Felixstowe-based Maritime Group has agreed to buy DHL's UK container business for an undisclosed amount.
The share purchase agreement - which includes the DHL Container Logistics container lifting, storage and repair operations at Felixstowe and Trafford Park, Manchester - will take effect from 1 January 2010.
The deal will create the country's largest container transport operator with a fleet of 900 vehicles as well as 16 acres of dedicated container storage.
John Williams, managing director at Maritime, says: "DHL Container Logistics is an excellent fit for our business, with complementary depots and customer base.
"Not only have we been able to strengthen our UK network, we will extend our service offering to customers through container lifting, storage and repairs."
DHL Freight managing director Jeroen Eijsink adds: "We are delighted to have reached agreement with Maritime to acquire the company and that its future is secure under the wings of a strong market leader, committed to the container transport sector."
Turnover at DHL Container Logistics for the year to December 2008 dropped by 20.7% to £55m from £69.5m the previous year.
Pre-tax losses did not worsen significantly, but were £2.9m for the period.