The Regiment can trace its history prior to the formation of the Territorial Army (TA) in 1908. The TA was formally embodied in August 1914, whereupon its units became full-time combatants on a par with the regular army. Territorial Force units were disembodied during demobilisation in 1918 and reconstituted in 1920 as the part-time TA.

The first true formation of a unit at Regimental level was the Divisional Supply Column, formed under the auspices of the Army Service Corps (ASC), later to become the Royal Army Service Corps. The Divisional Columns were made up from old Volunteer Companies of the ASC together with the remnants of local Infantry Volunteers.

Expansion of the TA for service in the Second World War and the numerous reorganisations and re-designations since the formation of the Divisional Supply Columns has seen the Regiment change its name on a regular basis.

However, the enduring association with the cities of Liverpool and Manchester has continued unabated, indeed the post war history of the Regiment has been closely aligned to the great changes that took place in Council, City and County boundaries during that time.

Liverpool and Manchester are two great cities that have always had a fine military tradition and as both cities have expanded and grown closer together, so the military links with the city and county councils have grown.

Following the disbandment of the RASC into two components, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) and the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT), the old Divisional Supply Columns of the RASC, previously based in Southport, Birkenhead and Manchester, gave rise on 1st April 1967 to the Transport Squadrons and Regimental Workshop of 156 (Lancs and Greater Manchester) Transport Regiment RCT (Volunteers).

In 1969 a fourth Squadron was formed by detaching a Troop from each of the other three Squadrons. At this time the Regiment was some 1,000 Officers and Soldiers strong, and was for a period of time, the largest Regiment in the British Army.

On 7th June 1980, the Regiment changes its name once more to become 156 (Merseyside and Greater Manchester) Regiment RCT (Volunteers). This change was made to closer reflect the 1975 changes in County organisations and the Regiments close association with both cities.

To commemorate the change of name, the Regiment presented the Merseyside and Greater Manchester County Councils with a suitably inscribed Caithness Glass Rose bowl.

Following the demise of the Royal Corps of Transport and the subsequent formation of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) on the 5th April 1993, the Regiment changed its name to its current format, 156 (North West) Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers). At this time the Regimental Mission was:

"To conduct Special to Arm training in order to provide a 3rd line DROPS-based general transport capability to a UK Log Bde at Unit and Sub Unit level when tasked."

Since 1967 both the Bootle and Salford Squadrons have moved to new Barracks and the Regiment is now configured with the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ), 235 (HQ) Squadron and the Regimental Light Aid Detachment (LAD) all collocated at Allerton, Liverpool.

The three task Squadrons, 234 (Wirral) Squadron in Birkenhead, 236 (Greater Manchester) Squadron at Salford Quays and 238 (Sefton) Squadron in Bootle are equipped with DROPS (Demountable Rack Offload Pick up System) vehicles to carry out their primary role.