Top Northern Ireland transport company gives full time job to lucky Crumlin farmer McCulla Transport Ireland who teamed up with the Young farmers Club Ulster has offered a lucky young member the chance of a lifetime. The McCulla Arctic Challenge was a unique opportunity for young men and ladies from the Young farmers association to gain valuable training and employment through a driving challenge. On the day they were driving 7 x 460 bop brand new Volvo trucks and trailers at 44 tons gross weight with a combined value of 1.4 million pounds. NFU Mutual provided sponsorship insurance on the day. The challenge to all YFCU members was to take part in a one day articulated lorry driving course which was designed to show off their heavy goods vehicle driving skills. An incredible 56 Members were tested on Saturday 16th July 2011 at Nutts Corner Market site, Antrim and were each given a unique opportunity to complete in a driving course with a trainer who assessed their driving skills, the 3 finalist were also interviewed by director Ashley McCulla from McCulla Ireland to ensure that they were the right person to join their top fleet of drivers. Each entrant was shown the basics of how to drive a 16 meter long Articulated truck, they were then asked to drive around a specifically designed course to test them on their natural skills in areas such as special awareness, accurate Top: Eamon McGarry of Crumlin YFC won the 2012 McCulla/YFC Artic reversing, controlled manoeuvring and of course self Challenge. Pictured from left: Stephen O’Kane (2011 winner), Eamon McGarry (Crumlin YFC), Ashleigh McCulla (Director of presentation. McCulla Transport), Martyn Blair (Dep President YFCU) and Ken Top driving school Ken Irwin driving training provided judges Irwin (Irwin HGV Driving School. Bottom: The final ten of the McCulla/YFC Artic Challenge to assess each entrants driving ability. The lucky winner of the challenge was Eamon McGarry from Crumlin in County Antrim who will now be trained and put through his HGV class 1 licence and given 35 hours of CPC training (certificate of professional competence) at a cost of approx £3500. Also a starting salary of £18,000 per year job will be provided at McCulla Ireland with the potential of rising to £30,000 per year, a massive opportunity for Eamon and an amazing prize donated by top transport company McCulla Ireland Ltd. Eamon McGarry who was the first to arrive that morning because he was so eager to take part was delighted with his achievement on the day and told us “I can’t wait to start, I’m delighted to have won and I am really looking forward to becoming a full time driver with McCulla Ireland. I was so impressed with the event and the state of the art lorries and trailers, I can’t wait to go home to tell everyone that I actually won”. Mc Culla Transport have 150 employees and a very low staff turnover, they currently have 64 lorries and 100 refrigerated trailers and are one of the top transport companies in the UK. The family company celebrated 42 years in business; McCulla Ireland Ltd offer top of the range temperature controlled haulage and refrigerated storage across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Ashley McCulla, Managing Director of McCulla Ireland Ltd told us: “We were delighted to team up with the YFC to organize this event , by in large farmers have a strong work ethic the natural skills to be great truck drivers , we are very proud to have Eamon as part of our team. “ “YFCU Vice President, Martin Blair commented: “We were delighted to be working with McCulla Ireland Ltd for the second year which was a huge success and we can’t wait to take part again next year which I’m sure it will be bigger and better! The opportunity that McCulla Transport is offering Eamon is truly life changing and I’m delighted for Eamon to have won as it was a tough challenge but he drove very well”. Hillhall YFC provided the refreshments, a BBQ and some soup on the day and there was attendance from the NIFRS who provided advice on toxic gases and the PSNI also attended to advise young farmers on the requirements they need for agriculture machinery and cars and how to be driven safely on our public roads. Top rugby player Paddy Jackson from Ulster Rugby also came along on the day to take the driving challenge and test their skills, but let’s just say they would be better suited to the airwaves and to the rugby field! The day was a huge success and for the young farmers who missed out there is always next year for a chance to win a great career with McCulla Ireland Ltd. For more information on McCulla Ireland ltd please click on www.mcculla.co.uk and for more info on the Young farmers NI click on www.yfcu.org
IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS
19