Truckerjuly2014

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IRISH

& LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Vol. 17 No. 6

JULY 2014

EURO 2.95 stg.£2.50

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be published or reproduced in any way without the written permission of the author or Lynn Group Media Š Copyright Lynn Group Media 2014.

The opinions expressed in Irish Trucker do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers, their agents or Irish Trucker. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear.

Contents

www.irishtrucker.com

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Industry News A look at the most recent trucking & haulage industry news

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McConnons Vehicle Recovery Ltd. Dependable, prompt and affordable recovery service

25

Kieran Leydon Haulage Highly renowned timber haulage operation

32

RIES (Recovery Industry Engineering Standards) Managing Director & Chief Engineer Davy Holmes

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68

Shell E&P Ireland Ltd. Logistics & Transport Team of the Year for Shell Corrib project

76

Rotech Offering state of the art fuel management systems

78

Mark Murphy Motors Expertise second to none

80

Logan’s Executive Travel One of the most successful coach hire operators in Ireland

Husqvarna - Liffey Distributors Successfully trading in Ireland since 1973

84

McCarthy Services Test Centre since 1987

47

Dundalk Truck & Trailers Ltd. Operating a modern fleet

86

MK Truck Repairs Ltd. A good reputation for a top notch service

52

Casserly Transport Ltd. Celebrating 35 years in business

90

Full of the Pipe 2014 A huge success

56

Kingco Commercials Ltd. Catering for all your vehicle needs

93

Classifields

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Smyths Commercial Centre Exceptional commercial vehicle servicing & repairs

36

Maloney & Matthews Animal Collections Ltd. Fully licensed, fast, efficient and humane dead animal collection service

40

Clare Distribution Services Leading temperature - controlled distribution in Ireland

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63

Denis Twomey Transport Ltd. Specialists in the harvesting and haulage of timber

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Irish Trucker is published by k, Kells, Co. Meath DG Press, Kells Business Par Telephone: (046) 9241923 Fax: (046) 9241926 ynngroupmedia.com t@l tac con il: e ma

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Carefoot add fourteen new SDC plank sided tipping trailers to their fleet

Carefoot’s SDC plank sided tipping trailer

Bulk haulage transport company Walter Carefoot & Sons (Transport) Ltd has extended its fleet with the delivery of fourteen new Tipping trailers.

The family run business offers a high quality transport service, specialising in the movement of agricultural and aggregate products throughout Mainland UK and into Europe. The new trailers have been built by SDC to Carefoot’s specification including onboard weighing systems and reversing cameras.

Operations Manager Rob Dean said “I am delighted to announce the new addition to our fleet. We have a large number of vehicles and an on-going replacement programme allows us to provide the standard of service expected by our customer base. We have chosen SDC trailers over the years for the quality, reliability and longevity of their

tippers.”

The new trailers will be split between the TASCC side of the fleet carrying aggregates, grain and animal feeds, and nonTASCC general hauling including aggregates, glass and compost. The Euro 5 compliant vehicles feature the distinctive yellow cab and brown trailer with Carefoot Logo prominently displayed. The company ensure that their fleet is strictly maintained in order to comply with road transport safety regulations, DVSA and Health and Safety requirements.

SDC’s range of Tipping Trailers and Rigid Tipping Bodywork has gained widespread recognition for its quality and reliability.

SDC incorporate high tensile steels and high grade alloy sheeting to provide exceptional strength, durability and low weight in their Tipping trailers. The company offer a range of alloy rigid tipping bodywork including ‘Ultralite Insulated’ for asphalt and Barber Green use, ‘Ultralite’ for aggregate and general quarry use, and ‘Bulkalite’ for heavy duty and high volume applications.

NI service stations to create 200 jobs

More than 200 jobs will be created in Northern Ireland by the opening of the country’s first motorway service stations. Four service stations are set to be opened by Irish company Petrogas Global and the company have revealed that each station will require in the region of 50 to 60 staff. Work has already started on the M2 project, which is expected to be completed in March 2015. The service areas will trade under Petrogas' Applegreen brand. Applegreen has 12 motorway service areas on the island of Ireland- two based on the Belfast to Dublin route. Robert Etchingham, chief executive of Applegreen, said: "We are constantly looking for new sites to build and acquire, and, although the motorway network in the north has significantly improved in recent years, there is still a shortage of service areas on these major routes."

Transport group want explanation

The IRU is concerned over the lack of Ministerial support for the European Commission’s proposals to set EU-wide minimum targets for a bigger alternative fuel network, following the adoption of a common EU Transport Council position.

EC proposals would see common EU standards for alternative transport fuels and would develop, in a coordinated way, fuelling infrastructure on the core European road network at regular intervals. The new position, however, gives individual Member States authority to set their own targets on the location, necessary infrastructure and fuels provided, thereby reducing the possibilities for a harmonised EU wide network that can be used on a cross-border scale. The IRU has repeatedly questioned the national approach of Member States for the development of alternative fuels, which has prevented the establishment of an adequate EU network. Such fragmentation hinder road transport from meeting its environmental obligations, as laid out in the 2011 EU Transport Policy White Paper.

2

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

l a i c r e m Com

Mits

ubis hi Toyo ta Isuz u Niss an

Blue Print

Ca nt e Dy n a r N-Se r ie Ca b st s ar

Filters

Clutch Slave and Master Cylinders

Hand Brake Shoes

Brake Pads

Rear Wheel Cylinders

Rear Brake Drums

Lower Ball Joints

Leaf Spring Bushes

Front Wheel Bearing Kits

Outer Track Rod Ends

Water Pumps

Brake Discs

Glow Plugs

King Pin Repair Kits

For all your Asian Commercial parts requirements, contact your local motor factor and ask for Blue Print!

www.blue-print.com Blue Print is a bilstein group brand

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Cavan Company KEEPS THE WHEELS TURNING for Bus and Train Operator

Helen Milligan, Commercial Manager Gem Oils & Philip Martin, Materials Manager, Translink

Co Cavan company, Gem Oils, has been awarded a major contract by Translink, operator of Northern Ireland’s bus and rail network. The business, to supply the majority of the lubricants for the organisation’s buses and trains, is worth €750,000 per annum to Gem Oils.

Helen Milligan, commercial director of Gem Oils, comments: “This is great news for Gem Oils and our 16-strong team. The Translink tender accounts for a sizeable percentage of our turnover so it is a significant win for us. We have been contracted for three years with the possibility of extension for a further two years and we are delighted to secure this business.

“Before we won this tender, we had worked with another company to provide Translink with our products but are delighted to now be the major provider of lubricants to the company, with our dedicated team servicing all the buses and trains. One of the strengths of Gem Oils, which has been operational since 1962, is our reputation for excellent customer service and we look forward to continuing this tradition with Translink.”

Neil Bowers from Translink adds: “We have a very stringent and cohesive tendering process and welcome applications from any company which can meet our demanding criteria. We work with hundreds of companies of all sizes which provide a variety of goods and services to Translink.

“Gem will now be providing the majority of lubricants for the Translink fleet of buses and trains, including the cross-border Enterprise train & Goldline bus services” Helen finishes: “It is a great boost for our company to be chosen in the competitive Translink tender process. Gem Oils owns and operates its own fleet and the company’s central location on the island allows us to supply customers the length and breadth of Ireland and Northern Ireland and we are keen to grow our business further in both jurisdictions. Our Co Cavan facility has the largest storage capacity for lubricating oils in Ireland which enables us to service clients of all sizes, from smaller companies to major operators, like Translink, quickly and efficiently.”

Gem Oils is a family-owned company operating from custom-built premises in Regaskin, Co Cavan.

AA and Volkswagen announce partnership deal

The Automobile Association has announced that it is to take delivery of 90 new transporter vans in a deal with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This is part of a two-way deal that will see the AA providing roadside assistance to the manufacturer's 110,000 customers. The vehicles are kitted out with specialist tools and the latest diagnostic equipment. The AA is also investing in a dedicated call centre at its headquarters in the West Midlands to handle Volkswagen's customer roadside assistance enquiries and technicians will be trained to work on the range of vehicles.

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Report suggests WEEE jobs

A report carried out by students of University Limerick has revealed that hundreds of jobs could be created in the WEEE sector. A recent report called ‘Re-Evaluate: Re-use of Electrical and Electronic Equipment’ states that a national refurbishment programme for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) would create hundreds of jobs.

Author of the report, Dr. Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick, explains; “In addition to improved resource efficiency the development of a reuse sector is a significant growth opportunity for the social economy. If Ireland were to achieve overall WEEE reuse rates comparable with those where reuse is established such as Belgium at six per cent it would translate to employment creation of approximately 300 manufacturing jobs.”

Car scam includes vans

A car sales scam ongoing in Ireland at the moment is believed to include light commercial vehicles. The fraud involves a criminal gang that buys cars and vans privately with fake bank drafts through popular online websites. They then quickly resell the cars before the scam is uncovered. So far this year, Gardaí have already identified 24 such cases - while there were only 21 cases for all of 2013. "Part of the scam is that they look to try and conclude this deal on an evening, weekday evening, or the weekend, outside of banking hours," said Detective Garda Will Saunderson from the Garda Stolen Vehicles Unit. "So it gives them a window of opportunity to sell them on for cash before the draft is discovered. I would ask people, again, that if you are accepting a draft, to verify that it is original and to do that during banking hours."

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Plant sales climate improving

Komatsu D65PX-17 bulldozer recently acquired by Wills Brothers

The climate for plant sales is continuing to improve if recent deals

by Komatsu distributor McHale Plant Sales are a yardstick.

Within the current quarter the Birdhillbased distributor has recorded a number of significant purchases, all of which point to an improvement in our economic conditions.

On the civil engineering side, contractor Wills Brothers of Foxford has taken delivery of two Komatsu D65PX-17 bulldozers which have been put to work on the N11 upgrade in Wicklow while Moriarty Civil Engineering of Tralee has purchased Komatsu PC360LC-10 and PC210LC-10 crawler excavators for

use on their site at Rockchapel, Co. Cork.

In Limerick, tool hire specialists Paul Callinan and Ronan Keane have added to their fleets with the addition of two PC30MR-3 mini excavators and a PC55MR-3 complete with a Geith hydraulic coupler and bucket while regular Komatsu customer Davy Tool Hire of Ballina has taken delivery of two mini excavators - a PC50MR-3 fitted with roadliner track pads and a PC30MR-3 with rubber tracks and blade, both with a Geith hydraulic coupler and three buckets.

On the agricultural front, seven Komatsu wheel loaders have been sold to contractors across the country in recent months, models of choice being the WA320PZ-6 and WA100M-6.

Motorists on The Quays could be cut to one lane

A proposed new two-way cycle lane on The Quays in Dublin city centre could see motorists cut down to one lane.

Dublin City Council – who aim to increase the number of people travelling to work by bicycle by 4% by 2020 - are planning to introduce the new arrangements on the busy north quays part of the city. Council chief Owen Keegan admits the plans would lead to traffic disruption and Mike McKillen, chairman of cyclist.ie, has welcomed the proposal: “What turns a lot of people off not trying cycling is their perception of fear of being on the road on a bike. I think Owen Keegan is correct. I’ll support him in what he tries to do. Why do people feel it’s their right to drive into our cities which are already congested?”

But the Director of Consumer affairs at AA Ireland, Conor Faughnan, says any plan would need to be properly thought out and to do more to help overall transport: “It has to be properly designed - there's a lot more to a cycle lane than a tin of white paint and a stencil of a bicycle on the ground. The cycle lane has to be actually safe and secure, has to give cyclists priority at junctions, and enable them to flow - and I'm just not sure that this does any of those things.”

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Sprinter joins Irish Olympic team

The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) has taken delivery of a MercedesBenz Sprinter minibus intended for use by the many national sports federations accredited to the OCI. The vehicle, Pat Hickey (right), President of the Olympic Council of Ireland were (left dressed in Team to right) Fergus Conheady, Sales Manager Mercedes-Benz Commercial Ireland livery, was Vehicles, Stephen Byrne, CEO Mercedes-Benz Ireland and International Olympic Committee representative, Dieter Kuehnle presented to the OCI by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of their Olympic Solidarity programme.

Speaking at the handing over of the vehicle, IOC representative Dieter Kuehnle said that it would be ?extensively used by Ireland's many Olympic sports federations for transportation to competitions at home and abroad.

Bus company increase turnover

Northern Ireland based bus builder Wrightbus increased its turnover by seven percent to £168 million in 2013. In May, the firm said it was creating a further 130 jobs at its Antrim factory that manufactures chassis. The company is making a total investment of £14m in Antrim - more than £10m of which will be for research and development projects. The accounts for 2013 state that the 2014 outlook is "encouraging" and that the directors expect an improved financial performance. The accounts for its ultimate holding company, the Cornerstone Group, also reveal that in September 2012 it spent £2.6m on a property to be used as the group head office.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

NEW ZEALAND SEASONAL & FULL TIME JOB OPPORTUNITIES The H W Richardson Group Ltd is a family owned business founded by the late Bill Richardson and proudly based in Southland, New Zealand. The original foundations of the company were based within the building industry but over the years have grown to include, Agricultural & Rural Transport, Ready Mixed Concrete, Fuel Distribution, Road Construction and Maintenance as well as Sand, Aggregates and Lime.

The Group now employs more than 1400 staff at over 70 locations throughout NZ, with around 750 trucks and 1100 items of ancillary equipment.

The 2014/15 season sees many exciting seasonal & full time opportunities in our Transport sector. We are currently recruiting for the following positions: • Livestock Truck Drivers: Permanent roles transporting cows, beef cattle, sheep and deer throughout Southland and the South Island.

Units sizes range but can be up to 9 axles weighing 50 tons.

• Digger Operator: Full time role based in Invercargill operating a 12 or 20 ton digger doing general farm work and bulk truck loading.

• Sowing Fertiliser: Seasonal & Permanent roles operating 4 wheel drive fertiliser spreaders on flat and hill country throughout Southland.

• Bulk Unit Drivers: Permanent roles carting bulk products i.e. fertiliser, gravel, silage, milk, wool & bark throughout NZ. • Freight Drivers: Permanent & casual roles including small freight delivery as well as bigger units in beautiful Central Otago. These jobs are based in NZ’s leading tourist destinations of Queenstown and Wanaka. Fork lift experience an advantage.

• Log truck drivers: Carting logs throughout Southland and Otago in large truck and trailer units.

We pride ourselves on operating top of the line trucks and machinery with a safety first policy. As well as providing variety in our roles there is much opportunity to grow and transfer within our unique Group structure.

If you think you are ready for your NZ adventure it would be our pleasure to help you settle in and enjoy our country!

Interviews will take place in Ireland in July. Class C, C1, CE or C1E licences are essential.

To coordinate a meet & greet phone 087-9574026.

For more details check out our website www.hwr.co.nz, or our Facebook page HW Richardson Group Email sarah_clinton@hotmail.com

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SDC Truck and Trailer Parts open in Dublin

SDC Parts, a leading supplier of high quality Truck and Trailer parts throughout Ireland is opening a new branch in Dublin to meet the demands of their growing customer base. With over twenty-five years serving Ireland’s Haulage and Transport industries the company have experienced steady growth having opened new Parts Branches in Belfast and Newry in the last two years. The ongoing expansion and enhancement of SDC’s parts service is highly indicative of the company’s continued dedication and commitment to provide the very best customer service available in the marketplace today.

SDC Parts has become the ‘one stop shop’ for Ireland’s transport operators with a wider than ever range of parts, backed by market leading expertise and excellent customer service.

The new branch in Rosemount Business Park will carry an extensive range of truck and trailers parts from SDC Part’s 5,000+ product lines purchasing from the industries market leaders.

The key principles of service, price and quality of goods have been an integral part of the company’s growing success over the years. Speaking about the company’s growth, SDC Parts Manager Gavin Diamond said: “We have had sales SDC Parts opening new branch in Dublin representatives working in Southern Ireland for almost ten years now, so we are well positioned to open our first Parts Branch here. The expansion was necessary to ensure we can continue to provide a prompt and competitive service to our customers throughout Ireland.”

“The Dublin branch will offer Haulage operators easy access to our parts stock and if customers are unable to get to our trade counter, they can take advantage of our same day delivery service. Another reason why customers choose SDC Parts is that our staff are fully trained to offer technical back-up and they have many years of experience and product knowledge.”

Together with parent company SDC Trailers, the group’s purchasing power ensures that customers do not have to pay over the odds for parts. Gavin added “SDC Parts are continually sourcing and developing our products worldwide to ensure our customers get the best price and product offered. While our range is comprehensive, there may be times when we haven’t got a particular part, but that can be readily sourced and ordered for next day delivery, as we recognise operators cannot afford the luxury of unnecessary downtime.”

The new Dublin office is due to open mid-June providing Haulage operators’ full access to the extensive SDC parts stock. In additional to this, SDC Parts offer a same day delivery service for customers who are unable to get to the trade counter. The company is also launching a new Parts catalogue in June, ensuring their customers are up to date with the latest supply of high quality truck and trailer parts to make the identification and ordering process much easier.

Over two million vehicles recalled by Honda

Honda has recalled more than two million vehicles worldwide due to an airbag defect that could pose a fire risk. Honda says the massive recall covers around 2,033,000 vehicles which were produced between August 2000 and December 2005. The affected vehicles include over one million in North America and 668,000 in Japan.

Subject to the recall are a total of 13 types of vehicles, including popular Fit and Accord models. The thirdlargest vehicle manufacturer in Japan says that front passenger airbag inflators could have been assembled with an improperly manufactured propellant component. This could cause the container of the inflator to rupture in the event of a crash, posing a fire risk or injuring passengers. A similar inflator problem has also caused Toyota to recall millions of vehicles globally, acting after it received a complaint from a Japanese customer who said his passenger seat was burned from the defect. Honda, however, says it has received no complaint or reports of injuries.

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Chinese man collects toll from truckers to buy new dog

A man in China blocked a road and collected tolls from lorry drivers after his mothers dog was killed by a trucker. The man wanted to recoup the 2,000 renminbi (Eu240) it would cost him to replace the dead animal in Nanjing City in Jiangsu. Su Cheng said the dog – which was run over by a passing truck had brought great happiness to his mother who is in her 70s.

His mother Gao was walking the dog when it was hit and she was also nearly knocked down by the lorry when she tried to stop it after the accident. Apparently, rather than stopping, the driver sped up and fled the scene. "Su and his mother were quite angry, but they couldn’t find the guilty trucker," said a police spokesman. "To vent out their anger, Su and another two family members blocked the road to charge toll fees to passing trucks." For each truck, Su charged 10RMB (Eu1.20) and he wrote down the plate number of the lorries in a notebook to know which ones had been charged. But police forced the bereaved to repay the lorry drivers and said he was not within his rights to penalise all lorry drivers for the actions of one.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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9

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Quarry firm can continue trading

Carlow based Dan Morrissey Ireland Ltd has been given permission by a Judge to trade for another 100 days. Mr Justice David Keane stated that an Interim examiner is to be put in place to come up with a survival scheme for the company. Gary McCarthy SC (with Bernard Dunleavy BL), on behalf of the directors of the company, told the court the application for an examiner was made because the directors believed it was possible for it to continue as a going concern by restructuring the debt and pay it off by continuing to trade. The alternative was that the liquidation sought by the bank would result in the loss of employment for 131 direct employees. As matters stand, the company has ceased trading and employees have been told all will be made redundant under receivership which itself could cost around €3m because of the length of service of employees, counsel said.

