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Logistics & Supply Chain Supplier Due Diligence
Vendrpulse runs vendor due diligence on logistics & supply chain suppliers across the UK — Companies House filings, director history, insolvency flags and sentiment, scored against the value of the contract in front of you.
What we check for logistics & supply chain suppliers
- check_circleCompanies House filing history and confirmation statements
- check_circleDirector history, disqualifications and prior company failures
- check_circleInsolvency and County Court Judgment (CCJ) flags
- check_circleCharges and mortgages registered against the company
- check_circleSentiment and reputational signals from UK press and reviews
Common risks in logistics & supply chain
- warningLate or overdue accounts and confirmation statements
- warningRecent director resignations or frequent officer churn
- warningDeteriorating liquidity against sector benchmarks
- warningUndisclosed group structure or related-party dependence
Check a logistics & supply chain supplier
Pulse £25 or Pulse Premium £500, both inc VAT. Or get a free sample for this sector first.
Logistics & Supply Chain due diligence — FAQs
- How do I check if a haulier holds a valid Operator's Licence?
- Cross-check the supplier's legal entity against the DVSA's Operator Licence register, then confirm the licence type (Standard National, Standard International or Restricted) matches the work you're awarding. Watch for licences in 'Granted with conditions' or recent Traffic Commissioner public inquiries, both of which often precede capacity loss.
- What does a logistics supplier's debtor days tell me about cashflow risk?
- Hauliers run on thin margins and high diesel exposure, so debtor days climbing past 60 against a sector median nearer 45 is a warning sign. Pair that with a falling current ratio in the latest filed accounts and you have a plausible route to driver-pay or fuel-card problems mid-contract.
- Should I worry about a 3PL using a phoenix company structure?
- Yes. Look at director history on Companies House for any prior dissolutions in the same SIC codes (49410, 52290). A new entity holding the operating contracts while liabilities sit in a sister company is a pattern worth raising before you commit pallet space or bonded warehousing.
- What insurance limits should a UK haulier carry for my contract?
- Goods-in-transit cover should comfortably exceed your single largest consignment value, and public liability is typically £5m minimum for contract logistics. Ask for the schedule, not just the certificate, and check the policy excess against the supplier's filed cash position.
- How do I assess subcontractor reliance in a logistics quote?
- Ask the supplier what percentage of loads are run on owned tractors versus subbed out, and request the top three subcontractor names. A 3PL leaning on the spot market for more than 30% of volume is exposed to rate spikes, and you inherit that exposure through fuel and surcharge clauses.