Keighley, West Yorks haulier R McDowell Distribution is applying for a Scottish O-licence as it seeks to expand north of the border.
Initially the licence will be operated from a contract customer's site, but operations director Joe Balmforth says the firm will eventually look to run its own depot: "Hopefully this will give us avenues into areas in Scotland," he says. "It would be great to eventually have our own business up there."
McDowell covers non-contract Scottish traffic through a partnership with Wm Armstrong's Uddingston depot and sends an average of six trucks to Scotland daily.
The firm moved into its new 9,000ft² warehouse and HQ in December 2008 and Balmforth believes that the £700,000 investment has been a major boost for the firm. He adds: "It gives us the confidence to bring people here and show them 
that we are not a two-bit firm."