NI firm to export 100k of RDF

From its facilities in Portadown and Belfast, Natural World Products Ltd is export up to 100,000 tonnes of refused-derived fuel (RDF) to plants across Europe. The RDF is to be sent to plants in Holland and Germany and NWP operations director Caolan Woods and NWP Engineered Fuels manager Gavin Doherty praised the 'innovative' system. Woods said: “Using our innovative new system, material that could previously only have been sent to landfill can now be carefully refined and processed into a high quality energy resource. “We are partnering with local councils across Northern Ireland to help meet targets for a reduction in landfill usage, as set out in the European Landfill Directive. We have worked closely with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to ensure that our EngFuel is engineered to the highest possible standards, with a demonstrable audit trail for full duty of care traceability.”

10

Dixon International increases Actros fleet

Dixon International managing director, Michael Dixon (centre) is pictured taking delivery of five new Mercedes-Benz Actros units with Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles sales manager, Fergus Conheady and chief executive Stephen Byrne

Dixon International, one of Ireland’s leading logistics and distribution companies, has strengthened its fleet with the recent addition of five new Mercedes-Benz Actros 1845 Big Space Euro 6 trucks, factory painted in Dixon International new distinctive navy livery – bringing their Actros orders to a total of 13 in the past 18 months.

These vehicles were ordered with Mercedes-Benz new innovation Predictive Powertrain Control option which can save an additional 5% in fuel by automatically adjusting the vehicle performance to the terrain / topography.

According to Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager, Fergus Conheady, ‘Mercedes-Benz is proud to deliver these trucks to such a high profile customer and knowing how well the Actros performs under operating conditions, we look forward to growing our relationship with Dixon International for many years to come’.

Winner of the Fleet Transport International Haulier of the year award in 2012 and 2013, Dixon International is a family run business, based in Swords, North County Dublin, specialising in national and international haulage since 1979.

Another €100m per annum needed for repair work on Ireland’s motorways

The National Roads Authority (NRA) needs €100m per year in additional funding to preserve its declining national roads network. According to a recent report, the Authority says as much as one-third of its national network – 1,800km – is in 'fair or poor' condition and needs maintenance to prevent further deterioration. It would take €100m in funding each year to prevent the network from falling further into disrepair. NRA chief executive Fred Barry has warned that failing to come up with the funding will result in the network becoming as unreliable as Ireland’s water infrastructure. "We are spending less and have been for the last number of years than is appropriate over the long-term," he states. "We are still managing and we're not going to see potholes and roads sliding into verges, but we have about two-thirds of the network which is either good or in very good condition, with the balance poor or fair. But over time, the amount that's very good moves to good, and fair moves to poor. "It's essential that capital maintenance and rehabilitation is carried out. There's an asset value of €30bn there, and it's important we retain that value. The models and surveys show that eventually you end up where the water network is at the moment – that's the ultimate price you pay for under-investment." In 2012, some €600m was allocated to the NRA for capital projects by the Department of Transport but that figure fell to €300m last year.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

truck news designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 15:03 Page 10

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McCulla saves fuel with new Gray & Adams trailer

Award-winning temperature-controlled distribution specialist McCulla has become the first customer in Ireland to commission a Gray & Adams semi-trailer fitted with the manufacturer’s latest-generation panel cappings.

Specified for optimum fuel efficiency, the new 13.6m trailer is now six weeks into a three-month trial and already producing impressive mpg savings of up to five per cent.

Gray & Adams unveiled its new cappings at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2014 in Birmingham. They are more aerodynamically profiled than its previous, standard one-piece cappings, a feature that helps to reduce diesel consumption as well as giving the trailer or rigid vehicle a more modern, streamlined appearance. Impact-resistant and bonded to prevent moisture ingress, the cappings are also designed to accommodate the high-visibility tape that is now a statutory requirement.

McCulla (Ireland) operates from bases in Lisburn and Dublin, and is a long-standing customer of the UK’s leading manufacturer of temperature-controlled semi-trailers and bodywork. It purchased Ireland’s very first Gray & Adams trailer some 35 years ago, and today the same supplier accounts for approximately 80 per cent of its 125 semi-trailers, as well having built the bodies for a high proportion of its rigid vehicles.

The latest addition to that fleet is equipped with ThermoKing’s SLX-e Spectrum multi-temperature refrigeration unit and advanced TouchPrint temperature recording system. In another ‘first’ for McCulla, it has a roof-mounted vortex generator which manages the airflow over the back of the trailer while, to further boost economy, it is also shod with low rolling resistance Generation 3 tyres from Continental.

McCulla is a serial award-winner and current holder of Temperature-Controlled Storage & Distribution magazine’s ‘UK Refrigerated Transporter of the Year’ title, as well as its ‘Environmental and Sustainability’ award. A member of the Road Haulage Association, it is also a three-time winner of Export & Freight’s Chilled Haulier of the Year’ trophy and was ‘Transport Company of the Year’ at the 2012 Irish Logistics and Transport Awards.

Pulled by one of McCulla’s fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz New Actros tractor units, the new trailer is on longdistance, predominantly motorway work, which takes it to the UK mainland and down to Paris. It has a moving internal bulkhead and two levels of recessed load lock, and is also fitted with Gray & Adams’ sliding suzie rail – the gantry coupling device slides to the very edge of the body, eliminating the need for the driver to climb between the tractor unit and trailer to connect and disconnect the air and electrical suzie lines, so making the process quicker, easier and – most importantly – safer.

“We do everything possible to maximise fuel efficiency and thereby minimise the impact of our operations on the environment,” confirms McCulla (Ireland) Operations Director Brian Beattie. “First impressions of the new trailer are excellent – in a back-to-back comparison with conventional trailers on the same work it appears to be cutting diesel consumption by as much as five per cent.

“It also looks slicker, more modern and eye-catching, which can only be a good thing given that our vehicles also serve as mobile billboards for the business. On the basis of the results we’ve seen to date, and the very significant savings we stand to make, it would be our intention to specify all future trailers in this way.”

McCulla’s new trailer has also won the ‘thumbs up’ from long-serving Mervyn Cardwell, the reigning Export & Freight Driver of the Year, to whom it has been assigned. It was built at the Gray & Adams (Ireland) production facility in Newtownabbey.

“The fact that Gray & Adams has a manufacturing and repair operation here in Northern Ireland gives it a big advantage over its competitors when it comes to after sales support,” continues Mr Beattie.

“We’re not a company that undertakes routine ‘A to B’ haulage. Rather, we have some very specific requirements in terms, for example, of load configurations and the heights at which we need restraints. With Gray & Adams, unlike other manufacturers, we can sit down and work out a bespoke solution that’s designed perfectly to meet our needs.

“What’s more, our Gray & Adams equipment has proved over the years to be outstanding reliable and durable, and to offer the most competitive ‘whole life’ running costs.

Founded in 1969 by David McCulla, the company is now owned and run jointly by his son Ashley and daughter Carol Thompson. Its fleet of Gray & Adams semi-trailers includes a number of twin-deck units which are used to distribute pharmaceuticals, 10.8m versions with steering rear axles for urban deliveries, and meat-railers. www.mcculla.co.uk

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IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Car Market Grows 5.7% in May While Van Market Jumps 15.9%

The rebound in 2014 vehicle sales continued in Ireland during May with Ford taking the top spot in the sales charts for combined car and van sales. According to figures just released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), a total of 6,282 cars were registered last month, up 336 units or a 5.7 percent increase on the same month last year. There was a significantly higher increase in van and light commercial sales across the country for the month of May when compared with the same month last year, up 15.9 percent (1,359 vs 1,173 units).

Ford had the highest combined vehicle sales volume of 1,007 units to take the top slot followed by Toyota with 887 and Volkswagen with 871.

Commenting on the figures, Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Ford Transit Director of Ford Ireland, said: “It is encouraging to see car and van sales grow sales continue to grow and Ford’s overall leadership role in the growing market. There is no doubt that a lot of the sales are caused by pent up demand from motorists who put off upgrading their vehicle over the last number of years, however, a good proportion of sales is arising from the increased business confidence.

Certainly this is the case in relation to the van market increase which has always been a better indicator of confidence in the overall economy than car sales on their own”.

The 2013 and 2014 Year-to-Date figures show an even more robust growth rate than the month-to-month comparison. Jan to May 2013 saw 51,556 cars sold in Ireland while the corresponding sales figure for 2014 is 64,073 – an increase of 24.3 percent.

In relation to vans, again the ratio increase is stronger going from 7,264 in 2013 to 9,947 units or a 36.9 percent increase for the first five months of 2014. The combined vehicle sales are up by 25.8 percent over the five month period.

“We would expect the June sales figures to be slightly more muted, as many motorists are likely to wait for the new 142 registration as of July 1. Never-the-less, we would expect the increased level of sales to continue for the rest of 2014 and we are hopeful that the industry could finish the year out with combined sales figures for cars and vans up in the region of 20 percent”, concluded Murphy.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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New Komatsu D37-23 is second dozer with factory-fitted intelligent control system

Komatsu has extended availability of their intelligent machine control system to a second dozer with the launch in Europe of the new D37-23 crawler dozer - smaller brother to the D61-23 launched last year.

Sold here by Komatsu distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales of Birdhill, the new D37-23 with factory-fitted intelligent control system enables the dozer to perform rough dozing and finish grading functions, all in fully automatic mode, unlike conventional add-on mechanisms.

During rough dozing, the system monitors blade load and adjusts blade elevation accordingly. Track slip is kept to a minimum in order to deliver more high efficiency dozing.

As work progresses, the system adjusts to provide finish Komatsu D37-23 Crawler Dozer grade performance with high-level precision.

In contrast to the add-on system used on the outgoing model, the new D37-23 has a factory-installed cab-top global navigation satellite receiver, control box and antenna and an enhanced inertial measuring unit with stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders that work together to enhance productivity, reduce costs and improve job site safety.

Robust and accurate, the integrated sensor package eliminates the daily hassle involved in installing and removing a conventional GNSS set-up, not to mention the wear associated with it. For reasons of safety and efficiency, antenna, mast pole and cables are now fully integrated in the machine. Positioned on top of the cab, the antenna provides accurate data collection, regardless of the blade position.

In operation, the system works by tailoring the machine’s responses to actual operations – constantly adjusting blade load settings to match actual work conditions. Moving around the site, surface data is collected by measuring elevations while the stroke-sensing cylinder measures blade angle for high precision grading accuracy.

From pass to pass, blade control can be left engaged to automate the precise lifting and lowering of the blade at the beginning and finish of each pass.

Noting that it is the second dozer in their product portfolio to feature intelligent machine control, McHale Plant Sales managing director, Michael McHale said “the introduction of the D37-23 is a further indication of Komatsu’s determination to equip their machines with leading edge technology that delivers a more efficient and economical dozing solution.”

“Choice of options includes longer track-on-ground and low ground pressure models that offer customers flotation and weight distribution options to best match applications” he said.

Operating weights range from 8,640 kg to 8,940 kg, depending on the configuration, with a net power output of 66,1 kW / 89HP at 2,200rpm. Cab enhancements include a decreased decibel level to 77dB, more comfortable standard air ride seat with heating, large 7” high-resolution LCD colour monitor, large glass for better visibility, internal cab air pressure and air filters to minimise dust, and cab damper to suppress noise and vibration when travelling over rough terrain. The machine is also equipped with Komatsu’s own KOMTRAX technology that uses wireless technology that monitors the machine remotely, protects against theft, records operating hours, fuel consumption and provides maintenance alerts.

For the first three years or 2,000 hours, the D37-23 will be supported by Komatsu’s CARE factory-scheduled maintenance program.

Growth forecast for the West European Trailer Market increased from 10% to 15%

CLEAR International has issued a new report forecasting the demand for heavy goods trailers in Western Europe to 2018.

This is the first report in perhaps two years that has not reported a downturn in the economic outlook. On the contrary, the forecast for the seven largest economies in Western Europe has improved.

The forecast for trailer demand in Western Europe is that it will increase by 15% in 2014. This forecast assumes a strong end to the year in the last quarter of 2014, but even without this, the market would still be up 10% for the year.

Six of the countries covered by the West European report will have trailer market growth of over 20%. Five out of fifteen countries will grow by more than 1,000 new trailers and the total growth over 2013 will be 20,000 units.

The forecast for new trailer demand is that it will almost match the level of 2006 by 2016. Gary Beecroft, Managing Director of CLEAR added, “Trailer production, having fallen by 9.8% from the 2011 level, will also have a double digit increase in 2014.”

Background 77% of all goods in Europe are moved by road and most of that proportion is transported on a trailer.

The West European Trailer Market Report (June 2014), with forecasts to 2018, can be obtained from CLEAR using the contact details below. A new report for the East European market was issued in April 2014.

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IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Maxol Lubricants provide the Complete Fleet Solution

With their new Turbosynth LSP oils and AdBlue Smart One Nowadays, efficiency is paramount in the haulage sector and across the road transport industry in general. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are constantly investing in new technologies and methods to improve fuel economy and overall performance.

Maxol Lubricants is anticipating and reacting to these developments, supplying fully approved engine oils designed for today’s and tomorrow’s vehicles.

The new range of Maxol Turbosynth LSP Plus (TLSPP) engine oils is the complete solution for mixed fleets. This range of dedicated HGV engine oils come fully approved by leading OEMs including Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks and MAN Trucks and are developed for use in Euro IV, Euro V and Euro VI engines. Owen O’Neill, General Manager, Maxol Lubricants explains the benefits of these oils, “Oil made easy is our goal at Maxol Lubricants and we strive to help our customers find the best products for their individual needs.

The Turbosynth LSP Plus range covers such a broad range of vehicle makes and models that it can in essence service an entire mixed fleet. For hauliers and other HGV operators this means less product requirements, less margin for error and more results”.

Benefits of Maxol Turbosynth LSP Plus: Fully approved by leading OEMs Developed for Euro IV, Euro V & Euro VI Engines Specially engineered for mixed fleets Available in 5L, 20L, 200L, 1000L and Bulk Maxol provides The Smart Choice for AdBlue

Since 2005 Maxol Lubricants has been GreenChem’s sole Irish distributor of AdBlue, the exhaust emission after treatment that’s used for Selective Catalytic Recirculation (SCR) systems for Euro IV – Euro VI engines. As one of Europe’s leading producers of AdBlue, GreenChem is fully certified and well recognised across the Continent. The AdBlue Smart One by GreenChem is designed to streamline your AdBlue management. Supplied, fitted and managed by Maxol Lubricants the Smart One is the ideal solution for any fleet.

This unit is installed on-site and has a storage capacity of 2,900 litres. It comes complete with a submergible pump, 6 metre length hose and a built-in tank telemetry system so Maxol Lubricants can monitor the levels on behalf of its customers and refill the tank to ensure it doesn’t run dry. Commenting on the Smart One, Chris Haynes, Managing Director, GreenChem said, “The Smart One is an all-inclusive solution for any fleet. It has been well received in the Irish market and combined with the excellent service offered by the Maxol Lubricants Team we are confidentthat customers won’t look back to the old way of IBCs once they make the switch.”

With more commercial vehicles using the SCR system from vans to trucks to buses and with the advent of Euro VI engine emissions regulations, a constant and consistent supply of quality approved AdBlue is imperative.

Dixon International is one of the leading logistics and distribution companies inIreland and one of Maxol Lubricants’ long-standing customers. Running a mixed fleet of Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and DAF Trucks, the Swords, the County Dublin based company has over the last three years won the Fleet Transport International Haulier of the Year and the Irish Haulier of the Year 2014 title. Michael Dixon, Managing Director, Dixon International recently spoke about his experiences with Maxol Lubricants: “Maxol has supplied lubricants and AdBlue for our trucks for some years now. We currently have 109 trucks delivering across Ireland and Europe and we trust Maxol to advise on the best products for our fleet. They take the hassle out of our lubricant and AdBlue requirements allowing us to focus on other aspects of the business.

We have been very impressed with their product range and customer services and would definitely recommend Maxol as supplier to any haulage firm”.

Free On-site Fleet Survey: Maxol Lubricants offer a free on-site Fleet Survey Service throughout Ireland's 32 counties. A member of the team will survey your site, discuss your business requirements and advise on the best products for your specific fleet. To arrange your free on-site fleet survey today call Maxol Lubricants today on +353 (0) 1 806 0300

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Owen O’Neill, General Manager, Maxol Lubricants pictured with Chris Haynes,Managing Director, GreenChem (AdBlue supplier).

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Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) - provides further fuel efficiencies for Mercedes-Benz trucks

Mercedes Benz AcTros

Mercedes-Benz Euro VI Actros trucks, fitted with Predictive Powertrain Control, are delivering fuel economy figures that are significantly better than its predecessor, according to tests conducted locally by Mercedes-Benz in Ireland.

Using FleetBoard technology fitted to a number of customer fleets, results have shown that Euro VI versions of the New Actros outperform the Euro V version of the same vehicle by what their commercial vehicles sales manager, Fergus Conheady says is ‘‘a significant margin’’. ‘‘The New Actros has already proven itself to be the one to beat when it comes to fuel economy and these results show that even more fuel savings are in store for Mercedes-Benz customers who choose PPC’’ Mr.

Conheady added.

With the aid of GPS and 3D road mapping, Predictive Powertrain Control works by identifying downhill and uphill gradients in advance in order to optimise shift points, gear selection and cruise control.

As a result of PPC, the vehicle automatically adapts to the given terrain and controls vehicle acceleration and gear shifting in an anticipatory manner that enhances the driving experience whilst delivering a fuel consumption reduction of up to 5%.

Ireland’s longest tunnel in operation

Ireland’s longest tunnel is now full functional after the 4.9km long Corrib Gas pipeline was completed in Co Mayo. The Corrib tunnel is 300 metres longer than the Dublin Port tunnel and it runs under Sruwaddacon Bay and will house an onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline.

Managing director of Shell E&P Ireland Michael Crothers said that despite past resistance to the project, the tunnel is an example of engineering excellence in Ireland.

"There isn't much protest left any longer," he said.

"We acknowledge mistakes we made many years ago, but there has been a huge amount of leanring and we've really tred to balance the economic with the social and environmental (factors). "The feedback we get from the community is really positive. We don't take that for granted."

