[1] The company's history dates back to the nationalisation of the British Railways after World War II.

[2] Those amalgamated companies handling rail transport became known as National Carriers, while BRS Parcels became Roadline.

In 1982, the Conservative Government led by Margaret Thatcher privatised these services, making shares in the newly formed National Freight Corporation available to employees at a price that proved to undervalue the company when they were floated on the stock market.

Following a reorganisation, rationalisation of core business interests and rebranding exercise, National Freight Corporation, by this time shortened to NFC plc, merged with Ocean Group plc and became known as Exel, and Lynx Express was seen as outside its main area of concentration.

[2] The company acquired British Rail’s remaining local delivery asset, Red Star Parcels, in January 1999.