As oil and gas continue to flow from the United Arab Emirates, Cardiff General Transport plays a significant role in keeping the wheels of industry moving. “Working within the energy sector means safety for vehicle and driver is always paramount,” commented Ziyad Mohammed, Cardiff’s Operations Manager. Profile by Andy Probert.
Cardiff General Transport has emerged as a leading supplier of transportation to the onshore and offshore oil fields of the UAE. With a modern fleet of 600-plus vehicles, it is truly the driving force behind some of the nation’s important entities. Among them is Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
The majority of Cardiff General Transport’s business is aligned with ADNOC oilfield sites and its associated contractors, providing the oil producer with a unique axis of transportation for oilfield provisions, rigging, construction materials, and equipment.
“Our company has adopted several initiatives to ensure the safety, happiness, and mental wellbeing of our employees, which reflects our commitment to the highest standards of safety, quality and reliability. We have become a trusted transportation partner for major oilfield companies in the United Arab Emirates,” said Ziyad Mohammed, Cardiff’s Operations Manager.
Cardiff provides light and heavy vehicles, cranes, utility vehicles, hiab trucks, tankers and flatbed, lowbed trailers of different sizes to accommodate clients’ transportation needs.
While highly sensitive to the sustainability debate, it has an embedded approach that ensures the fleet remains relatively young and technically ahead of competitors. Constant training with special safety stand-
down meetings with its different nationality drivers assures clients of the highest driving standards.
Since Cardiff was established, Mr Mohammed explained, “We have served the UAE oilfields by following all safety regulations, ensuring quality service and thus have contributed to our success as one of the largest and most successful transportation companies in the region.”
“Cardiff meets the standards demanded by ADNOC's transportation regulations and safety specifications. Our organisational culture is based on the highest principles, ethics and values, and we have a well-stocked selection of top-quality carriers.
“Our commitment to working towards a common goal is backed by a dedicated team of customer-oriented operational staff and trained drivers, who are vastly experienced.”
Adaptable fleet
While its fleet is fully engaged on a host of missions, Cardiff is adaptable to meet customers' demands and regularly undertakes end-to-end project management to guarantee seamless on-time deliveries. Cardiff has a dedicated Hazmat-approved vehicle which is ADNOC-licensed to carry radioactive and hazardous materials.
CARDIFF GENERAL TRANSPORT I PROFILE
“In the transportation of radioactive materials, we strictly follow the regulations to protect people, property and the environment,” said Mr Mohammed. “This includes planning, loading, shipping, supervising and unloading at the cargo's final destination.”
Among the different departments that oversee various fleet details, Cardiff has a dedicated section to ensure the training and competency of drivers and operators, and that vehicles are properly maintained.
“Team Cardiff works in close association with our valued clients to understand their diverse requirements: we are thus able to provide customers with safety tested vehicles and competent drivers within the stipulated time period,” Mr Mohammed added. “Our skilled employees adhere to stringent health and safety regulations, as well as the rules and regulations established by our clients, the government and the international sector in terms of all activities undertaken by the company. It remains our ambition and aim to be the most influential, innovative and inevitable oilfield transportation company in the UAE.”
While global economic and pandemic impacts have buffeted the logistics sector, Cardiff has remained agile and adaptable to clients' prevailing circumstances.
“During the lockdown, transportation played an important role, without a doubt, since we had to ensure that customers would receive their service at the right time, despite t he additional challenges compared to normal operation,” Mr Mohammed said. “In spite of the restrictions imposed due to
Covid-19, we were able to manage the overall health and wellbeing of our workforce without suffering any causalities, and no disruptions to our customers occurred. Despite this tough time, ADNOC now has numerous oil and gas exploration projects underway and new contracts are in place. We've seen a favourable outcome for Cardiff since the demand for our vehicles has increased.”
“Cardiff has supported many projects under ADNOC; as part of our commitment of providing best transportation services to the oil and gas industry, we have established long-term partnerships with major players. As our business operations have continued to expand, we are able to continually meet the needs of our customers, expand our services within the industry, and adapt to changing trends. The company has signed several significant proposals
with different customers for transportation to ADNOC oilfields using heavy and light vehicles.”
To provide a versatile response, Mr Mohammed laid out Cardiff's fleet, which includes SUVs, buses, 1-tonne pick-ups, 7-, 10-, 12-tonners, tankers, flatbeds and low beds with desert types that can transport heavy cargoes to the UAE oilfields.
He added: “To maintain our involvement with ADNOC, the company must show its operational experience and remain updated with industry safety regulations. This helps us maintain our service and operational qualities.”
Sustainable performers
With a commitment to a modern fleet, Cardiff's oldest vehicles average no more than six years old. In 2018, it invested in
eight Volvo FM420 4x2 Tractor units, which were engineered to save on fuel and deliver uptime. They feature the Euro 13l power unit, the I-Shift, an extra three-gear manual transmission and Advance Brake System, ensuring better efficiency, reliability and safety.
Mr Mohammed said: “Control of our fuel and maintenance costs is important. Being equipped with the most modern,
eco-friendly vehicles and backed up with education programmes for drivers have helped increase fuel economies by 10% on average.
“With vehicles equipped with special control systems and online monitoring facilities, Cardiff's drivers complete a total of 36 million kilometres of safe driving annually.”
While adding to the fleets with 15 powerful ASTRA Trucks for their rugged performance on the ADNOC gas and oilfields, Cardiff's fleet also includes MAN and Mercedes Benz, of which it recently invested in 20 6x6 trucks.
“Over the next three years, we aim to keep growing our partnership with ADNOC and industrial partners,” Mr Mohammed continued. “Cardiff is dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendly innovations to minimise carbon emissions by having an effective monitoring system in our vehicles. Our engines are aligned with the
latest environmental regulations, while the fleet is adaptable to the challenging terrains it operates in.”
He alighted on the challenges facing the transportation industry, which include spiralling fuel prices, inflation and re-enforcing safety and technical training to staff.
“We need to maintain the ADNOC safety guidelines with regular training of our drivers,” Mr Mohammed explained. “The orientation makes them aware and careful, even if they have 10-, 15- or 20-years’ experience. Every day is a new project for them. After all, they are predominantly working in the oil and gas environment, so safety is an overriding factor.”
Mr Mohammed concluded: “The trust and transparency we show to staff is equally important in building long relations with our partners. We treat every project as our own and complete them to the 100% satisfaction of our clients. As we move forward with our operations, we will continue to provide high quality service with the highest safety standards in line with requirements, ensuring that we continue to win new customers with new products and services; and we must be ready to compete on the basis of speed of action and decision making.”