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Komatsu introduces new fleet monitoring smart phone app

Komatsu has introduced a ‘feature-rich’ smart phone app that enables owners keep track of their equipment from the palm of their hand.

Linked to their acclaimed KOMTRAX fleet monitoring system, the new smart phone or tablet device gives owners access to critical machine information, anytime and anywhere.

Accessible through the link m-komtrax.eu the app lets owners monitor machine movements, locate an asset and obtain driving directions to it, identify hours worked, idle time and fuel consumption and a host of other data.

The KOMTRAX system to which the new app is linked was introduced in Europe in 2006.

Factory fitted on nearly all Komatsu machines, the wireless monitoring system is regarded as the ‘peak’ of machine monitoring technology, providing what Komatsu calls ‘a wealth of information in user-friendly format to facilitate efficient machine performance.’

Belfast traffic scheme works a treat

A major re-organisation of the traffic system in Belfast has resulted in 11,000 less vehicles in Belfast city centre on a daily basis. A government impact study has revealed the findings following its 'Belfast on the Move' project which was completed last year. The introduction of 2.6km of new bus lanes in the inner city has saw a dramatic increase in the number of people using public transport every day. The estimated 10,900 fewer vehicles coming into central Belfast is a 16% reduction on 2010. The report states that morning rush-hour levels have fallen by 32%.

New regulations for learner drivers

New regulations are set to be introduced for driving tests. Learner drivers will be asked to demonstrate eco-friendly motoring and will need to drive without instruction under radical plans to change the driving test. Brian Farrell from Road Safety Authority said: "This would mark candidates on progression in driving, smooth gear work and controlled breaking. It's all with a view to being economical and saving on fuel." The testing might also be conducted without direct involvement of an examiner. "The tester will, of course, give a general direction. But the aim of this is to bring out natural, or real driving, without telling somebody to turn left and right all the time," he added. "It's being used in the UK, Sweden, and Finland and there has been some good feedback from those countries.” They will also be shown video to identify hazards on the road as part of a 'virtual' element to modernise the testing process.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Superwinch from Hi-Power

These 2-stage planetary, 2-stage spur gear winches are packed with essential and extra practical features for efficient reliable and safe winching operations under the heaviest loads.

1. All seals on the entire winch from the outermost end of the high performance motor to the edge of the 2-stage planetary and 2-stage spur gearbox meet the IP67 standard.

2. Fastest line speed in its class; sealed 5.2HP and 6.0 HP motors deliver a quick 25 FPM line speed at a low 75 Amp draw. and durability. Robust ball and roller bearing construction.

3. Four gear planetary sets, for added strength

4. Steel drum supports for ultimate strength; can be mounted foot down or foot forward, versatility provides multiple industrial mounting options.

5. Innovative “Dual-Stop” 100% load holding brake design provides zero drag on cable power in. Located inside the gearbox away from the drum to eliminate heat transfer to the synthetic rope.

6. Covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty which includes an industry first 3-year warranty on all electrical components, the absolute BEST in the INDUSTRY! 7. Chrome plated aluminium ergonomic free spool knob lifts and turns effortlessly. Easily rotates in 45 degree increments for easy access for commercial and industrial applications.

8. Ergonomically shaped hand-held sealed remote with brilliant LED light assists in late night job site or road side winching.

9. Coiled cord extends to 15’ and retracts to 4’. Includes, strap to contain unit for storage. Connects to winch with military style twist lock plug, sealed to keep elements out.

10. VS4 Solenoid (Vented, Submersible, and Stabilized Solenoid with Sealed Socket) is the best winch solenoid in the world. Venting feature allows solenoid to resist water and releases contact damaging internal condensation. Tri-bar bracket includes steel-lined rubber insulated mounts to stabilize solenoid, reduces vibration and fatigue.

Charity begins at home

Irish transport companies have contributed over €500,000 to charities in the past year. Firms such as DAA, Transdev, Veolia and Enterprise Rent-a-Car made significant contributions to local charities and community groups. “This is our fifth year to compile these national statistics on the Business Impact Map," said Tina Roche, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland. "In a year that has seen a decline in charitable donations in Ireland, and as times are getting tougher, what we have noticed is that companies are contributing more in the way of in kind donation, pro bono support and employee volunteering hours. "This shows that companies are still keen to have an impact on society and on their local areas but are providing support in different ways and using their own skillset to provide job placements, mentoring, pro bono work, or other products and services free of charge to local groups and charities on a long term basis.”

New report backs longer trailers

Longer trailers have cut down on the mileage done by HGVs according to a report by the Department for Transport. Between 375,000 and 560,000 HGV vehicle miles have been removed from the road as a result of longer semi-trailer operations since September 2012.The trial is due to last for ten years from the launch in 2012. The trial will permit up to 1,800 trailers in two length categories (up to 14.6m and up to 15.65m) to operate under vehicle special orders. The report states: “It is worth noting however that the operators are using the LSTs under a specific operational regime and that LST drivers have typically been subject to special (and recent) training. These factors may have a bearing on the road collision experience of the LSTs to date, in comparison to the general GB articulated HGV fleet.”

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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HGV’s Need to be Seen

We fit bigger and more powerful headlights. They are without doubt a very good idea, allowing us to see further, and therefore react earlier to a hazard. However unmarked or inadequately marked HGV’s can often be the hazard so It is important to ensure that your own vehicle has rear and side markings fitted to alert other drivers to your position on the road. An unmarked stationary or maneuvering HGV is very large and often difficult to avoid at the last minute.

For example, an articulated HGV pulling out from a side road, or crossing a road can in dark conditions be considerably less visible that we might like to think.

Add poor weather – heavy rain or fog, and matters only get worse.

Fitting reflective tape markings to the correct specification and positions will allow your vehicle to be seen from a distance of up to 1000 metres.

It is clearly best to fit markings as a matter of course, but there are regulations that apply (for vehicles registered from July 2011) and these do at least ensure a minimum level of safety: Regulation ECE104 relates to the technical requirements of approved retroreflective marking tapes for trucks and trailers in Europe.

Regulation 48 includes the mandate for Regulation ECE 104 markings, and specifies the conditions for this, i.e. which vehicle types must comply, which colours should be used, etc. i.e. all of the technical aspects related to the installation of the tapes, which must be approved according to the technical requirements in ECE104.

Which vehicles must comply?

Side Markings Partial contour marking on vehicles exceeding 6m in length of the following categories: Trucks: N2 with a maximum mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes and N3 (with the exception of chassis-cabs, incomplete vehicles and tractors for semitrailers)

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Trailers: O3 and O4 Full contour marking may be applied instead of the mandatory partial contour marking.

The retroreflective 60mm wide marking tapes (yellow or white) must be approved according to ECE 104 Class "C".

Minimum 80% of the length of the vehicle (excl. the length of the cabin must be marked. In special cases this can go down to 60% for difficult applications or 40% for especially difficult applications.

The lower line of the marking tape must be placed minimum 250mm from the ground, and in a height of maximum 1500mm. This can in special cases be extended to 2500mm.

The length of the upper corner markings must be minimum 250mm.

Upper corner markings should be applied as high as practical, but within 400mm of the upper extremity of the vehicle.

Rear Markings Full rear end contour marking on vehicles exceeding 2.1m in width of the following categories: Trucks: N2 with a maximum mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes and N3 (with the exception of chassis-cabs, incomplete vehicles and tractors for semi-trailers) Trailers: O3 and O4 However, where the shape structure, design or operational requirements make it impossible to install the

mandatory contour marking, a line marking may be installed.

The retroreflective 60mm wide marking tapes (red or yellow) must be approved according to ECE 104 Class "C".

A full contour marking is required to the rear, unless this is impossible due to vehicle construction. Maximum height requirements for the lower horizontal line are the same as indicated for the markings to the side (see above).

There is one main objective - reduce the number of accidents during low light conditions which involve trucks and trailers. The guidelines and regulations provide for greater road traffic safety through visibility, with improved recognition and conspicuity at night which is good news for drivers and their vehicles.

Marking tapes significantly reduce the numbers of accidents for long articulated vehicles and lorries. Recent studies have estimated a 41% potential reduction in the above type of accidents.

The rules, regulations and guidance governing the visibility of vehicles working on EU highways can be confusing…and that’s why increasing numbers of fleet managers are turning to chevronshop.com for expert advice and support.

Chevronshop, a specialist division of Bluelite Graphics, the UK’s leading supplier of vehicle livery and markings to police, fire and ambulance services, provides an online resource and telephone help desk to ensure that fleet managers understand the latest standards governing vehicle conspicuity. They hold hundreds of commercial vehicle templates to make the task of selecting and ordering rear chevrons, markings, striping, reflective texts and graphics as easy as possible. Rolls of reflective materials, corporate logos and bespoke designs can also be supplied.

Although their service has been designed to operate on-line, the company does also offer a helpline service – 0044 800 9998997- to guide fleet managers through the conspicuity process and to offer specific advice on the use of colours and materials. www.chevronshop.com

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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mcconnons designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:54 Page 1

O

Malachy McConnon was one of the first in Ireland to do heavy recovery

ver the past three decades and more, McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery Ltd. has forged a stellar reputation as a premium provider of car and commercial vehicle recovery and repairs services. Located at Aclint,

just off the N2 between Ardee in County Louth and Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, McConnons have the equipment, personnel and expertise to recover and repair all types of vehicles, from cars, vans and jeeps to buses,

coaches and HGVs. PAS 43-certified and members of SIMI, they operate a fleet of four recovery vehicles, namely a Scania 164 complete with Boniface Maxireach gear; an Iveco 100 E18 tilt-and-slide; a Volvo FL6 13;

A nice steady recovery ...

It it’s a dependable, prompt and affordable recovery service you’re after, then look no further than McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery Ltd., a long-established family operation which straddles the Louth / Monaghan border. Irish Trucker popped into the company base at Aclint and got an update on day-to-day activities from Christopher McConnon, son of founder Malachy.

CONTACT DETAILS

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McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery Ltd. Aclint, Ardee, County Louth.

Day: 041 6855404/5 Night: 042 9662421 Malachy: 087 2569429 Christopher: 087 3249492 info@mcconnons.ie

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

mcconnons designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:55 Page 2

could be called to literally anywhere in Ireland.”

Chris is pleased to report that there has been a steady pick-up (no pun intended!) in business in recent times. “Things are going pretty well at the moment,” he confirms. “We always had a very good base of customers anyway but this last while there has definitely been an improvement.

We’re kept busy and can’t complain.

“We work for a number of insurance companies, a few other garages and also companies running fleets of trucks and buses and also have a great working relationship with a lot of recovery operators countrywide where we help them with the heavy recovery, which is a specialist area. We do a lot of buses and coaches and this is definitely one of our busiest areas.”

and a Mitsubishi Canter seven-seater crew cab with the capacity to bring both the car and the family home! Two service vans also provide a mobile breakdown service.

As a family-owned and –managed operation, McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery Ltd. provides a personal touch to its ever-expanding customer base nationwide. At the coalface of the operation - which was established in Carrickmacross in 1981 and relocated to its current facility in ’97 - are Malachy and his wife Catherine as well as their son Christopher and daughter Katherine. Meanwhile, Davie Brennan, Paddy Kwan and Fergal Mohan man the workshop and all three are also trained and qualified recovery operators.

In terms of the service, McConnons cover everything, everywhere. “We do light and heavy commercials as well as cars,” Christopher confirms. “Trucks, buses, vans and cars – you name it. We cover the entire country, north and south. You don’t know what each day is going to bring. On any given day, you IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

A vintage vehicle is brought in for some TLC!

The Scania 164 earning its keep!

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J&S Motors Best Wishes To McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery, From

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Digital Wireless Vehicle Camera Systems

Trailer Vision™ Ireland specialise in supplying a range of unique, interference free, digital wireless camera / reversing camera systems suitable for all vehicle applications.

Trailer Vision Ireland/Ardee Coach Trim Ltd, Artnalivery, Ardee, Co.Louth Office Tel: +353 (0) 41 6853599 Frank Lennon: +353 (87) 2426245 Stephen Englishby: +353 (87) 2956880 Email: info@trailervision.ie www.trailervision.ie Distributed in Ireland by Ardee Coach Trim Ltd

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Specialising in the dismantling & recycling of most model cars, 4x4’s & light commercial vehicles We are fully licenced and aim to provide the best service possible at the most competitive price OUR SERVICE INCLUDES Collection | Depollution & Processing | Recycling Certificates of Destruction We have 1000’s of parts already removed and ready for collection or delivery within Ireland TOP PRICES PAID FOR YOUR END OF LIFE VEHICLES

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IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

mcconnons designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:55 Page 4

No job is too big - from hGVs to coaches, McConnons can recover any vehicle

If you want to do it properly, vehicle recovery is almost like a vocation, it never gets boring, just when you think you’ve seen it all, you find out you haven’t!! You have to be prepared to invest fully into the business. To this end, the McConnons have never been found wanting and Christopher admits that he

by the rules. “Things are tightening up now and it’s all for the better,” he notes. “There are better regulations being enforced and these make things fairer for those who are doing things by the book.

Conditions are getting better for those who are running their businesses properly and this is definitely a welcome development.”

Needless to say, the hardworking McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery fleet is kept fresh and in prime condition at all times. In this respect, the fact McConnon’s have the that they have their own capacity to recover all types of vehicles workshop is an added bonus!

“We do a good bit of the work wouldn’t really have it any here in our own workshop, which is fully other way! kitted out to work on both cars and “You are on call 24 hours a commercials.

On top of that, day, 365 days of the year – McElvaney’s in Monaghan do a bit of that’s the way this work goes. Myself and my father look At Kelleher Insurances: after all the heavy recovery and we work We deal with over 50 Insurance Companies it between us, so it’s We have vast experience built up not too bad … you get over 75 years a little bit of time off Customers keep coming back for our when you want it. But commitment to provide great prices, wide-ranging cover and dedicated claims service. you almost have to be born into it. You have Continued Best Wishes To McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery to be enthusiastic about the work and enjoy it, otherwise the days would seem

very long.”

With the recovery sector now being more strictly regulated than ever before, Christopher feels that the environment is becoming more favourable for operators who are above board and playing

M J Kelleher & Sons (Dundalk) Ltd t/a Kelleher Insurances is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Wishing Continued Success To McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery From

Doagh, Magheracloone, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

042-9692977 Sales: 085-8500900 Email: sales@superiorsecurity.ie

McConnon’s Vehicle Recovery Ltd. is one of Ireland’s premier recovery operators IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

www.superiorsecurity.ie

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mcconnons designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:55 Page 5

work on the Scania for us.

“We’re constantly investing in the fleet.

We bought the Volvo last year and purchased the Canter in 2012. We’re also currently thinking about investing again in the not-too-distant future.”

The workshop complements the recovery service perfectly and has almost taken on a life of its own. Indeed, to say that they are busy in the garage might be something of an understatement! It just goes to show the importance of providing a quality service. Be it repairs or servicing, the McConnons team have also provided an unrivalled service and this has resulted in them regularly attracting loyal and new customers from near and far.

“The workshop is flat out,” says Christopher. “We have invested heavily in diagnostic equipment and we can tackle any job with complete confidence, be it on a car, light commercial, or heavy commercial vehicle. We also do a lot of work on coaches.”

Looking to the future, Christopher can envisage further expansion of the business. “We hope to expand it and invest in a few more trucks and see how it goes from there. Things seem to have steadied across the economy and the recovery business has picked up.

Hopefully the new regulations will work in our favour and we can grow the business even further.

“We have a strong history and tradition behind us and would like to keep that going. My father would have started working in the motor trade when he was 14, when he moved to England where he operated a garage before moving back home to Ireland and setting up in Carrickmacross in ’81. Recovery was booming and he moved out here to Aclint in ’97 because he needed more space. I started here that same year and served my time as a mechanic, but it was recovery that I was always more interested in.

“Since the earliest days, my father would have been covering a massive area. He was among some of the first in Ireland to do heavy recovery and the service was very popular nationwide.

That’s where it grew from.”

No stone is left unturned in ensuring that customers receive the best possible service. “We have a secure compound here where we can keep the vehicles overnight and, within that, we have a secure storage shed where the vehicles can be kept inside,” Christopher concludes.

24

Every day brings something new!

If required, two vehicles can be removed at once

The fleet comprises four recovery vehicles

An around-the-clock service is provided nationwide IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:54 Page 1

A bit of enthusiasm goes a long, long way

For some, haulage is just a means to an end, a way of making a living and putting bread on the table. For others, it’s much more… a way of life and a true labour of love. Kieran Leydon is one such individual – a man who has enjoyed every minute of his life in the transport industry to date. We caught up with the Cavan man to discuss the history, day-to-day activities and future prospects of his modest but highlyrenowned timber haulage operation.

CONTACT DETAILS IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Kieran Leydon Haulage

Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan Email; kieranleydonhaulage@gmail.com Tel: 087 2976646

25

leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:54 Page 2

Y

ou don’t need to be talking to Kieran Leydon for long to detect his innate enthusiasm for all things to do with haulage. A bona fide trucker to the marrow of his bone, Kieran is the eponymous founder and managing director of Kieran Leydon Haulage, a successful timber haulage business which operates out of Swanlinbar in County Cavan.

In recent years, Kieran has brought his sons Liam and Niall into the family business and they have purchased two brand-new Ivecos inside the last nine months. All in all, things are going very well at present for the company, which was established 14 years ago.

“I started the company up in 2000, having worked for Tony Doonan of National Harvesting for a good few years before that,” Kieran recalls. “In total, I’ve been in haulage for over 20 years. The opportunity just came along to set the business up and I bought my own lorry and decided to just go for it.”

Transport is something of a family tradition and Kieran is following in the footsteps of his father, who was a bus driver. Meanwhile, brother Martin is the man behind Leydon Coaches, another family operation which was established in 1998 and provides a professional daily coach service between Swanlinbar and Cavan (as well as Enniskillen-Cavan).

“Yeah, it’s very much a family tradition,” Kieran agrees. “My father was the driver on the first CIE service from Donegal to Dublin and worked that route until ill health forced him to retire. My brother Eugene (RIP) operated Leydon Tours from Sligo and my Brother Michael ran Leydons Express until the 1900s.

“My sons Liam and Niall have joined the business here and we do all the driving between us. My wife Monica is the transport manager.”

The father and two sons man a lorry apiece: “There are three Ivecos in the working fleet at the moment. One is an ’07, while we bought a new one last August and also added another new one this month. I also have an ’06 but I haven’t decided yet what to do with it. I’m keeping it in reserve for the time being at least.”

Most hauliers can remember the very first truck they bought and, in this respect, Kieran Leydon is no different…

“It was a ’96 Scania 113 360 Streamline,”

26

he reflects. “I then bought a brand-new DAF in 2003 and a brand-new Iveco in 2007. We’ve stuck with Iveco ever since.”

