMEs
Reduce fleet costs. Stay DVSA compliant.
Run your transport operation with confidence — backed by 40+ years of real-world experience.
Honest, loyal, understanding and patient. If you were on a battlefield, you would want Dave Terry in your corner.
Karl, Area Manager — Kent Dairy Company
40+ years operational experience
Chartered Fellow of CILT
ARRM member
40+
Years of operational and commercial transport experience
Hands-on transport
consultancy, not theory
Terry Associates Consultants provides independent transport and logistics consultancy for UK SMEs operating commercial vehicle fleets.
We help SMEs take control of fleet costs, operator licence compliance and day-to-day transport efficiency through clear, straightforward advice grounded in real operational experience.
Reduce fleet running costs and overheads
Stay fully DVSA compliant
Protect and secure operator licences
Improve vehicle utilisation and route efficiency
Deal confidently with audits and fleet growth
First-time operator licence
Applying for an operator licence and unsure of the requirements or process.
DVSA concerns or inspections
Facing a DVSA warning, inspection or compliance concern that needs immediate attention.
Rising costs you can't explain
Transport costs are increasing but visibility of where the money goes is unclear.
No in-house transport expertise
Transport compliance sits on someone's desk alongside several other responsibilities.
Rapid fleet growth
Adding vehicles quickly and needing compliance systems that can scale with the operation.
Chilled and frozen food businesses
Operating in temperature-controlled distribution where compliance risk and cost pressure are high.
SMEs running fleets who
need a trusted expert
We work directly with business owners and senior decision makers —
typically MDs, CEOs and FDs — who need clear, practical transport support.
PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS
FCILT
Chartered Fellow — Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport
ARRM
Association of Road Risk Management — Member
Running compliant fleet operations at scale
40 years of doing this for real
Terry Associates Consultants was founded by Dave Terry FCILT, an independent transport consultant with more than 40 years of operational and commercial experience running and overseeing large-scale transport operations.
Before launching Terry Associates Consultants, Dave spent many years leading complex multi-site businesses, running compliant fleet operations at scale, and maintaining full operator licence compliance through periods of growth, change, and regulatory pressure.
This isn't theoretical consultancy. Dave has run fleets, dealt with DVSA, managed the costs and carries the scars. That experience means advice is always cost-conscious, proportionate and commercially realistic.
Conscientious, honest, diligent and reliable. A strong leader and mentor with an excellent commercial mindset.
Nadine, Admin and Debt Control — Kent Dairy Company
Transport audits and
operational assessments
Comprehensive fleet utilisation, compliance systems and cost control reviews, supporting DVSA readiness and licence compliance.
Forensic transport costing
and cost reduction
A structured review of where transport costs are being incurred, absorbed or unnecessarily wasted. Identify inefficiency and prioritise savings.
Operator licence management
and DVSA compliance
Support for first-time, delayed and failed operator licence applications, variations and ongoing compliance management.
Accident investigation
and road risk management
Thorough incident investigation, root cause analysis and insurer communication to control cost, downtime and documentation.
Vehicle recharge and
return cost challenge
Vehicle inspections and recharge dispute management to ensure businesses only pay fair and justified costs.
Toolbox talks
and workforce engagement
Practical, on-site toolbox talks focused on day-to-day responsibility, compliance awareness and operational improvement.
Transport consultancy services
for UK SMEs
Book a free 30-minute call
No obligation. You'll speak directly with Dave. It's a straightforward conversation about your fleet and whether we can help.
07890 021604
Based in Kent — working with SMEs across the UK
If you're not sure where to start, the forensic review gives you immediate clarity on how your fleet is really performing — and what it's actually costing.
It's the most direct way to understand what's happening inside your transport operation before committing to anything further.
Clear visibility of where money is being lost
Practical improvements to fleet efficiency
Actions to reduce empty mileage and improve utilisation
A clear roadmap to lower transport operating costs
The forensic transport cost & compliance review
K
Karl
Area Manager,
Kent Dairy Company
Honest, loyal, understanding and patient. If you were on a battlefield, you would want Dave Terry in your corner. Logical, supportive and focused on doing the right thing.
N
Nadine
Admin and Debt Control,
Kent Dairy Company
Conscientious, honest, diligent and reliable. A strong leader
and mentor with an excellent commercial mindset.
T
Tom
Transport Manager,
Kent Dairy Company
Professional, confident and highly organised with strong
attention to detail.
Words from people who've worked with Dave
Honest feedback from senior team members who've experienced Dave's approach first-hand.
What businesses usually
want to know
Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often from MDs and FDs looking at transport consultancy for the first time.
A transport consultant provides independent advice and practical support to businesses operating commercial vehicle fleets. This can include reviewing fleet costs, improving operational efficiency, helping businesses stay compliant with operator licence requirements and preparing for DVSA inspections.
The aim is to strengthen control of transport operations while reducing unnecessary cost and risk.
No. Many of our clients do not have an in-house transport or fleet manager.
We often work directly with business owners, directors or operations teams who are responsible for transport alongside other responsibilities. In these situations we act as an external transport compliance manager, providing specialist guidance, oversight and practical support to ensure the fleet is operating efficiently and remains fully compliant with operator licence requirements.
Yes. We support businesses applying for an operator licence for the first time, as well as those dealing with delays, complications or compliance concerns.
Our role is to guide you through the process, ensure the correct systems are in place and help you demonstrate to the regulator that your transport operation is properly managed. We can also support ongoing compliance to help protect your licence as your fleet grows.
A forensic transport cost and compliance review is a detailed assessment of how your transport operation is performing financially and operationally.
We analyse fleet costs, vehicle utilisation, empty mileage, supplier charges and compliance systems to identify inefficiencies and potential risks. The outcome is a clear set of practical recommendations designed to reduce unnecessary costs, improve efficiency and ensure the business remains compliant with transport regulations.
No. While Terry Associates Consultants is based in Kent, we work with businesses across the UK.
Many aspects of transport consultancy can be handled remotely, including compliance reviews, operational assessments and advisory support. Where on-site visits are beneficial, these can be arranged as part of the consultancy process.
No. Our approach is designed to work alongside your existing operations without creating disruption.
We focus on understanding how your transport operation currently functions and identifying practical improvements that fit within your existing processes. The goal is to strengthen systems, reduce risk and improve efficiency while allowing the business to continue running normally.
Fleet costs
Where chilled food fleets
lose money without realising
The cost leaks that don't show up on a spreadsheet until someone looks hard enough.
Compliance
What DVSA compliance
really looks like for SMEs
Compliance isn't just paperwork. It's a set of working systems that hold up under pressure.
Efficiency
The true cost of poor
fleet utilisation
Underutilised vehicles aren't just unproductive. They're actively costing you money.
Insights and practical transport advice
Let's have a straightforward conversation
If you're responsible for a commercial fleet and want clear answers, practical support and cost control, we'd be happy to talk.
You'll speak directly with Dave.
Or email: dave@terryassociates.co.uk 07890 021604