TP Niven Celebrates 100 Years of Logistics Excellence and 10 Years with Mandata

2026 marks a historic milestone for TP Niven, as the company celebrates 100 years in transport and logistics, alongside 10 years of partnership with Mandata.

Founded in 1926 when Thomas Niven purchased a single petrol lorry, the business has grown through four generations into one of Scotland’s most trusted logistics providers. Today, TP Niven operates a fleet of more than 125 vehicles, delivering nationwide haulage, pallet distribution, and supply chain support from key depots including Lockerbie.

The Challenge: Supporting Growth Without Losing Control

As the business continued to grow, TP Niven recognised the need to modernise its transport operations.

When Lesley Kirk joined the business 15 years ago, much of the operation still relied on paper‑based processes.

“We had an old system in place,” explains Lesley, Company Accountant, “but we still relied heavily on pen, paper and diaries.”

With a growing fleet and increasing customer demand, the team needed a system that would provide better visibility, reduce manual processes and support future growth.

Moving To a Modern TMS

Having used Mandata previously, Lesley knew it could provide the foundation TP Niven needed.

“I’d used Mandata at my previous company and knew it was the right system to digitise and modernise how we managed transport jobs – so we brought in Mandata.”

Ten years later, the Mandata Enterprise Transport Management System (TMS) continues to sit at the heart of TP Niven’s transport operations.

“Mandata has given us the visibility and control we needed to manage and operate efficiently,” explains Managing Director, Jim Niven. “From planning and tracking to invoicing and reporting, it’s helped us streamline operations, improve customer service, and give our team the tools to work smarter every day.”

Improving Visibility and Control Across Operations

Today, the team benefits from clear, real‑time visibility of work across the business.

Amy Niven, Business Development Manager and great‑granddaughter of founder Thomas Niven, explains:

“With Mandata, and with everything being digital, we can track our work so much better.”

“It’s far easier to see what work is coming in, where it needs to go, and how live jobs are progressing – all in one place.”

Mandata’s job screen and integrated tracking provide a single view of job status, progress, and vehicle locations, allowing the team to proactively manage operations and keep customers informed with accurate ETAs.

Managing Pallet Network Work More Efficiently

As a Palletline member since 2011, TP Niven uses Mandata’s integration with the pallet network to manage their network work, alongside other job types.

“The integration allows information to flow instantly between Mandata and Palletline,” says Amy.

“That keeps our customers informed and saves us significant time compared to re‑keying jobs.”

Turning Operational Data into Better Decisions

Mandata’s reporting tools give TP Niven the insight needed to monitor performance and support financial planning.

“We rely heavily on Mandata reports, particularly for invoicing and revenue analysis,” explains Lesley.

“They allow us to compare months, understand revenue splits, and make informed decisions based on accurate data.”

Supporting Fleet Compliance, Efficiency and Sustainability

For Compliance Manager Bob Carson, Mandata plays a vital role beyond daily operations.

“Mandata’s tracking and reporting tools are central to how we manage fleet compliance and performance.”

Using Mandata, the team can:

• Monitor fuel usage and vehicle efficiency to support procurement and cost control
• Maintain FORS compliance and provide emissions data to customers
• Improve driving standards through data‑led coaching
• Optimise vehicle utilisation and manage leased vehicle mileage
• Support O‑licence compliance, route planning, and enforcement queries

“The visibility we get from Mandata is essential for managing risk, compliance and fleet performance,” Bob adds.

A Trusted Long‑Term Partnership

After a decade of working together, TP Niven sees Mandata as more than a technology provider.

Teresa Davidson, TP Nivens account manager at Mandata, says, “When I first joined Mandata, TP Niven were the very first company that I helped implement. Seeing them grow and prosper over the last 10 years has been a pleasure. And now they are celebrating their 100-year anniversary, what a fantastic achievement!”

“It’s been so great working with the Mandata team for this long,” says Lesley, “and especially with Teresa. We feel very lucky to have her working with us!”

Looking Ahead

As TP Niven celebrates its centenary year, the business continues to evolve, supported by technology that provides visibility, control, and confidence.

We’re proud to mark 100 years of TP Niven, and 10 years of partnership with Mandata – here’s to many more.