Operating from the homeplace in Swanlinbar. Kieran Leydon Haulage has been hauling timber into Balcas Timber Ltd. in County Fermanagh - one of the largest wood products suppliers in Ireland and the UK - since Day One. “We collect the timber from woods in Ulster, Leinster and Connacht and then haul it to the Balcas facility in Enniskillen,” says Kieran. “We’re very busy but every day is different. There is no set workload and you never know exactly what you’ll be doing. You could have 13 or 14 short loads a day or you might have to carry one or two long loads. It all depends.

But, thankfully, there’s a good bit of work

there for us at the moment. All three lorries are out on the road five days a week, sometimes six days…”

All the trucks are preserved in pristine condition at all times and the vast majority of this maintenance work is carried out in-house. “Niall is also a fullyqualified mechanic, so he does all the maintenance and servicing of the fleet,” Kieran notes. “If there’s anything major, then the main dealer will look after it.”

Since the genesis of the company, timber haulage has always been the main line of work, with little or no ventures into any other lines of work. It’s an area in which Kieran and his sons are knowledgeable and he sees no reason to move outside his comfort zone. “We drew some glass for Quinn’s down to Belfast but timber and logs has always

Kieran, Liam and Niall Leydon with (in front) Mya McGoldrick and Odhran Leydon IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Quality Used Commercial Vehicles

2012 MAN XXL 440 6X2

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Naas Road, Dublin 12, Tel: 01-4564747 Fax: 01-4194515 Visit Our Website: www.harrisusedvehicles.ie

leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:55 Page 4

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Continued Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage Delighted to be associated with Kieran Leydon Haulage

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T: (049) 952 1225 F: (049) 952 1254

Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage

Martin: 087 298 9604 Michael: 087 601 8271 E: info@leydonscoaches.com

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Anthony McLaughlin

Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage, From

Timber Haulage

13 Amalfi Court, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Tel: 086-8818384 E: anthony.mclaughlin@hotmail.com

28

Balcas Timber Ltd 74 Killadeas Rd., Laragh, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland BT94 2ES Tel: +44 (0) 28 6632 3003 Fax: +44 (0) 28 6632 4082 www.balcas.com

Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage, From

KEELCOM

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IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:55 Page 5

been what we specialise in and that’s what we focus on.”

The service provided is second to none and that’s why Kieran Leydon Haulage maintains a strong presence

on the road 14 years down the line.

“We’re happy enough with how things have gone but you can never take things for granted. You have to keep

providing a quality service and you have to look after your customers. You never know what’s around the corner.

“I have another son and

Kieran Leydon with his sons Niall and Liam

maybe we can convince him to come on board as well. In the meantime, we’ll keep plugging away at this and see where that takes us.”

There are a number of

Kieran Leydon Haulage specialises in timber haulage IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

29

leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:55 Page 6

Manufacturers of DAIRY HYGIENE & INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Best Wishes To

Kieran Leydon Haulage

• Hi Foam Truck Wash Detergents • AD-Blue • Industrial Hand Cleaners • Dairy Hygiene Chemicals/ Teat-Sprays • Consumables For The Dairy Farmer

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Aughindiagh, Kinawley, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT92 4FX. Tel:(048) 6774 2769 Fax: (048) 6774 8790. Email: garethlunney@yahoo.co.uk www.topchem.co.uk WISHING KIERAN LEYDON HAULAGE CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE

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DAISY HILL, BALLYCONNELL, CO. CAVAN T: 049 -95 26 157. F: 049- 95 26 503 E: info@burkeandco.ie www.burkeandco.ie

Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage, From

MAIN STREET, BELTURBET, CO. CAVAN T: 049 -95 24 897 F: 049 -95 24 903 E: info@paulburke.ie www.paulburke.ie

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30

IRISH

& LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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leydon designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 11:55 Page 7

The company started in 2000

Best Wishes To Kieran Leydon Haulage, From

Magnetic Drill €315

20 Ton Puller Kit €875

20mm Plasma Cutter €550

Car Lift €1450

Headlight Setter €390

180 amp Inverter Welder €315

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Next Day Nationwide Delivery On All Orders Placed before 5pm IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

challenges that are more applicable to timber hauliers than others; one of these is the task of trying to keep the fleet in optimum condition.

This is an area where Kieran Leydon Haulage has never been found wanting, but there is no room for taking one’s eye off the ball.

“The forestry roads are very hard on trucks and you also use a good bit more diesel than if you were doing road haulage because you always seem to be going up a hill or across difficult terrain in a wood. The line of work we are in can be very, very hard on the vehicles so we have to go that extra mile to look after them and to replace them when the time is right. We pride ourselves on keeping the fleet fresh and that’s why we’ve just invested in two new units.”

In summing up, Kieran says he has no regrets about choosing a life in haulage: “I really like the work and it had been good to me, and the two lads like it as well and they are also getting a living out of it. We can have no complaints. We’ve been working for Balcas since the beginning of the company and they’ve been good people to work for. We’re very happy to be associated with them.”

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david holmes designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:37 Page 1

R

IES was established in 2004 by Derek Beahan and Clive Heathcock – two men who are synonymous with the recovery industry in Ireland and are both past-presidents of AVRO (Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators).

Indeed, Dublin-based operator Derek also served as AVRO membership secretary.

It was the view of Derek and Clive that RIES could be developed to provide a service to AVRO members at competitive rates. The personnel used to carry out inspections were formally used by the Association to carry out membership inspections. These engineers were then and still are self-employed.

Shortly after RIES was formed, PAS43 was introduced following the work carried out by the Survive Group. PAS43 is a form of Quality System aligned to a lesser degree to ISO 9001:2000, as it was at the time. The need for impartiality and freedom of influence meant that to achieve accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), RIES had to become a separate entity and this accreditation was duly achieved.

In a UKAS inspection, the issue of conflict of interest was raised. This meant that in order for RIES to retain its accreditation, none of the directors could hold a position in AVRO. As a result, Derek Beahan and Clive Heathcock stood down and the reins were handed over to Brian Drury and Davy Holmes in 2009, with Brian becoming financial and training director, and Davy managing director.

Both of these positions are voluntary.

There was always an interest in standards among the major recovery players in Ireland who were also AVRO members. In the early days following the introduction of PAS43, this was taken on board by the aforementioned Derek Beahan, Eamon Kelly and Alan and Cora

Viewing equipment at German Tow Show

Sherwood, who are all well-known operators in the Dublin area.

While PAS was not a standard in Ireland, it was adopted as a best practice. The members’ passion to improve standards in Ireland saw the PAS applications roll in and RIES now services 43 PAS

Davy Holmes, MD & Chief Engineer of RIES

inspections in the Republic of Ireland and a further 12 in Northern Ireland.

The demand for RIES’ services has surpassed the expectations of its founders. Nowadays, the company provides services to both AVRO members and non-AVRO members. To meet this need, RIES needed to ensure its engineers were up-to-speed with all equipment they were inspecting and so a training programme was embarked upon and courses were organised.

This effectively means that RIES can now deliver the following services: LOLER inspections of recovery vehicles LOLER inspections of garage equipment Bespoke inspection for Police Forces PAS43 certification Compressor inspections ISO 9001:2008 accreditation ISO 14001: 2004 accreditation OHSAS 18001 accreditation

RIES - a professional service for the professionals Celebrating 10 years in business, RIES (Recovery Industry Engineering Standards) provides efficient, expert inspections to businesses and individuals. Managing director and chief engineer Davy Holmes explains more.

32

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

david holmes designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:38 Page 2

Raymond Conlon, Quality manager and Inspection Engineer

All inspections are supported with indepth inspection reports and, where necessary, written schemes of inspection.

At the time of writing, RIES members were in discussions with the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) to try and have PAS accepted in Ireland.

Davy Holmes bemoans the fact that many motor organisations are still prepared to do business with Irish

operators who haven’t adopted PAS43 as a standard.

“What really annoys me is the lack of enforcement of statutory requirements and the lack of acceptance of good standards within the industry,” he says.

“By that I mean in so far as the recovery industry is concerned there seems to be no good guidance as to what an operator needs to meet the statutory requirements contained within General Applications Regulations 2007 or LOLER in the UK. “There are too many unregulated operators out there without not only uninspected vehicles but also untrained personnel, insufficient insurance cover and operating without the proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

“What is reality is that a number of motoring organisations are prepared to use these unregulated operators simply because they can do the job cheaper as they do not have the overheads a professional operator has. Particularly in Ireland they use the excuse that PAS, for example, is not a standard in Ireland even though it has been adopted as best practice.

“Of course, setting PAS aside, all

Paul Joyce, Inspection Engineer

operators should have vehicles inspected to meet General Applications requirements. These ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ operators do not have this. So one would ask the question: What would happen in the event of an accident? My view is that there is a duty of care on the motoring organisations to ensure persons they use meet basic standards.”

It’s widely acknowledged in the industry that RIES supplies a first-class service at

J.D.

Recovery Services

PROVIDING A TOWING SERVICE FOR ALL VEHICLE TYPES DAY OR NIGHT 24 HOUR RECOVERY & STORAGE SERVICES

Kilmacrennan, County Donegal.

Email: info@jdrecoveryservice.com Phone 00 353 (0) 74 91 39303 Mobile: 00 353 (0) 86 228 9494. Fax 074 91 39010 Web: www.jdrecoveryservice.com

Best Wishes & Continued Success To RIES Continued success to RIES, from

5 units available 24/7 As part of our 24HR MOTOR RESCUE & ROADSIDE ASSIST SERVICE

We can now supply and fit tyres 24/7 KERRY'S LEADING MOTOR VEHICLE RESCUE & ROADSIDE ASSIST OPERATORS

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Continued Best Wishes To RIES

Best Wishes To RIES & Davy Holmes, From

Trucks and Bus Specialists Cars and Commercials Catered for

Log on to: www.mcconnons.ie

33

david holmes designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:38 Page 3

Continued Best Wishes To RIES, From

24 Hour Recovery Service • Roadside Assistance • Heavy/Light & Motorcyle Recovery •Distance No Object • Storage Facilities Available • AA Approved • MIS Approved • Mondial Approved Members of RIES, IFRS, AVRO, RRRA, SIMI, PAS 43

North Esk Business Park, Glanmire, Cork Tel: 021 429 7460 • Mob: 087 2500 789 • Fax: 021 429 7458 E: office@fitzpatricksrecovery.ie Haulage Licence No 92085

James Foy Auto Service Wishing Continued Success To RIES & Davy Holmes, From

J&S Motors Best Wishes & Continued Success To RIES, From

24 HOUR BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY

Meaths No.1 Recovery Contractor

Light & Heavy Recovery | Mechanical Repairs & Servicing Diagnostic Check On Cars & Light Commercials DOE & NCT PREPARATION

J&S Motor Repairs Ltd, Gainstown, Navan, Co Meath

MOB: 086/087 - 256 6284 TEL: 046- 90 29752 E: jim@meathrecovery.ie | www.meathrecovery.ie

24 HOUR RECOVERY SERVICE

Best Wishes To RIES, From

“From A Moped To A Artic We’ll Recover it”

Auto Recovery, Towing & Full Garage Facilities

J.D.’s RECOVERY CORK

Church Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 Tel:01-821 7840 Fax:01-820 3666 Mobile: 087-270 6055 / 087-253 9251

Specialist In Truck & Coach Recovery

Dromore West, Sligo Tel:+353.9647052 Mobile: +353.872541243

www.recoverysligo.com Best Wishes To RIES, From

Best Wishes & Continued Success To RIES

J. D. 'S Recovery is one of Irelands’ Leading Vehicle Recovery Company providing Services at National and International Level.

Unit 2, North Esk Business Park, Glanmire, Cork T: (021) 4354252 • F: (021) 4354874 • M: (087) 7414327 E: jdrecoveryoffice@eircom.net • www.jdrecovery.ie

Best wishes to RIES, from

24 HOUR RECOVERY & BREAKDOWN SERVICE

MOTORBIKES - CARS - 4X4’S - VANS

Lomardstown, Mallow, Co. Cork Tel: 022-47186. Email: duggansgarage@hotmail.com Mobile: 087-2434403/086-4068382 34

WWW.IRISHTRUCKER.COM IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

david holmes designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:38 Page 4

competitive rates and the quality and content of its reports more than meet the requirements needed. The company will continue to attain this standard whilst constantly striving to identify any shortcomings it may have.

To this end, RIES will be embarking on a programme of client surveys over the next few months. If you are a client, RIES values your views as this feedback enables it to focus on its customer requirements and expectations of it as a service provider.

With a background in vehicle inspections, accident investigations and traffic management work, Davy Holmes also runs his own company, DMH Consultancy Services Ltd, from Strathfoyle, which is three miles from Derry city. Set up in 2002, this company specialises in defensive driving, collision investigation, independent vehicle inspections, collision analysis, traffic management and road works signing advice. It is also UKAS PAS43 accredited.

“Most of my time is taken up with RIES, which accounts for about 80 per cent of my work. DMS accounts for the other 20 per cent,” he explains.

Finally, anyone with a question needing answered about RIES please feel free to contact Davy on +44 7800913040 or email me at either dmhconsultancy@aol.com or davy@rieseurope.com.

Preparing for a winch test

One piece of equipment that failed

Best Wishes & Continued Success To RIES

Brian Drury, Technical Director at German Tow Show

VEHICLE RECOVERY • INTERNATIONAL SERVICE WE PROVIDE A 24 HOUR VEHICLE RECOVERY SERVICE

VTN TEST CENTRE FOR HEAVY AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AS WELL AS A FULL SERVICE AND REPAIR WORKSHOP FOR ALL MAKES OF CARS AND TRUCKS.

Killure Road, St. John's Park, Waterford.

T: 0035351 872 219 M: 0035386 2509 238 F: 0035351 853 184 E: info@recoveryireland.com www.recoveryireland.com

Wishing Continued Success To RIES, From

Inspecting lift rams on tilt & slide

Lorry loader inspection IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

35

maloney designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:46 Page 1

M

Another busy day ahead for the hard-working fleet

aloney & Matthews Animal Collections Ltd. is the premier collector of dead and worn-out animals in the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim region. It is also the only licensed collectors of animals in this area (license number KN65).

Between them, Vincent Maloney and Jim

Matthews boast over 45 years’ experience of collecting dead animals in the region. As the company is co-owned, with an owner from each Mayo and Sligo, they have an office in each county. With there being no other knackery in County Mayo, they are the recognised knackery for Mayo as well as Sligo and have been operating in this

area for over thirty years.

Operating a total of ten trucks, they guarantee a fast, efficient and professional service at all times. The fleet consists of one Scania articulated truck plus nine trucks for collecting animals (comprising one Volvo, one Iveco, four MANs and three Isuzus - the newest addition being a 141 Isuzu). A brand

A premier dead animal collection service Providing a fully-licensed, fast, efficient and humane dead animal collection service across the mid-west, Maloney & Matthews Animal Collection Ltd. operates the most modern knackery in Ireland, at Tubbercurry, County Sligo (just 5km from the Mayo border). We visited this state-of-the-art facility and got an insight into the history and current well-being of the business from co-founder Vincent Maloney.

CONTACT DETAILS

36

Maloney & Matthews Animal Collections Ltd. Achonry, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo Currabui, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo Tel: 071 9121928 Tel: 094 9541555 Email: jimmatthews68@gmail.com Email: maloneyandmatthews@gmail.com www.maloneyandmatthews.com

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

maloney designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:46 Page 2

new Manitou loadall has also been acquired this year.

Trucks are based in Ballinrobe, Castlebar, Ballina, Claremorris, Tubbercurry, Sligo and Ballinamore and the fleet is maintained to the highest standards and can access all farm areas. Meanwhile, Maloney & Matthews’ staff members are trained in removing all fallen animals in a professional manner to ensure minimum fuss and

disturbance to the farmer involved.

One of the directors’ main aims is to provide farmers with a value-for-money, reliable service. If preferred, animals can also be dropped off at the state-of-the-art facility in Achonry, Tubbercurry, at a discounted rate - a cheaper alternative for farmers.

The modern knackery facility in Achonry, Tubbercurry County Sligo benefits greatly

from its central location. It is just six miles from Ballymote; nine from Charlestown; eleven from Ballaghadreen and Collooney roundabout; and 15 miles from Ballina, County Mayo and Boyle, County Roscommon.

Here, Department of Agriculture vets carry out daily inspections on fallen animals and all paper work is completed to ensure that animals are taken off the farmer’s system. The facility – which also includes offices and wash areas – has the first air filtering system of its kind in Ireland to ensure that all odours and smells are removed from the air.

A same-day service is provided and lowest prices guaranteed.

Reflecting on the genesis of the company, Vincent Maloney notes: “I’d been collecting dead animals in Mayo since the early ‘80s and I got together with Jim to establish Maloney & Matthews in 2001. We pooled our resources and decided to go at it together, covering both counties. Between us, we invested in an expanded fleet, new equipment and the knackery facility, which is the only Department of Agriculture approved facility in Counties Sligo and Mayo.”

Planning permission was duly received for a fully green knackery facility close to the Sligo/Mayo border and the purposebuilt facility, upon completion, brought the company to the next level. “It’s the most modern knackery in the country,” Vincent confirms. “The air filtration system ensures that the air in and around the facility is clean and that we have no negative impact on the environment whatsoever.”

The opening of the knackery represented a huge step for the company – not to mention a major investment – but it has been worthwhile and has resulted in Maloney & Matthews Animal Collections Ltd. being able to provide one of the most efficient dead and fallen animal collection

A fast, efficient and professional service is guaranteed IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

37

maloney designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:46 Page 3

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Maloney & Matthews, From All At

MONEEN CASTLEBAR

Moneen Ind Est., Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Tel:094-9038680 Email: macecastlebar@yahoo.ie

Best Wishes To Maloney & Matthews

Maxol Service Station Ashlawn

Newport Rd, Westport, Co. Mayo.

Tel:098-50796 Email: sparwestport@yahoo.ie

Best Wishes To Maloney & Matthews From All At

Ballina Road, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo Service Sales Hire Testing

Your one-stop shop for all your commercial vehicle needs

Breaffy Road Business Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Tel: 094-902 7250 • Fax: 094-902 7257 sales@shawcommercials.com

Horans Garage Sales & Repair Wishing Continued Success To Maloney & Matthews, From

CARS | VANS | TRUCKS 24 HR RECOVERY

W

North

Hollymount, Co. Mayo Email: horansgarage@live.com Contact Kevin on 087-6796500 Contact Paddy on 087-2233224

estern

ool & Hide Co. Ltd

Quality Hide Products

We would like to wish MALONEY & MATTHEWS Continued Success In The Future & To Thank Them For Their Continued Support To Our Company

Aughamore Far, Sligo.

