Clitheroe, Lancs-based bulk tipper haulier AJA Smith Transport has been bought out of administration. Joint administrators Andrew Poxon and John Titley of Leonard Curtis were appointed on 11 August.
Anthony Smith, a son of the owner Tony Smith, has since bought the company and says that he has paid off all its creditors. The firm is now registered as AJS Bulk Services trading as AJA Smith Transport.
A company spokesman says: "The firm has recently experienced financial difficulties due to the downturn in the building markets, and escalating fuel costs. Funds were made available via the directors, but the shareholders could not agree a rights issue.
"Many of our staff have worked for AJA for a number of years. Tony Smith started this company over 40 years ago and I wish that we could have avoided this situation."
Ten employees remain at the business, which has reduced the size of its fleet over the past 18 months from 42 to seven HGVs. "I want to concentrate on building up the business again," Smith says.
AJA's other business, Steadplan, an MAN dealership, of which Smith is also a director, remains unaffected.
-LTD_15-02-2026-01-55-05-178.png)
