LICHTENVOORDE – On Saturday 16 April, Thomas Kruip, general manager of Aloys Roemaat Transport BV in Lichtenvoorde, announced that he would take over the shares from the current investor. As a new owner, together with Peter Roemaat, he has the goal of continuing the healthy growth of the transport company.
While enjoying a spring drink, the employees of Roemaat Transport were informed of the takeover. During a presentation, the employee was taken on board in the origins, growth and future of the transport company under the motto ‘On the road together’.
Last year Thomas was given the opportunity to take over the shares from current investor Jan Paas. He tackled this with both hands: “For me this was an opportunity to realize my ambition for entrepreneurship. As general manager of Roemaat Transport, I am involved on a daily basis in the implementation of our new policy. Healthy growth, innovation and a focus on staff and customers are the pillars here. With good people around me, we continue our goals together and passionately. Jan has always been an involved shareholder. This enabled Roemaat Transport to grow into the innovative company it is today.”
Peter Roemaat: “The future and continuity of our family business is guaranteed by the takeover of Thomas. A young entrepreneur at the helm who understands the Achterhoek mentality. The most important thing for me is that the atmosphere and conviviality remain in our close-knit company. We work hard, but there is also time for a joke.”
Aloys Roemaat founded the family business in 1964 together with his wife Marietje. Started small in the center of Lichtenvoorde, then moved eight years later to Van der Heijdenstraat, where a yellow supermarket is now located. Here too, the company quickly outgrew its scope and in 1987 it was decided to leave the center and settle at its current location: Albert Schweitzerstraat. Now with twelve trucks and seventeen employees.
In 1990, son Peter Roemaat took over and it quickly grew to 50 employees and 30 cars. New customers were tapped and growth continued. Specialization became the strength of the transport company.
In 2016 there were 85 employees and about 40 cars were on the road. Jan Paas was recruited as an investor and plans for the future were made. The aim was to invest in equipment and especially in personnel, in order to be ready for the future. Thomas Kruip has been officially appointed as general manager since 2019.
With a new management team, Roemaat Transport has started to grow in the service sector. The current services consist of worldwide transport: own general cargo transport Benelux (24 hours) and Germany (24-72 hours), specialist in kooiaap deliveries, drop shipment from B2C, ADR goods, dedicated transport and forwarding.
Warehousing has also become one of Roemaat Transport’s specializations. In addition, they are ‘in-house’ with a cooperation partner. Roemaat unburdens the customer by taking the distribution, warehousing and transport off your hands.
Thomas: “Now in 2022 we will have 173 employees, 70 of our own tractor units and rigids, 85 semi-trailers and trailers and 34 truck-mounted forklifts, the so-called cage monkeys. We send about 100 cars on the road every day. We continue to grow in the right direction in all areas.”
“Given our growth and lack of space, we at Roemaat Transport have very nice plans. This year the construction of our new location in Varsseveld will start. We have bought a plot of land on the Markenweg of more than 11,000 m2. We are going to set up a new additional location there in a sustainable way for storage and warehousing.”
“In the coming years, we want to further achieve our company’s green objectives. By purchasing the LNG truck and electric cage monkeys, we are already a step in the right direction. Our quality and the continuous improvement of it remain a top priority.”
“We are ready for the future and are on the road together!”
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