Tel: 00 353 71 -917 0362 (5 lines) Fax: 00 353 71 -917 0627 Mob: 00 353 87- 256 0798 www.northwesternwoolhide.com e-mail: nwwh@eircom.net

38

Call 083-1360030

NEW OPENING HOURS Monday - Friday 9am-6pm Late Opening Thursday till 9pm | Saturday 9am- 5pm

Tyres Fitted & Balanced from €45 Tyres | Tubes | Puncture Repair | Wheel Balancing Wheel Realignment | Free Tyre Check

Wishing Maloney & Matthews Continued Success In The Future From

COLM CUNNINGHAM DEAD ANIMAL COLLECTIONS

Daily collection of dead and worn out animals

Your only independent Monaghan based animal collection service

087-9566 068

SAME DAY SERVICE GUARANTEED “Ireland’s Most Modern Knackery”

Best Wishes To Maloney & Matthews

www.johnmunroecrushing.com Email: joanmcnevin@eircom.net

WE OFFER OUR SERVICES FOR Crushing on road projects Sand and gravel | Hard rock Quarries | Wind farms Neale Road, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo Tel : 00353 949520104 Mobile : 00353 87 2586454 IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

maloney designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 17:46 Page 4

Maloney & Matthews operate a total of ten trucks

Part of the dead animal collection fleet in Ballina

The fleet is maintained to the very highest standards

On call in Claremorris

services not just in Connacht but anywhere in Ireland.

Maloney & Matthews Animal Collections Ltd. is very much a family business, with the second generations of both the Maloney and Matthews families involved in day-to-day operations. In total, full-time employment is provided to 15 people – a considerable boost to the local economy in these difficult economic times.

“We take great pride in having the lorries in top condition at all times and they are well-maintained,” Vincent continues. “The lorries are all washed at least once a week and we try to keep the fleet as fresh as possible, with the new Isuzu added earlier this year, for example.

“All our drivers are qualified and would have good experience of farms. We also pride ourselves on providing a very ‘local’ service. We would

have a driver located in every big town in Mayo and Sligo and they would have great local knowledge of the farms and the people in their respective areas.

“This means that the farmer is dealing with somebody he knows, as opposed to a stranger, which we feel is important with something as sensitive as removing dead animals from his farm. As well as the office numbers in Sligo and Mayo, we give out the local drivers’ numbers and the farmer can talk directly to the driver who is going to be calling to his farm to collect the animal. We try to look after everybody as best as we can and we have the height of respect for farmers.

“We are very busy at the moment and the phones are ringing all the time. The business is going well and we are confident that things will continue in a similar vein.”

Maloney & Matthews Animal Collection Ltd. oversees the most modern knackery in Ireland IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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S

The Clare Distribution Services fleet has been bolstered by the addition of nine new trucks and four new trailers

imply said, Clare Distribution Services operates one of the best refrigerated fleets in the country. “We don’t aspire to be the biggest out there but we do want to be the best at the size we are at,” founder / MD Mark Clare states.

A massive investment in the fleet this year underlines CDS’ commitment to provide customers with a stellar service level at all times. To this end, Mark has acquired seven new Volvo FE 250 rigids and two new Volvo FH 460 tractor units

from Irish Commercials in Naas as well as four new Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated trailers. A couple of new DAF 131s were also added to the fleet last year. It’s all part of the company’s ongoing commitment to guaranteeing uptime – something which is particularly essential in the refrigerated distribution sector and an area in which CDS has never been found wanting.

The fleet expansion coincides with the signing of a prestigious new contract and is part of a five-year plan to ensure that

CDS remains at the forefront of the nationwide refrigerated distribution sector here in Ireland, boasting the systems, the personnel and the vehicles to provide a frozen, chilled and ambient produce distribution solution that’s second to none.

“What we have done is gone dual temperature on all the fleet,” Mark explains. “I think the sector is moving and there is more consolidation between chilled and frozen so we decided to invest heavily in dual temperature

Optimising customer service levels e addition of nine new trucks and four new trailers to the Clare Distribution Services (CDS) fleet in 2014 represents a significant statement of intent. Already recognised as the leading temperature-controlled distributor in Ireland, CDS has now taken its service to the next level by moving to dual temperature across the entire fleet. We caught up with managing director Mark Clare to get an update on developments at this progressive Dublin 22 headquartered operation.

CONTACT DETAILS 40

Clare Distribution Services

Unit B9, Kingswood Business Park, Lower Baldonnell Road, Baldonnell, Dublin 22 Tel: 01 4032727 Fax: 01 4032728 Email: info@claredistribution.com www.claredistribution.com IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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vehicles.”

Clare Distribution Services currently operates a full dual temperature fleet of rigids, tractor units, refrigerated trailers and refrigerated sprinter vans. “We use

Blue Tree tracking systems, which allows online real-time live tracking, not just of the location but also of the temperature of fridges and trailers,” Mark points out.

In August of last year, CDS added BWG Foods (Spar, Mace etc.) to their customer list and they now handle all their distribution in the Dublin area as well as across Leinster. With the welcome addition of a new customer to the already established customer base, Mark decided to begin a programme of substantial investment in his fleet: “With our growing customer base, we

CDS has dual temperature on all its vehicles

identified a need to go out and improve the fleet. We are a service based company and that service has to be top class. We had already invested heavily in systems to run the business and also in our professional drivers, so the next obvious step was to upgrade the fleet and set ourselves apart from everybody else out there.

“With our systems and vehicles, we have positioned ourselves so that we can enhance customer service levels and we are determined to continue to provide our customers with the best

The trusty team of Clare Distribution Services drivers IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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clare distribution designed.e$S_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:49 Page 4

service possible.”

Since the company was established in 1997, Mark has always maintained a very strong focus on customer service. “We are a service provider at the end of the day,” he notes. “We’re here to provide a service and we have a strong focus on continually improving our customer service. I think this focus on high service levels ensures customer satisfaction and I believe that this is one of the key reasons as to why people will keep doing business with us. We live by our motto – ‘Promising deliveries, delivering services’. Of course, this doesn’t come cheap but we have always been prepared to invest money in the business once it means we are giving our customers an improved service.

“We are in a strong position going forward but we will continue to invest aggressively as part of the five-year plan that has been in place since 2012. The addition of nine new trucks and four new trailers this year has seen a significant leap forward in that plan and there will be no let-up.

Whatever it takes to enhance our service levels, we will do it.”

A total of 68 people are currently employed at Clare Distribution Services – a massive contribution to the local economy. “We have grown through very tough times and that growth has been down to service and service only. Meanwhile, good systems enable us to run the business efficiently and to operate competitively out there in the marketplace.”

The true test of a company’s efficiencies, lie in its ability to not just survive but prosper through a recession. This was a test that Clare Distribution Services faced head on and thankfully through hard work and dedication the company have come through the recent difficult climate having gained synergies and efficiencies. While the recession may be easing, operating conditions remain largely unforgiving due to high diesel and motor tax costs as well as the coming on stream of the new cross-border levy.

“There has been little respite since the diesel price increases of 2011 and the cross-border levy is another new cost, while motor tax on HGVs continues to go up year on year,” says Mark. “But, if you want to stand out from the rest, you have to continue to invest and strive for further cost-efficiencies.

“We take great pride in what we do and we set targets week in, week out on how to get even better. It’s a process of constant improvement. We are continually striving to become more efficient and more effective and looking at ways of adding more value to our customer because the marketplace is moving and we will continue to improve ourselves.

“I have surrounded myself with a good strong team internally and we are all focussed on the same goal of improving our service to customers.”

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Clare Distribution Services operates one of the best refrigerated fleets in Ireland

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Logan’s boast a superb fleet of 3 to 5 star executive coaches

Corporate Coaching at its best Logan’s Executive Travel is one of the most successful coach hire operators in Ireland. We spoke to managing director Sean Logan about the family-owned firm whose luxury touring coaches are a familiar sight on the roads of Ireland and Scotland.

CONTACT DETAILS 44

Logan’s Executive Travel Ltd.

58 Galdanagh Road, Dunloy, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT44 9DB Tel: +1 (0) 2827657203/7431 Fax: +1 (0) 2827657559 Email: coaches@loganstravel.com www.loganstravel.com IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Logan designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:25 Page 2

T

he company was founded in Dunloy, Co. Antrim in 1970 by Sean’s late father, Joe Logan, whose vision of a luxury coaching service that combines high quality driving, customer care and top-of-therange vehicles have long been realised. Logan’s Executive Travel is renowned for its dedication to service quality, its strong management, highlyexperienced guide drivers and a superb fleet of 3 to 5 star executive coaches designed for client customisation.

It’s a far cry from all those years ago when Joe Logan started out by providing a shuttle service for workers to and from the Sherwood Medical Industries production facility in Ballymoney.

“He had just four days to find a minibus after getting that contract,” explains Sean, who joined the family business fulltime in 1985.

“He later got a second contact for the same factory, so a second minibus was needed. He started doing bingo runs and the like after that, and the business snowballed from there. Our fleet had grown to

about 15 before we started buying new vehicles for the first time in 1996. We took delivery of two Plaxton Premieres and a Plaxton Panther, which were a huge investment at the time.

“People began to take notice of us after that and we’ve maintained that policy to this day, buying new and changing every 30 months. We are constantly investing and reinvesting in our fleet to ensure our passengers of a luxury coaching service.

“Our emphasis has always been on quality of service, comfort of vehicle and safety, rather than on price.”

Logan’s Executive Travel currently operates a fleet of 35 touring coaches and 15 mixed coaches. For the larger group market, Logan’s maintain a fleet of high capacity coaches in the 57-seat range which come equipped with air conditioning, WIFI, WC and washroom facilities, DVD/CD sound system and leather seating. Logan’s 53 seaters down to 38 seaters comprise their main touring fleet, adhering to the high quality, spacious passenger comfort and

A luxury coaching service IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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entertainment standards of all their classes.

Most of the fleet is Plaxton, with Volvo making up the rest.

“We are a loyal and long-standing customer of Plaxton and Volvo,” says Sean.

“We deal directly with Mike McElhone in the Plaxton factory in Scarborough. Pat Tobin, is the service engineer without equal who looks after the after-sales market in Ireland. The support from Scarborough and Pat gives an unrivalled service to all Plaxton customers which is why they are making big inroads to the Irish market. For Volvo, we deal with Dennison Commercials in Ballyclare.”

Sean is fulsome in his praise of his 70 drivers, all of whom work part-time due to the seasonal nature of the business.

“We are blessed with great staff. Our drivers are reliable, courteous, personable and safety conscious. They are ambassadors for our company and do a great job.”

An unrelenting commitment to customer care also guarantees an end-to-end managed service, from computerised scheduling, billing, travel and resource management systems to website enquiry-handling, 24-hour fax, email and phone answering service. These facilities ensure ease-of-booking, effective administration and flexible response to customer enquiries.

“Because we are family-run, we are able to offer our customers the personal touch. We are very much customerfocused. We treat our biggest and smallest clients exactly the same. We have a great backroom staff who will attend to their every need,” the affable managing director continues.

By far Logan’s biggest customer is CIE Tours International, which has been using the company since 1995. Into Ireland Travel Ltd, Travel Solutions of Belfast and Moloney & Kelly are just some of the other travel companies who Logan’s have supplied coaches to down throughthe years.

The signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1994, which signalled the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, opened

A straight road ahead for Logan’s Executive Travel!

up a whole new world for Logan’s Executive Travel. The company now specialises in tours of Ireland and Scotland, and has established itself as one of Ireland’s leading coach tour operators as a result.

“We were doing tours of Northern Ireland for both CIE and Wallace Arnold before the Troubles ended,” Sean points out.

“But the work has really exploded for us since the Peace Process. Having peace in Northern Ireland means we are able to move more freely between Ireland and Scotland. It was a market that was never really tapped into before the mid-1990s.

Tourism is huge in Northern Ireland now, which is great to see.”

Logan’s have been able to give their undivided attention to their Ireland and Scotland service since ceasing their European tours a few years ago.

“We don’t do the overseas tours anymore because of the cheap flights the budget airlines are able to offer. It’s very hard to compete with them,” Sean adds.

Since becoming managing director, Sean has articulated and delivered on several key business objectives for Logan’s, including achieving a reputation for luxury and quality par excellence, dramatically expanding and rebranding the fleet to become a corporate coaching market leader and establishing the firm as Ireland’s premier coaching partner for travel and passenger transport agencies. The company’s unequalled performance in its market speaks volume for the work undertaken by Sean and his staff.

“Our aim is to continue providing the best service there is. We have a very broad customer base and want to maintain and grow it further. We enjoy an excellent working relationship with our travel partners and see the future as being very much in our own hands,” he concludes.

Best Wishes To Logan’s Executive Travel Technical Transport Products Woodside Ind. Estate, Woodside Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT42 4HX

Phone: +44 (0) 28 256 46481 Fax: +44 (0) 28 256 40351

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S

DTT haul tankers from Dublin to Belfast

ince the 1950’s the brewery had been one of main employers in the Co Louth town, but its closure was a replicate of what happened 14 years earlier when the MacArdle Moore Brewery closed its doors in 2000.

Many families in Dundalk have been affected by one or the other closure, but for Dundalk Trucks and Trailers Ltd (DTT), who had relied heavily on both breweries for their workload, it has been a double blow.

Dundalk once boasted rail, shoe

DTT continue to operate on the continent

e Hands of time ere was a sense of déjà vu in Dundalk when the Great Northern Brewery, on the Carrick Road ceased operations earlier this year.

CONTACT DETAILS IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Dundalk Trucks & Trailers Ltd.

Newtownbalregan, Dundalk, Co. Louth (042) 9334298

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48

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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making, tobacco and brewing industries, employing thousands of local people at their peak. Now they are all gone, along with Ecco, which employed over a thousand people during its heyday.

It was a sad day when that final keg left the plant after decades of brewing in the town at both the Harp Lager site and the MacArdle's Ale brewery on the Carrick Road.

“It’s the same thing all over again really,” said Sean Hand, managing director of Dundalk Trucks and Trailers. “When MacArdles Brewery closed, we weren’t sure what we were going to do, but we managed to get over that period and we’ll be doing our best to do the same this time around.

Dundalk Trucks and Trailers are fortunate in that they are still employed by Diageo the company that owned both breweries and decided to relocate to their main brewery at the Guinness plant at St James Gate in Dublin.

“The main core of our work is for Diageo. We transport tankers of Guinness from Dublin to Belfast on a daily basis and we have been with them since the early 80’s

Sean has been through many trials and tribulations in the business

DTT do not rely solely on Diageo for their work though as they also specialise in some continental work as well as refrigeration, bulk tipper and container work.

“Things are certainly not what they use to be, but we’re fortunate that the trucks are on the road every day. Rates are a lot tighter now, so it is essential to try and

keep the overheads down as much as possible and use the lorries to the maximum “It is a whole new industry now and the game has changed, but you have to be able to adapt or otherwise it is just a case of locking the doors and walking away from it.”

Operating a modern fleet of ten trucks

Ronan Lennon and Stephen Mackin have been with the company for years IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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DTT designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:35 Page 5

means that there are plenty of overheads to contend with and the diesel bill is the number one on that list.

“The diesel bill is definitely the biggest outlay we have. Prices have gone through the roof over the past few years and we encourage our drivers to use the fuel economically.

“The fleet consists of Scania and Volvo. We have bought a brand new one of each make this year and we deal with McElvaney Trucks (Scania) and McDonnell Commercials (Volvo) when purchasing our vehicles. Both are very good to deal with and we’ve been dealing with them for years now. Scania and Volvo are the most reliable trucks on the road.

“We do most of the maintenance work ourselves and it is essential to keep the trucks in pristine conditions. Our trucks are well known through their colours of blue and white.”

Of course any business wouldn’t be successful without a competent work force and DTT are fortunate to have loyal and highly skilled drivers who are fully trained in Health and Safety procedures which is a very important issue in every company.

“We have our own mechanic, who maintains the vehicles and most drivers have been with us a number of years now. We all work as a team and each and everyone plays a part in the success of the business “Actually one of the drivers, Dermot Harrison is with us 32 years now and he started when my father first set up the business.

For Sean and his team, it’s a case of keeping the head down and getting the job done. Their customer base has remained loyal to them and they are very grateful for that.

“Look, sure without the customers there wouldn’t be a business here, it’s as simple as that. We’re grateful for all the business that they have given us and hopefully that will continue for many years to come. It’s up to us to make sure that we keep giving them the level of service that they expect of us and if we can do that then I don’t think there will be any problems.”

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

The long serving Dermot Harrison alongside Ben Harrison and Rian Hand

The fleet is kept in pristine condition

Scania and Volvo are the preferred choice of truck for DTT

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F

Casserly Transport’s oil tankers are a familiar sight on Irish roads

rom its central hub of Abbeyleix in Co. Laois, Casserly Transport distributes bulk fuels throughout Ireland. Its service includes: delivery of white and black oil products; collection of waste oil; delivery of recycled oil products.

Since its establishment in 1979,

Casserly Transport has been offering its clients a competitive and high-quality service. A member of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the company started life as a general haulage operator before finding its niche in petroleum-based transport after a decade in business.

“We did a little bit of everything at the start,” Tom remembers.

“We got a lot of work from Telford’s in Mountrath, delivering hardware products, building supplies and farm feeds for them. We did work out of National Hardware in Finglas and had a number of flatbed, curtain-side and

A well-oiled machine!

Celebrating 35 years in business, Casserly Transport Ltd has specialised in bulk liquid transportation since 1989. Founder and managing director Tom Casserly explains more.

CONTACT DETAILS 52

Casserly Transport Ltd

Balladine, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Tel: +353 57 8731869 Email: info@casserlytransport.ie www.casserlytransport.ie IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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tipper trailers at the time to cater for that type of work.

“Then, in 1989, we started working for Emo Oil – or Atlas Oil as they were known at the time – in Portlaoise and that’s how we came to specialise in bulk liquid transport. The late Michael Nolan, who was then manager of Emo Oil Ltd’s sister company, Enva Ireland Ltd, got us the contract and we’ve been working for

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

both Emo Oil Ltd and Enva Ireland Ltd ever since.

“We bought an articulated Hino truck from Emo Oil Ltd, who had been doing the deliveries themselves up until then, and built it up from there.”

Twenty-five-years later, Emo Oil Ltd and Enva Ireland Ltd continue to be Casserly Transport’s main customers, along with Reynolds Logistics. Emo

operate a nationwide home heating oil delivery service and also specialise in commercial, agricultural and marine oil supplies.

Also based in Portlaoise, Enva Ireland Ltd provides waste management and environmental solutions covering areas such as the treatment and disposal of oil and hazardous waste, on-site cleaning services, water and effluent treatment and contaminated soil.

Enva Ireland Ltd has a longstanding history of providing efficient and compliant services for over 5,000 customers, ranging from sole traders, small to medium enterprises, government agencies, local authorities and large blue-chip multinationals.

As part of the Environmental Division of DCC plc, Enva Ireland Ltd operates a comprehensive and effective safety management system across all of its licensed The company operates out of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

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54

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Casserly Transport’s is in business for 35 years

facilities. The company’s success is built on the foundation that it is more than just a waste collection company or chemical provider, but a solutions provider, backed up by an extensive and permitted collection fleet, EPA licensed facilities, as well as highly-qualified and professional employees.

In addition to providing garages and industry with a nationwide waste oil collection service that is both reliable and environmentally responsible, Enva Ireland Ltd also collects waste oil which is imported into Ireland and supplied to the asphalt and hot mix sector in quarries.

“We have two different types of tankers,” Tom explains.

“We have white oil tankers, which are used for the distribution of clean oil, and black oil tankers, which are used for the distribution of waste or recycled oil. We distribute the white oil through the ports of Dublin, Galway, Foynes, Whitegate and Belfast, while the black oil comes in mainly through Rosslare and Dublin.

“Enva Ireland Ltd have a reprocessing

facility on the Ringaskiddy Road in Cork where we haul the waste oil out of.”

Tom’s other main client is Reynolds Logistics, for whom he distributes petrol, diesel and kerosene for Topaz. With over 330 stations across the country, Topaz is Ireland’s largest fuel and convenience brand.

Casserly Transport operates a modern and immaculately turned-out fleet of nine trucks and 20 tanker trailers. The fleet comprises four Renault, four MAN and one Mercedes-Benz. Tom buys his Renault trucks from Setanta Vehicle Sales, his MAN from MAN Truck & Bus Ltd and his Mercedes from MUTEC, which are all based in Dublin. The fleet is serviced and maintained by Abbeyleixbased mechanic Philip Doogue.

Casserly’s employs 12 drivers, who are strategically located throughout the country. Indeed, some of them have been with the company for over 25 years as has our office administrator Jennifer Kennedy.

“I can’t praise my drivers enough. They are reliable, have an impeccable safety

record and are trained to the highest standards. They have played their part in our success to date,” says Tom, whose daughter Caroline – who works for AIB – offers a helping hand when she can.

The company’s central location means no journey is more than three hours away.

“We are only 60 miles from Dublin, 90 miles from Cork and 70 miles from Galway. That’s the beauty of being based in Abbeyleix,” the affable managing director enthuses.

Tom’s mission is to grow his client base and to continue keeping his existing customers satisfied.

“We know the industry well, but you’re only as good as your last load,” he stresses.

“Having said that, we must be doing something right to be still in business after 35 years. We will always do whatever it takes to make sure our customers get the best possible service.

Existing and prospective customers are assured of a very high standard of service when they deal with us.”

Casserly Transport distributes oil nationwide IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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W

Glenn and Cathriona James in the office

hatever the make, model or type, Kingco Commercials Ltd have everything you need to cater for your vehicles needs.

Operating from a two acre site which is located on the Old Naas Road, no stone is left unturned to ensure that all of their customer’s vehicle and maintenance problems do not interfere with their business.

The wide range of services available at Kingo include services and repair of all makes of heavy and light commercials, mechanical hydraulics and electrical, welding and fabrication of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium and electronic diagnostics.

Their premises has all the equipment needed to service and look after your HGV including a standalone lane for 12 week safety inspection checks.

“The new inspection lane for the 12 week inspection is our latest departure,” pointed out Glenn James when speaking to Irish Trucker. “As far as I'm aware there's not too many independent workshops who have installed the lane.

“Keeping up-to-date with the various legislation that's out there is one of the challenges of this business but we're ahead of the game with the installation of our inspection lane.”

Ever since the company was set up by William in 1985, Kingco has always strived to keep one step ahead of the competition.

In a previous life, James senior ran a haulage company of his own and and his first hand knowledge of what transport operators want and expect has helped

Customer service is where Kingco Commercials Ltd shine Under the stewardship of father and son combination, William and Glenn James, Kingco Commericals Ltd has prospered and developed a reputation that is the envy of many of its competitors.

CONTACT DETAILS 56

Kingco Commercials Ltd.

Kingswood, Old Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Tel: (Office): 01-4592275 Tel: (Glenn): 087 9229266 Email: glennjames@eircom.net IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

kingco designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:40 Page 2

them to stand the test of time.

“We had our own trucks, dad was in the haulage business, but he got rid of them and went into repairs when things slowed up in the eighties. I was working in the repair end of things on our own fleet and we both sensed an opening in the market.”

Very much a family-run operation, Glenn's wife Caitriona works in the office while his brother-in-law Edward Kavanagh works on the floor.

With a total of five on the company payroll, their team of experienced and well trained mechanics are only a call away to help sort your problems in a friendly and efficient manner.

In addition, they provide a huge range of spare parts and if they cant find what you need, they promise to make it in their machine shop.

“Business is not too bad at the moment but you would always like to be busier,” Glenn explained.

“That said, we look to have weathered the storm. Things are picking up nicely and I would be IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

optimistic about the future. Moving forward, it's all about keeping the ship steady.”

In these competitive times, Glenn and William appreciate the importance of customer relations.

There's a saying in business that profit comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your service and that bring

Mechanics at work

friends with them.

Kingco Commercials Ltd tick all the boxes in that regard.

“We're lucky to have a lot of loyal customers who do a lot of repeat business with us from all over the country. We have customers from Wicklow, Carlow, Westmeath, Kildare and Wexford. We must

Wishing Continued Success To Kingco Commercials

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kingco designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:40 Page 3

J.W. CARNEGIE & CO. LIMITED WASHED SAND, AGGREGATES & CRUSHED STONE

Continued Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials

www.jwcarnegie.ie HEAD OFFICE Killiney, Co. Dublin.

Tel. 01-2854630/01-2854631 Fax 01-2352820 QUARRY OFFICE Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

Tel. 045-865618/045-865610 Fax 045-865610

Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials From

P.J. GAVIN & CO. LTD.

Sand & Gravel Contractor Blackhill, Kill, Co. Kildare Tel:045-877123/877425 Fax:045-877425 Mobile: 087-2535768

Continental Truck Spares

MAN and DAF Parts Specialists

Stockists of MERCEDES • SCANIA • VOLVO Chassis Parts FULL RANGE OF MAN L2000, F2000, TGA & DAF LF,CF,XF

Replacement Parts In Stock Contact Andrew on

(01) 4133882/83/95 After hours 087 2535973

(Parts also available for older models) C.T.S. Unit E4, Baldonnell Business Park, Baldonnell, Dublin 22.

Tel: (01) 4133882/83/95 • Fax: (01)-4133890 Email: ctsparts@eircom.net Web: www.continentaltruckspares.com

DOMESTIC - COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL - WASTE MANAGEMENT Glenowlen, Church Road, Saggart, Co. Dublin Tel: (01) 4011 928 Fax: (01) 4013 990 Email: enquiries@advancedwaste.ie

www.advancedwaste.ie

Continued Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials

GMC

Best wishes to Kingco Commercials, from

TRANSPORT SERVICES

GENERAL HAULAGE CONTRACTOR

41 Foxborough Court, Lucan, Co. Dublin

Tel:01-9055815 M: 087-1348720

E:gmc.transport@hotmail.com

Best Wishes & Continued Success To KINGCO COMMERCIALS From

6 Greendale Road, Blackbanks, Raheny, Dublin 5.

Tel/Fax: 01-8167730 | M: 086-1718906 Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials From

The Simple Distribution Solution

Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials

IRISH

& LIGHT COMMERCIALS 58

Molloy & Sherry Eirfreeze, Bond Road, East Wall,Dublin 3.

Ph: +35318550115 Fax: +35318550548 E: info@remydistribution.ie | www.remydistribution.ie IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

kingco designed_Layout 1 26/06/2014 16:40 Page 4

be doing something right!

“We have partners who we work with countrywide so if one of our customers is broken down we can call our partners and get them out of trouble very quickly and vice versa.

“We pride ourselves on the the quality and efficiency of the

work we do. It's a competitive industry but quick turnaround and customer service is where we shine.”

What ever your problem give Glenn and Kingco Commericals Ltd a call and they will get you back on the road A.S.A.P.

The team at Kingco Commercials, l/r: Glenn James, Edward Kavanagh, Matthew Kenny, William James

The long inspection pit

Your No1 Irish Parts Suppliers

Agents For

Britool Trucklite Products Durite Electrical Delta Design Bosh Batteries Facom Tools

Unit 8-9 Block G, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin

Tel: +353.1 412 4920 Fax: +353.1 412 4926 E: sales@fentons.ie Email: info@fentons.ie | www.fentons.ie BEST WISHES TO KINGCO COMMERCIALS

Welding taking place

Best Wishes To Kingco Commercials From

The rolling road IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Smyths designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 15:14 Page 1

Smyths Commercial Centre’s HQ at Dunmore, County Galway

No.1 in Galway for truck, trailer and light commercial vehicle repairs and servicing Using skilled technicians and the latest diagnostic and ABS technology, Smyths Commercial Centre in Dunmore, County Galway is providing an exceptional commercial vehicle servicing and repairs service, covering trucks, trailers, vans and jeeps. We dropped into the well-appointed Dunmore base and got an insight into day-to-day operations at this long-running family business from Stephen Smyth.

CONTACT DETAILS 60

Smyths Commercial Centre

Kiltevna, Dunmore, County Galway Tel: 094 9646010 Mobile: 087 3844694 After Hours: 087 3892040 IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Smyths designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 15:14 Page 2

W

ith a quarter of a century of experience of the commercial vehicles sector, Smyths Commercial Centre provides a service that is simply second to none. Be it repairs, servicing, ABS, diagnostics or pre-DOE checks, the family-run business in Dunmore, County Galway offers a rapid and affordable solution, with every type of commercial vehicle catered for.

“We’ve been involved in the transport industry for 25 years and have always worked with commercial vehicles,” confirms Stephen Smyth. “The garage / workshop was left to the side for a number of years while we concentrated on haulage, but we have now placed a major emphasis on the garage again and are offering a commercial vehicle repairs service to operators A technician at work at Smyths Commercial Centre throughout the Connaught region and beyond.”

The workshop had been closed to the public for a number of years but has been reopened as of March, 2014. HGVs. LCVs, trailers and 4x4s are catered for and, in the months since the service was relaunched, there has been a steady growth in demand.

“The garage has always been there,” says Stephen. “But we haven’t maximised it. Up until this year, there wasn’t a whole pile being done in it, even though we have all the latest equipment. We were looking after our own fleet but weren’t making the garage available to other fleet owners. We’ve

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

decided to change that approach and are now inviting all hauliers and commercial vehicle operators to avail of the facility.

“My brother Padraig qualified as a fitter and we decided that the time was right to extend the workshop to the public.

Also, with the way things have gone with the regular testing of trucks, trailers and commercial vehicles, we felt that there was an opening there for a highquality commercial vehicle centre.”

The business was established by Martin Smyth in 1989 and Martin is still very much involved in day-to-day operations at present, with his sons Stephen and Padraig looking after the haulage and garage side of things respectively.

Commenting on the haulage company, which runs alongside the garage, Stephen says: “We operate under the banner of Evergreen Field/Smyth’s Transport, specialising in bulk liquid transportation – tanker work and bulk tippers drawing waste from treatment plants. We have scaled that side of the business down significantly from 25 trucks to just two, covering the Connaught region.

We’re kept going at that but we are getting busier with the truck repairs.

“We have a state-of-the-art workshop with the latest diagnostics equipment as well as the ability to do ABS repairs. We offer the full range of services, from services, repairs and pre-DOE to truck washes and general maintenance and we are ideally situated to cater for customers from all over counties Roscommon and Galway.

“I suppose it’s still early days for the garage as we’ve only re-launched the service a few months ago, but the signs are encouraging and we have good contacts with a number of customers who are bringing their vehicles to us.

“We’re hoping it will take off. We know it will take time to build it up but we are hoping this is going to be a long-term thing.”

Elaborating further on the decision to scale down the haulage side of the business, Stephen touches on a reality that readers of this magazine will recognise only too well – the case of the

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diminishing rate.

“We were doing general haulage as well but we decided to drop that altogether and just stick with the waste transport. At the moment, we just have two trucks – Volvo FMs – providing that waste service and we are happy with how it’s going. The garage is the longterm future of the business as we see it.”

One of the keys now is to publicise the garage / workshop service and to get word out there to operators that Smyths Commercial Centre is up and running, offering a comprehensive range of services to commercial vehicle owners .

With each passing week, an increase in interest is recorded and Stephen is confident that they are onto a viable long-term business proposition.

“We have invested in a lot of new equipment and also in rebranding and advertising the business,” he notes. “We

are providing this service at a very keen rate and we know what we are doing.

We provide a very professional and reliable service and we appreciate that operators want to have their vehicles back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.

“Having working in transport for 25 years and having operated our own fleet, we understand exactly what the operator wants and expects when he brings his vehicle to a garage. We can look at it from the customer’s point of view and we can provide a service that is 100% tailored towards the customer.

“The garage was opened to the public full time before between 2004 and ’09 so we have no shortage of experience of this market and this time we are here for the long haul.”

The back of the workshop offers ease of access

Best Wishes To Smyths Commercial Centre, From

Best Wishes To Smyths Commercial Centre, From

FOR ALL YOUR

AUTO, AGRI & COMMERCIAL PARTS Vicar St., Tuam, Co. Galway

Tel: 093- 28731

Fax: 093- 27874 E: a1_autoparts@hotmail.com 62

Williamstown 094-9643355

Roscommon 090-6634645

SUPPLIERS OF Central Heating Oil / Kerosene Agricultural & Motor Diesel Lubricants, Anti Freeze and Plastic Tanks IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

twomey designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:03 Page 1

T

The current fleet of transport at Denis Twomey Transport Ltd.

his is especially true when a recession hits and Ireland is slowly emerging from the latest economic setback that has hit the country with such ferocity that no one was left untouched.

Unfortunately for some businesses, the roar of the Celtic Tiger has long passed and many have been forced to close their doors, but for the ones that have survived, it is no surprise that they have been in business for many years as experience is vital in these incidents.

A lot of companies experienced the same economic turmoil in the eighties when a lack of work forced hundreds of thousands to emigrate, but through hard work and dedication, some businesses have continued to not only survive but thrive.

Company Director Richard operates the forwarder

Forty years of success î “e success of any company can be gauged on one part by its longevity as businesses struggle for survival is a continuous factor.

CONTACT DETAILS IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Denis Twomey

Renaniree, Macroom, Co. Cork Tel: (026) 45075 63

twomey designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:03 Page 2

Denis Snr is still actively involved in the day to day running of the company

One of these is Cork based Denis Twomey Transport Ltd who in 2014 is celebrating 40 years in business, a remarkable achievement by any standard.

Located in Renanariee, Macroom in the heartland of Gaeltacht country, the business which also uses its Irish name Donnacha O’Tuama (Iompair) Teo specialises in the harvesting and haulage of timber.

The business was set up 40 years ago

by Denis Twomey who saw an opening in the market to provide a service for hauling timber, having worked for a number of years in Grainger Saw Mills.

Having bought his own lorry, Denis started drawing timber for the saw mill and a few years later he added a second lorry to the fleet and continued to grow the business from there. The eighties were a tough time as not only was money scarce, but so too was diesel and for anyone in the haulage industry this made the situation twice as hard, but through perseverance and hard work, Denis and his wife Nora ensured that the business kept going.

During this time, he and Nora were raising a young family with Siobhan, Denis Jnr, Richard and Mairead all now

64

involved in the day to day running of the business. Denis Jnr and Richard are managing directors, while their sister Siobhan mainly manages the office and it was she that spoke to Irish Trucker about the success of the business over the past four decades. “This is very much a family run

business and although Denis and Richard took over the running of the business in 2005 having previously been working with their father since they were 16 years of age, our father is still very much involved in the business and is driving a truck every day. The young Twomey children are showing great

Denis Jnr and Richard as kids when the first machine was purchased from Woodlands Engineering IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

twomey designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:03 Page 3

John Deere Forestry Ireland Ltd. Sales & Service

Tel. 0404 44969 • Fax. 0404 44972 Ballyknocken, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow www.johndeere.ie

Continued Success to DENIS TWOMEY TRANSPORT from all at John Deere Forestry Ltd

twomey designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:03 Page 4

Continued Best Wishes To Denis Twomey Transport, From

TYRE REPAIR SERVICES SUPPLIERS & FITTERS OF TRUCK & TRACTOR TYRES

24 HOUR MOBILE BREAKDOWN SERVICE Ummera, Macroom, Co. Cork

Contact Us 087-2531327 INDUSTRIAL AND FARM MACHINERY LTD.

Best Wishes To Denis Twomey Transport

Best Wishes & Continued Success To DENIS TWOmEy TRANSpORT From

TImOThy LuCEy & CO. SOLICITORS

Margaret Lucey B.C.L. Marie Sheehan B.C.L. North Square, Macroom, Co. Cork.

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN T: 026-41619 | F: 026-41610 E: info@tluceysolicitors.ie

Irish Trucker & Light Commercials Magazine

Call BARRY now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923

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Best Wishes & Continued Success To

Denis Twomey Transport Kiemar House, Shanakiel Road, Sunday’s Well, Cork Tel:353-21-4304522 Fax: 353-21-4303762 E:info@mylescronan.ie BRANCH OFFICE Main Street, Schull, Co. Cork.

Tel: 028-28332

Cronin Commercial & Repair Co Ltd Continued Best Wishes To Denis Twomey Transport, From Derrynacaheragh, Dunmanway Tel:023-8845498 Fax:023-8855266

www.cronincommercials.ie

Service & Repair to all types of Vehicles

Full range of spare parts for all makes of Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Machinery & Marine Hydraulic Hoses made up while you wait Engine Repairs and a huge range of spare parts CVRT Test Centre for Heavy and Light Goods Vehicles

MACROOM MOTORS

Continued success to Denis Twomey Transport, from

\

Cork Street, Macroom, Co. Cork.

Tel: (026) 20800 Fax: (026) 20810 Email: sales@macroommotors.ie

www.macroommotors.ie IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

twomey designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:03 Page 5

A harvester is operated by mickey

One of the first lorries used by the company

A family affair at the gathering for the opening of the new garage IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

interest in the business and hopefully they will continue to keep the Twomey name in business for many years to come.

“An early memory of mine from the business is all the family going to Dublin and being put up in Jury’s Hotel for the night by a company that Dad was buying his first forestry machine from for £96,000 pounds, which was a lot of money in 1987.

“It was tough going at the time, but fortunately we have always had good customers in Coillte and GP Woods, which is a merger of the Grainger Group and the Palfab Group. We continue to work with these companies today and we’re very grateful for their business down through the years.

“We would also do some private timber sales and mainly work in the southern region, mostly Cork and Kerry. It is hard work and the lads are on the go from 7am to 10pm at night. In a family business work is often discussed over the dinner table on a Sunday afternoon,” added Siobhan.

Denis Twomey Transport Ltd’s fleet consists of three trucks (one being a 2014 Scania truck purchased in June 2014) and seven forestry machines,(one of these to be traded in, in August 2014 for an 8 wheel drive John Deere Harvester, one of the first in the country) “We have our own garage and workshop and do the majority of our own maintenance. There is one rigid and two artic trucks. They are kept well maintained and the forestry machinery comes from John Deere in Dublin where we have a good working relationship with Ed Power who is working with John Deere for years.

Siobhan admits that the diesel bill is a major concern as it is for all involved in the haulage industry.

“The Government fuel rebate is a little bonus, but the diesel bill is still huge. It’s all about keeping the overheads down and fortunately we have an excellent mechanic and excellent staff who respect the trucks and machines.

Siobhan concluded that once their customers are happy than they have achieved what they’ve always set out to do and that is to provide an efficient and loyal service.

“We’re happy with the direction that the company is heading. We’re busy all year round and are delighted to be working for the companies that we are. Our aim is continue to provide the service that they expect for many years to come.”

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Delighted To Be Associated With The Shell Corrib Project

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IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:20 Page 2

T

The Corrib Gas Terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge in Co. Mayo. Corrib Gas will supply up to 60% of Ireland’s gas needs at peak production

he Corrib Gas Project’s logistics and transport team comprises more than 30 contractors, many from County Mayo.

Since 2011, they have driven 6,500,000 kilometres and transferred 1.1 million tonnes of construction equipment, building materials, stone, peat, dry cement, tunnel segments, tunnel arisings and bentonite.

All of this has been achieved, often in poor driving conditions, without injuries or incidents.

This is the fifth year of the prestigious awards which

Shell E&P Ireland Limited celebrate winning the Logistics and Transport Team of the Year at the Irish Logistics and Transport Awards 2014

And the winner is ...

Shell!

Shell’s Corrib project in North Mayo was awarded one of the top accolades at the 2014 annual awards of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland (CILT) back in March.

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

69

Barry Quinn

Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:21 Page 3

Delighted to be associated with the Shell Corrib Project

TrAnSPorT LIMITEd

SPECIALISING IN GENERAL HAULAGE Supplier of Sand, Stone, Topsoil & Truck Hire

Call Barry on (087) 2501368 School Road, Carnmore, Oranmore, Co. Galway Delighted to be associated with the SHELL CORRIB PROJECT From

Breaffy, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Mobile: 087-2761425 | Tel: 096-78585 / 096-22780 Fax: 096-22895 | Email: ed@lundyhaulage.com 70

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:22 Page 4

attracted entries from over 120 Irish companies.

Shell was one of seven companies shortlisted for the “Logistics and Transport Team of the Year” Award and fended off strong competition from DHL Global Forwarding, Dulux Paints, BWG Foods and DB Schenker among others.

Finbarr Cleary, President of CILT Ireland told the 450 delegates at the ceremony in Dublin: “The Awards identify individuals and organisations within our industry whose performance has been outstanding and who are providing leadership within the Industry.”

Crossmolina native Brendan Moyles,

Stones being delivered by TJ Lennon quarries at the Corrib Gas Terminal in Co. Mayo are offloaded with a roadbridge loader

who is Upstream Integration Lead, accepted the award on Shell's behalf.

Accompanied by representatives from Roadbridge, Barrett’s, Lennon’s quarries and Ed Lundy Transport, he paid tribute to all the transport contractors for their unrelenting commitment to safety and high standards of delivery.

The Corrib Gas tunnel, which runs under Sruwaddacon Bay. When complete the tunnel will be the longest tunnel in Ireland and the longest gas tunnel in Europe IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Delighted To Be Associated With The Shell Corrib Project

Delighted to be associated with the Shell Corrib Project

Claregalway, Co. Galway.

Tel:091-799557 | Fax:091-799570 Email: info@techcomm.ie | www.techcomm.ie

Lennon Quarries Limited

Delighted to be associated with the Shell Corrib Project Glencastle, Bunnahowen, Ballina, Co. Mayo T: 097-81297 F: 097-81734 E: enquiries@lennonquarries.com www.lennonquarries.com

Some of our products include :

High P.S.V. Aggregates ➢ Clause 803 Type A ➢ Clause 804 Type B Crushed Rock ➢ Sand & Gravel ➢ Lengold Decorative coloured stone (Driveways,Lawns & Patios etc) ➢ Rock Armour (Sea defence) Concrete Produced in accordance with EN-206 specification Coloured concrete (various colours & prints available) A range of quality concrete precast products ALSO WE SPECIALIZE IN GROUND WORKS, SITE CLEARANCE & ROAD DEVELOPMENT

Concrete Built is Better Built

72

SUPPLIERS OF ROAD DIESEL, AGRI DIESEL AND HOME HEATING OIL

Delighted to be associated with the Shell Corrib Project

For your commercial and domestic fuel supplies Contact Neil Togher on 087-7744384 Email: errisfuels1@gmail.com Aughalasheen, Belmullet, Co. Mayo

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:22 Page 6

project, putting them in a stronger position to compete for other projects, both in Ireland and further afield. “We wanted to give opportunities to local companies to work on the Corrib project and encourage and mentor them in relation to making improvements in

deliveries of the 1.2m wide concrete rings that line the Corrib tunnel arrive at the tunnelling compound. The rings, which are manufactured by Shay Murtagh in Mullingar are transported to the Aughoose site on a daily basis by Ed Lundy Transport

their respective companies in areas such as driver training and health & safety,� explained Brendan who revealed that 900 individuals are also currently directly employed on the project.

The skills developed and experience gained by many local people, along with the

experience built up by a varied group of local contractors, means that Erris itself is better placed to attract other industries and businesses to the area.

The local economy has benefitted in other ways too as a result of the Corrib project. At peak construction,

up to 800 people were living in accommodation locally, and several hundred continue to do so.

Local suppliers are providing products and services to the project, while local restaurants and pubs are benefitting from a significant amount of activity at a time when many other rural areas are depressed.

Local facilities and amenities are being availed of by the project and its staff and these benefits will not end with the completion of the construction phase.

Approximately 175 full-time equivalent jobs will be sustained on the project during operations and it is expected that a significant number of these will be local.

At the outset of the Corrib project, Shell made a commitment to being good neighbours throughout the lifetime of the project and they have been true to their word.

Kieran Reidy

Delighted To Be Associated With The Shell Corrib Project

TRANSPORT LTD

Specialists In

ALL TYPES OF HEAVY HAULAGE & INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT

The Corrib gas tunnel which is 4.9km in length

Telephone: 087-2562724

Castlemungret Business Park, Dock Rd., Limerick

COOLTURK Email: kreidytransport@eircom.net

Delighted To Be Associated With The Shell Corrib Project QUARRIES LTD

Coolturk, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo

Contact Michael Leonard 087 624 3090 E: coolturkquarries@eircom.net

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

SUPPLYING Decorative Stone | Plastering Sand | Building Gravel Drainage Stone | Broken Stone | Organic Topsoil CERTIFIED CONCRETE Raft foundations | Retaining Walls | Sheds and Driveways

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Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:22 Page 7

Michael McManamon Delighted To Be Associated With The Shell Corrib Project

HAULAGE

Specialists In

ALL TYPES OF ROAD HAULAGE, INCLUDING GAS PIPE TRANSPORT & FURNITURE REMOVALS

Belcarra, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Tel: 087-2480806 Tel: 094-9032091

E:mcmanamonhaulage@gmail.com

QUALITY STONE PRODUCTS & PLANT HIRE We are a family run Quarrying & Plant Hire business, offering quality products and services to customers for more than 50 years

ALL TYPES OF CRUSHED STONE - CHIPPING FOR DRIVEWAYS, GARDEN BEDS, SIZES TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS - BUILDING STONE - SAND & GRAVEL - READY MIX Our Quarrying products include

National & International Hauliers. Connaught Waste Collection Permit. We have an extensive range of fleet for hire including tippers, artic tippers, flatbeds and low loaders

Stone Chippings of all sizes for paths and beds and all your garden landscaping projects Tel: 097-83890 - 087-2226243 Bangor Erris, Co. Mayo.

Email: barrettsquarry@gmail.com

DELIGHTED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHELL CORRIB PROJECT 74

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Shell designed_Layout 1 27/06/2014 12:22 Page 8

Waste Water is removed from the Corrib tunnel compound by Michael McManamon transport

“The award could not have been won without their commitment and professionalism as well as the determination of all individual drivers to be best in their class for driver behaviour, safety awareness of other road users and external awareness of the potential for community disturbance.”

When speaking to Irish Trucker, Brendan elaborated further: “It is excellent recognition for the integrated project team which is made up of a wide range and mix of different contractors, drivers, and specialists. It is a great morale boost that will help sustain the team to deliver safely the final stages of

deliveries of the concrete rings that line the Corrib tunnel are offloaded at the tunnelling compound. The rings are delivered daily to the Aughoose site by Ed Lundy Transport IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

the project.”

The Corrib gas project is one of the most significant engineering projects ever undertaken in Ireland.

Located some 83 kilometres off the northwest coast of County Mayo, this medium sized gas field will be developed as a subsea ‘tie-back’ facility, connected by a pipeline to an onshore processing terminal located approximately 9 kilometres inland.

At peak production Corrib Gas is capable of meeting up to 60% of the Ireland’s gas need providing the country with a secure energy supply for up to twenty years.

In preparation for the delivery of first gas next year, a comprehensive programme of onshore and offshore works will take place in Mayo, Killybegs, at the Corrib field and along the offshore pipeline route in the coming months.

“We are hugely dependent on transport logistics to support it,” Brendan added, “and our aim is to minimise any potential impact on the local community.

“There's quite an acceptance of the project in the locality now and, as a result, there has been a minimal number of traffic complaints.

“There was a lot of learning since the early phase in 2005 and all of that has been implemented in the overall traffic management plan that we have implemented since 2010 for the onshore pipeline construction.”

Local contractors have benefitted hugely from the project – and have, in turn, contributed significantly to its progress and outstanding safety record to date.

Lennon’s Quarries, Barrett’s Quarries, Carey Plant Hire, Shevlin Engineering, Belcross Limited, Hegarty Electrical, Corduff Travel, Artec Construction and Rossglen are all local companies that have worked on the project over several years.

They have gained safety and quality accreditations during their time on the

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R

Rotech offer a variety of steel tanks with fuel pumps

otech is Ireland’s premier supplier of diesel and lube oil dispensing (and monitoring) equipment, stocking a wide range in each product line from a simple hand pump to air-operated, electric and full fuel / oil monitoring systems. It is the main importer and distributor of some of the world’s top manufacturers of fuel pumps, meters, hoses, filters, dispensing nozzles, fuel management systems, tank gauges, oil pumps, grease pumps, fuel and oil reels, waste oil collectors, oil and detergent sprayers etc.

Boasting 25 years’ extensive product knowledge, Rotech possess all the expertise to help customers find the perfect solution to their requirements every time. A family-run company with personal, friendly service always a priority, Rotech keeps its stock levels high, with prompt next-day delivery to customers. If required, their experienced and fully-trained staff provide customers with an excellent on-site fitting and aftersales service.

And the fact that the company MD comes from a farming background

himself means he understands fully the needs of his customers.

John reveals: “I set the business up myself 30 years ago, just outside the village of Killinick in South Wexford. I saw a potential demand for fuel pumps and we were one of the first to introduce these pumps onto the Irish market in the early 80s. I had spotted them at an exhibition in Denmark and brought in a few just to test the market and it just grew from there. We went from standard fuel pumps to pumps with metering systems and filtering systems.

Eventually we also progressed into supplying complete fuel management systems to hauliers and coach operators, taxis, people in construction, farmers etc.”

Rotech’s practical and efficient fuel management systems cater for the smallest to the largest fleets throughout the the 32 counties.

The CUBE 70 MC & Self Service 70/100 Fuel Management System has been designed and manufactured to cater for the private user and is easy to install, ensures fast and precise

dispensing and can only be used by identified personnel. Dedicated software permits exporting data to a PC. The compact body contains the nozzle holder, the pump and the meter, while the electronic unit is able to control up to120 users by means of a magnetic key or PIN code. Data can be downloaded onto a PC either by means of the manager key or by direct cable connection. The CUBE 70 MC can be wall mounted, directly on the tank by means of the quick coupling or on a column. The self service units can be directly bolted to the ground.

Meanwhile, the Delta FT4000 is a simple yet sophisticated fuel management system, designed to provide complete control for multi user commercial transport organisations dispensing fuel to authorised vehicles on-site. The FT4000 comprises hardware and software, the hardware is a highly specified Fuel Access Control Terminal (FACT) designed to be installed at the fuelling location. Remote access via the internet is also possible where required.

Pump it up For quarter of a century, Rotech has been supplying fleet operators in Ireland with an excellent range of fuel pumps, meters hoses and other dispensing equipment as well as offering state-of-the-art fuel management systems. Irish Trucker popped into the company’s Wexford base and got an insight into the business from founder / managing director John Rowe.

CONTACT DETAILS 76

Rotech

Hiltown, Killinick, Co. Wexford Tel: 053 9135165/9135270 Fax: 053 9135437 Email: info@rotech.ie www.rotech.ie IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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The perfect solution for your fuel needs

Rotech can come up with the answer for complete fuel management systems

In March 2012, Rotech introduced the new range of AdBlue dispensing equipment from the Piusi range, Suzzara Blue. This range includes IBC kits from a basic pump to a pump and metering system. Rotech supplies products to suit every customer, including 205 ltr AdBlue hand pumps and basic AdBlue hose kits.

The range includes 12 or 24 and 230 volt options in pumps; manual or automatic nozzles can be added to suit each customer.

Rotech will be displaying its range of diesel pumping and filtering equipment at the Ploughing Championship at Ballinaboola ,Wexford in September. Its range of diesel tanks and AdBlue pumping equipment will also be on display, with special show prices available during the exhibition.

John says the business has evolved significantly over the past 30 years. “And it’s continuing to change,” he notes.

Particularly so with the price of diesel, a lot of the operators are trying to buy in bulk, so there’s an increase in demand for new and used tanks.”

A willingness to embrace technological advancements has been central to Rotech’s success. “We’ve always kept abreast of changes, moved as fast as humanly possible and we’ve made sure we don’t get left behind,” says John who is joined in the family business by his sons John Jnr. and Richard. “Between the three of us, we run the show. We also have a fitter and a girl looking after the day to day running of the office.

“We pride ourselves on the service we IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

offer. Equipment on its own – no matter how good it is – is worthless without the backup in terms of technical knowledge and speedy response to any problems that might arise. We supply only the best brands – Piusi is our biggest supplier and would be recognised as one of the world’s leading fuel pump and meter manufacturers with first class back up.

Rotech sells directly to operators and also through a network of dealers located strategically nationwide. As for the current performance of the business, John concludes: “Given the tough period we are all going through in Ireland at the moment, we are thankfully keeping our heads above water. It’s never easy to look at the crystal ball and see the future but we will be on the look-out for new products and we will advise our suppliers on how the industry is changing. Our fingers are firmly on the pulse and will continue to provide both new and existing customers with the best products and back-up service possible.

“The biggest problem facing the haulage industry is the price of fuel which leads to very tight margins. We will be introducing a new Piusi fuel management system within the next few months, which we have high hopes for as it is a strong, reliable product offering value for money. It’s an excellent budget system, which will be of particular interest to most fleet owners.”

Secure systems are in much demand

Rotech are experts in fuel management systems Whatever the need, Rotech can come up with the answer

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Mark Murphy Motors is in a league of its own

ark Murphy Motors was established exactly a decade ago – in July, 2004. The eponymous founder has worked in the motor industry all his life. “My dad had a garage before me and I started serving my time with him in 1991, having started my apprenticeship the previous year,” he reflects. “I suppose it was in the blood and I kind of always had it in my head that one day I would open my own place.”

In the mid-noughties, Mark felt that the climate was right to open a high-quality workshop. “There were only a small number of garages in our area doing quality work and I had amassed invaluable technical experience from working in various dealerships. I started off by providing a diagnostics service to other garages and things just took off from there. We still offer that service

A full range of diagnostic and repairs services is provided

today and a considerable percentage of our business would be to the trade.”

A lot of it is high-end stuff, as Mark continues: “I’m a Bosch technical trainer as well as a Bosch master technician. To become a master technician you have to go through a rigorous assessment as well as passing a series of tests in modern vehicle systems.”

Mark Murphy’s expertise is second to none and that’s why his company has been a phenomenal success over the last ten years. The range of services provided includes diagnostics, repairs and testing; servicing and general repairs; a 24-hour recovery service; preNCT and –DOE checks; supplying, fitting and programming modern keys; and a

A master of diagnostics Kilkenny man Mark Murphy is one of only two Bosch master technicians in the country. We caught up with the cutting-edge technician to get an insight into the high-end services provided by Mark Murphy Motors in Clara.

CONTACT DETAILS 78

Mark Murphy Motors Clifden, Clara, Co. Kilkenny www.markmurphymotors.ie Tel: 056 7726030

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limited amount of car and light commercials sales.

“We do pretty much everything except bodywork and spray painting,” Mark confirms. “I have guys here with me who are trained in specific areas. They might specialise in mechanical work or diagnostics, for example. We cover every base and every eventuality.” In addition to the proprietor, gainful employment is provided to six others at Mark Murphy Motors – four technicians plus two office staff.

The very latest state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment is deployed. “We started out as a small two-bay workshop and built on an extension in ’07, bringing it up to a four-bay workshop with office and toilet facilities. In 2010, I built on a diagnostics centre and extended it again, to a seven-bay workshop.”

The day-to-day catchment area incorporates counties Kilkenny and Carlow particularly but, for specialist work, Mark regularly attracts customers from as far afield as Dublin, Cork, Laois, Limerick and Monaghan. And anywhere in between.

The workshop is also fully-equipped to handle light commercial vehicles and 4x4s, which are seen as an important part of the overall business.

Mark holds the franchise for Bosch car service but is free to work on any make or model of vehicle – and is more than happy to do so! At his disposal, he has all the latest equipment to keep him up to speed with all modern repair procedures, coding and programming.

“I saw the market that I wanted to get into,” he recalls. “It was in its embryonic stage at the time but things have evolved along the lines I expected and, accordingly, the technical requirements of the garage have been ramped up over the last ten years. I trained extensively in the UK to prepare myself for when these things came through the door.”

Members of the Mark Murphy Motors team: Cos Vaslachi, Craig Martin, Billy Dunphy, Mark Murphy, Sinead Murphy, James Sadler and Larry Costello

Mark oversees a highquality operation

The days when a car was a car are gone. Today, you have high-pressure petrol and common-rail diesel, not to mention software parameters that need updating and mission controls that are particular to specific vehicles. It’s a complex area where only the most knowledgeable will survive. Mark Murphy is certainly one of those.

For him, it’s very much a family tradition

and he hopes that the business goes from strength to strength in the coming years so that he has a strong brand to hand over to his own sons in 20 years’ time.

Runner-up in SIMI’s ‘Independent Operator of the Year 2014’, Mark Murphy Motors will be opening a service centre in Kilkenny city in the not-too-distant future.

KILKENNY’S NO. 1 TYRE COMPANY

Upper Patrick St., Kilkenny Fax: (056) 7761289 Email: sales@tctyres.com www.tctyres.com Diagnostic technician James Sadler hard at work IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Best Wishes & Continued Success To MARK MURPHY MOTORS

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Husqvarna celebrates the first 325 years

The Swedish brand is known throughout the world

Husqvarna is celebrating 325 years of innovative Swedish engineering. Known across the globe for its wide range of outdoor power products, including lawnmowers, chainsaws, garden tractors and trimmers, Husqvarna has been successfully trading in Ireland since 1973 when Liffey Distributors became the exclusive importer and distributor for the brand.

CONTACT DETAILS 80

Forest and Garden (Liffey Distributors)

309 Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 Tel: +353 1 8242600 Email: info@liffeyd.com www.forestandgarden.ie Facebook: www.facebook.com/Husqvarnaireland IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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Husqvarna is the preferred choice among professional harvesters

iffey Distributors also distribute McCulloch, Jonsered, Gardena, Flymo, Oregon and Aspen Brands and has established itself as Ireland’s leading provider and distributor of forestry, park, garden and construction products. The company is committed to maintaining a premium customer experience and as such ensures that all products are distributed appropriately to customers through trained service agents.

“We have seven instructors delivering training on a full-time basis,” Liffey Distributors Marketing Manager Kevin Power explains.

“Chainsaw training is our biggest request and currently we train approximately 60 to 80 people per month in basic and advance chainsaw units. One of the reasons why Coillte works so closely with us is because of the appeal of Husqvarna 540XP and 560XP chainsaws to professional harvesters. They swear by those two models.

“We also supply Coillte with chainsaws and protective gear… basically everything they need to run the courses.”

The training courses are fully insured and are delivered by highly competent staff. Coillte’s Training and Safety Services provide training for the forestry industry, local authorities, public bodies and the private sector for IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

engineering skills, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for quality products has led to innovative solutions, successfully taking the Group from weapons, via sewing machines, stoves and motorcycles, to today’s cutting-edge outdoor power products.

“For 325 years, Husqvarna has developed and manufactured quality products to help users achieve greater results. Going forward, they will continue to challenge the existing solutions and deliver high performing products with the needs of the user in mind,” adds Kevin.

Husqvarna introduced its first chainsaw in 1959, Husqvarna 90, which was shaped by iconic Swedish designer Sixten Sason and used motorcycle muffler technology to achieve lower noise levels than its competitors. When the Husqvarna 180 chainsaw was launched 10 years later, it featured a ground-breaking anti-vibration function that prevents ‘white fingers disease’, which is a common problem for forestry workers around the world.

In 1995, the Group launched the Solar operatives, supervisors and managers.

Mower, the world’s first commercialised Graduates of these courses receive fully robotic lawnmower running on special goodie bags from Husqvarna! nothing but solar power. Last year, a Coillte can provide NPTC Certification, third generation model with built-in GPS while their training services are FETAC was released. approved. Coillte Training and Safety Earlier this year, Husqvarna launched Services are also a registered training its new 300-series walk-behind mowers provider and assessment centre for City that provide a superior cutting and & Guilds. collecting performance.

Since 1689, Husqvarna, now part of “The 300 series has been given a Husqvarna Group, has manufactured a complete facelift, but is still fully in line wide range of quality products. Excellent with the unique and wellknown Husqvarna design language. The new models will definitely stand out against the competition,” Husqvarna After Sales Manager Andy Walsh said at the time.

For the past three years, Husqvarna has been wowing the crowds at the National Ploughing Championships with choreographed shows from Irish Axemen and Pole Climbers. The Husqvarna Pole Climbing team race each other against the clock up two trees – which are 30 metres high and 50cm in diameter – with the winner being announced on the final day. The trees are sourced, felled and prepared

by Kevin Birchall, who is a professional pole climber and has travelled throughout Europe setting up pole climbing competitions.

Husqvarna has been manufacturing “The All-Ireland Husqvarna chainsaws since 1959

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Best Wishes To Liffey Distributors & Husqvarna, From

r e w o P Mower

BOB TROY & CO. LTD Best Wishes To Liffey Distributors & Husqvarna,From

38 O’Connell St., Dungarvan, Waterford T:058-41590 E: bobtroyandco@cablesurf.com www.bobtroyandco.ie For all your forest & garden sales & servicing needs!

YOUR ONLY HUSQVARNA CENTRE IN CO. WATERFORD

RTS

SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE FULL WORKSHOP REPAIRS U BREAK IT WE FIX IT

Best Wishes To Liffey Distributors, From

Transport Ltd Tel: 087-2310505 Nenagh, Co. Tipperary E:rtstransport@eircom.net

You Call - We Haul

Nationwide Delivery & Collection Warehousing & Best Wishes To Distribution Liffey Distributors Exports/ Imports Agents Barry Express, Sligo Road, Longford.

P: +353 (0) 43- 3346606 F: +353 (0) 43- 3346499 E: info@barryexpress.ie E: Orla@barryexpress.ie

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www.barryexpress.ie

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Chainsaw training courses are provided by Coilite in conjunction with Husqvarna

Pole Climbing Championships have become an annual event at the National Ploughing Championships.

We’re looking forward to another exciting competition at this year’s Ploughing, which is taking place in Co. Laois for the second year in-a-row,” Kevin says.

In addition to being the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products, Husqvarna is the European leader in consumer watering products and one of the world leaders in cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. The Group has a presence in more than 100 countries and employs 15,400 on average in 40-plus countries.

Husqvarna helps users achieve greater results IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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McCarthy Services passes the test

ased in Waterford city, McCarthy Services is a sister company of Recovery Ireland.com and Pat McCarthy Car Sales, which are run by the McCarthy family.

While Pat McCarthy Car Sales was the original family business, it has been outgrown by the other two companies. McCarthy Services has been a test centre since 1987, while Recovery Ireland.com was established 16 years ago by brothers Andrew and Roy McCarthy.

Nowadays, Andrew oversees the day-to-day running of Recovery Ireland.com, while Roy runs McCarthy Services along with his wife Mary. Their father Pat – who started the car sales business half a century ago – still has an involvement after all these years.

“He’s semi-retired,” explains senior tester Roy. “He has been at it all his life and he’s not going to stop now.

We were main Citroen dealers for 25 years and had a garage on the Cork Road up to three years ago. We’re still Citroen authorised repairers and have been Iveco light commercial dealers for the past 10 years.

“But most of our focus these days is on the testing and recovery side of the business.

We employ eight staff between the three businesses.”

Originally a DOE (Department of Environment) Centre,

One of the testing bays

McCarthy Services became a VTN Centre in 2004 before changing over to a CVRT Centre last October. CVRT is a network of independently owned test centres that are completely separate from the NCT (National Car Testing Service) network, which only test cars.

The changeover from VTN to CVRT has resulted in the transfer of functions in relation to the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles pass from local authorities to the RSA (Road Safety Authority).

This basically means that McCarthy Services is now granted its testing licence by the RSA.

McCarthy’s test centre has built up a large customer base

McCarthy Services is one of a number of testing centres nationwide that have made the changeover from a VTN (Vehicle Testing Network) Centre to a CVRT (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test) Centre in recent months.

CONTACT DETAILS

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McCarthy Services Killure Road, St. John’s Park, Waterford Tel: 051 872219

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The CVRT is an annual roadworthiness test for all commercial vehicles, buses with more than eight passenger seats and ambulances, all over one-year-old.

The purpose of the test is to ensure that these vehicles are in good condition throughout their entire life. McCarthy Services is licenced to test both LVCs (Light Commercial Vehicles) and HCVs (Heavy Commercial Vehicles).

The CVRT test includes: brakes; lights and markings; wheels and tyres; steering and suspension; chassis and underbody; tachograph; speed limiter; exhaust emissions; electrical systems; glass and mirrors. The benefits of maintenance are safer, more reliable vehicles and avoidance of penalty points, fines and possible imprisonment.

The cost of the CVRT test varies according to vehicle size. All re-tests must be completed within 21 calendar days and within 4,000kms of the initial test, or you’ll need to repeat the full test.

While visual re-tests are free, a re-test that requires a test lane has a fee that is half of the normal test fee.

McCarthy’s test centre has built up a large customer base, primarily in the haulage, construction and courier sectors. In addition, they operate a full service and repair workshop for Waterford city and county.

“We have made a significant investment in providing the best possible facilities for our customers, whose business we value very much,” Roy says.

“The safety of our customers is of paramount importance to us. Our priority is to ensure they are safe on the road.

We cater for all commercial vehicles, ranging from vans and 4x4s to HGVs and trailers. Each of the testing bays are fitted with the very latest in computerised testing equipment. The data in our

McCarthy Services has been a test centre since 1987

computer system is wired to the RSA’s central database in Shannon, so they know straight away if a vehicle has passed or failed the test.”

McCarthy’s technicians will be more than happy to answer any questions

McCarthy’s has made the changeover from a VTN Centre to a CVRT Centre

which you may have before and after the test. Vehicle owners can relax in the waiting area while the test is being completed. So for your next CVRT test, make sure to make an appointment with McCarthy Services!

...your one stop auto shop for car parts and accessories.

We have all of the major quality brands at some of the best prices you will find in Waterford.

A truck undergoes a roadworthiness test IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

67 Johnstown, Waterford P: 051- 843330 E: deiseparts@eircom.net www.deiseparts.com Best Wishes To McCarthy Services

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VALLEY AUTOPARTS LTD

Kenny & Sharon would like to wish MK Truck Repairs all the best in his new business

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028-8952 1499

Whatever part you’re looking for, you’ll find it at Valley Autoparts

1-2 Edfield Way, Fivemiletown

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RECOVERY SERVICE

CAR & COMMERCIAL

Best Wishes To MK Truck Repairs

-ENNISKILLEN

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Tel: 028 6632 2227/ Mob: 07831 866305 APPROVED BY AVRO, IVR, RAC, AA

valley commercials TRUCK & TRAILER

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• SUPPLIER OF TRUCK & TRAILER COMPONENTS • TRUCK AIR BAGS & SPRINGS • ENGINEERING SUPPLIES • GEAR BOXES • MOTORS • CHAINS • BELTS & BEARINGS • BATTERIES • MANN FILTERS • TEXTAR PADS

T EMPO G LASS Continued success to MK Truck Repairs

ENNISKILLEN WINDSCREEN CENTRE

Tel: 028- 6632 6613

85A Tempo Road, Enniskillen BT74 4RH Fax: 028- 6632 9430 Mobile: 07836 362078 Insurance Approved with Direct Billing

www.tempoglass.co.uk

Best Wishes To MK Truck Repairs

JAMES KERNOHAN & SONS Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

• All Types of Commercial Vehicles Dismantled • We Specialise In Mercedes,Volvo, Scania • Underlift Damage Free Recovery • Wide Range Of Used Parts • Just yell.com

Best Wishes to MK Truck Repairs

(028) 9447 8228 Fax: (028) 9447 9157 18a Tamlough Road Randalstown BT41 3DP

IRISH

& LIGHT COMMERCIALS

www.irishtrucker.com 86

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Based in Tempo, Co Fermanagh, Micky first got up and running as a business owner when he started ‘Kelly Brothers’ with his brother in 2000 before taking the decision to hold the reins by himself eight years later and focus solely on repairs.

The last few years haven’t exactly been a stroll for businesses across Ireland, but for MK Truck Repairs Ltd, at least, things have been running rather smoothly since its inception in 2009.

When Micky Kelly started the company which now employs six full-time staff, including his wife Bronagh, the timing was far from perfect. Between being in the

middle of a harsh recession and fuel prices soaring, not many would have had the courage to go out on their own running a trucks and light commercials maintenance company.

Micky, however, had the foresight to see something that now seems somewhat obvious – if companies are struggling for cash then they won’t be buying new trucks, meaning that there will be a higher demand for repairs.

“When we started out things were tough but business is good at the moment and we love being busy here,” Micky explained

“What it probably comes down to is the fact that people are not buying new trucks. You have a lot of companies out there that cannot afford to buy new and are keeping their old trucks. That suits us down to the ground and hopefully we’ll be able to stay busy for the foreseeable future.”

At present, MK Repairs Ltd specialises in PSV preparation, servicing for gearbox and engine repairs, roller brake testing system, diagnostic computer systems, truck and light commercials maintenance and fleet maintenance.

Since starting, the company has quickly

Onwards and upwards With mountains of experience in the repairs industry, it was no surprise to see Micky Kelly going out on his own in 2009 and starting up MK Truck Repairs Ltd. Irish Trucker spoke to the Fermanagh-based company owner to find out what’s been going on with his business in the last five years or so.

CONTACT DETAILS IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

MK Truck Repairs Ltd.

83 Edenmore Road, Derrin, Tempo, Co. Fermanagh BT94 3JA Tel: 028 895 41249 Mobile: 079 743 18629 Email: mickykelly@hotmail.co.uk

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acquired a good reputation for a top notch service which has saw it gaining repeat business.

Micky is confident that the good word will continue to spread and become an invaluable calling card for MK Repairs Ltd, a company which is very much intent on expanding in the near future should business continue to thrive.

“We’ve widened our customer base,” he stated. “Companies like McGirr Haulage Ltd and B McCaffrey and Sons Ltd have been with us from the beginning, but at the moment we are acquiring more and more customers from all over which is always a good thing".

Micky is confident that MK Truck Repairs Ltd can be a number one choice for customers given their reliability and excellent service. However, he does admit that it’s a competitive industry he finds himself in nowadays, particularly given the high demand for repairs on old trucks.

However, one common denominator remains between Micky and his competitors and it continues to take its toll on the industry nationwide. That is, of course, fuel costs and the challenges it presents for companies working hard every day to stay in the black.

“Fuel has become more and more relative when it comes to the cost of doing business. We never used to include fuel costs, but how can you not now? Most of the big companies are fuelling in the south and it makes a difference to them when it comes to cost savings,” said the Fermanagh man.

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“If the government in Northern Ireland hasn’t looked at the cost of fuel for companies by this stage I don’t think they are going to. But something still definitely needs to be done because it’s just impossible for some businesses to keep paying more and more.”

Nonetheless, Micky is content with how things are going for him and the business at the moment. He sees the success MK Truck Repairs Ltd is currently experiencing as a far cry from his early days in the industry when he was just a teenager working in repairs garages in a very different time to the present.

“I started working in a garage in Irvinestown when I was 16 or 17 and that was all truck repairs I was doing back then,” he explained.

“The toughest thing I found when I started wasn’t getting customers, but getting good customers and keeping them. We are happy with our customer base right now but it took a lot of hard work to get them and I’d like to thank

the staff for that. They’re hard work and dedication has been very important here and I’m sure it will continue and help us to grow.”

Micky will be keeping his fingers crossed that this year will be as good as 2013, as the company moves closer to expansion.

“In 2014, we are certainly looking to continue to grow. You can say that that is the main objective for us. We want to get new business from new customers and hopefully thrive in what we know are tough times.

“We recently expanded our yard with the hopes of building a brand new premises here soon. That will come down to how well business goes for us in the next few months. At the moment our premises here is almost working to full capacity and that is not a bad complaint to have at all.

“The main garage here is 40x70sq and our spray area is around 25x40. We have a full diagnostic computer system that we’ve recently installed to make sure our customers get the best service in their repairs.”

MK Truck Repairs Ltd’s opening hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

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Rotech offer a variety of steel tanks with fuel pumps

I

ndeed, many who attended the event, which was held at the Cavan Equestrian Centre on the weekend of June 7th/8th, stressed that this was without doubt the best show yet, which is music to the ears of organisers Kevin Mulqueen and Colin Hegarty.

“We are delighted with the feedback that we received from the show.

Numbers were up from last year and each year they have improved,” said Kevin.

“You could see the effort that the truckers put in to ensure that their trucks were in pristine condition for the show and they must be credited for that.”

Kevin added that support came from far and wide as truck enthusiasts from overseas made the journey to the Cavan Equestrian Centre.

“There were a lot of that came over from England for the show and they were pleased that they made the trip and stressed that they would definitely be coming back next year. I would like to thank them for making the effort to come over.”

There were a number of different categories in the show with over 132 prizes given out over the course of the weekend and Kevin added that one of the most popular categories was the Scania 142/143.

“There was great interest in the old Scanias and to see the work that the owners had put in on them was commendable. There was a big difference in the range of vehicles at the show and it was much broader than in other years. The classic and vintage

sections were also up from previous years, which we were pleased with.

“Other popular events at the show were the truck pulling with Darren Kennedy as well as the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) where the RSA Shuttle and Roll over simulator educated the visitors on road safety in a fun and interactive way.

The live air brushing was also popular and it just illustrated what an art form it is.”

Almost 300 trucks entered the Cavan arena over the course of the weekend with many of them camping on site for the two days, where they were entertained all through the show.

“We had music on the Saturday night, while a local radio station broadcasted live from the event. Of course, there was a bar and restaurant there as well, so

Full of the Pipe 2014 a huge success Year on Year, the Full to the Pipe show has continued to evolve and this year’s event was certainly the best yet as the standard was once again of the highest order.

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anyone staying over wanted for nothing.

The weather also helped as even though the centre is full covered, people could wander outside if they wanted. There was a draw for Garth Brooks’ tickets too, while for the general public, we had the usual kid’s attractions that once again proved very popular and that is something that we will be keeping for next year again.”

Of course, none of this would be possible without the kind support of the sponsors and Kevin was pleased to announce that all

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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would be coming on board again for 2015.

“The sponsors were very happy with the way that the show went and they have all committed to next year, which is great and we appreciate that so much.”

The large crowds at the show has garnered the notice of many of the main truck dealers in Ireland and the likes of Joe Curran Commercials, Ashbourne Truck Centre, Westward Scania, McElvaney Trucks and McDonnell Commercials were all represented at the event.

The Full to the Pipe show has certainly got the attention of the haulage industry and anyone connected with it and it can proudly lay claim to be Ireland’s leading truck show.

The hard work and endeavour of Kevin, Colin and their team as well as the sponsors and those who attend have paid off, but as Kevin concluded they were already looking ahead to next year and improve on what already is a top class show.

“There is a capacity for 400 trucks at the event and we will be pushing to get that next year,” stressed Kevin. “It’s hard to improve and what we already have,

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but we are already looking at ways of trying too. There will be a new lay out next year, while we will be attending other truck shows here in Ireland and the U.K in a bid to pick up some ideas and put the feelers out to hauliers who may be interested in coming over.

“There were a lot of first-timers at this year’s show and hopefully they will all come back and we would love to see more attend. The work for next year has started already and we aim to bring the people an even better show with more attractions and more categories in 2015.”

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

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