Irish Trucker magazine July 2011

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JULY 2011 Vol. 14 No. 6

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Cork City Ford P20

Causeway Pallets & Transport P36

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CONTENTS

2 INDUSTRY NEWS

16 O’MALLEY TRANSPORTLeading independent live fish transport companyIn Ireland

20 CORK CITY FORD CENTREProviding an unrivalled commercial vehicle service

24 GEORGE MULLINS TRANSPORTSpecialising in the transportation of bloodstock

28 LYONS EUROPEAN LTDReputation for providing an efficient and reliable service

32 TERRY LILLY COMMERCIALSSetting very high standards

36 CAUSEWAY PALLETS &

TRANSPORTDoing everything to the highest standard

41 JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTRALIADiesel & Truck Mechanics and Fitter jobs

42 A1 BATESY SKIP HIRE LTDSpecialists in the hiring of a wide range of skips

47 BRENNAN INTERNATIONALOffering customers an extensive international transport service

52 MCDONALD RECOVERYFamily run business operational for the last three decades

58 COILLTEHarvesting & Logistics Manager Mark Carlin

64 ROAD TANKERS ARMAGHOne of the leading tanker manufacturers in Ireland and the UK

70 LYONS & BURTONEstablished since 1977

72 DENIS DONOVAN TRANSPORT LTDProviding a top class service for nearly 50 years

77 CLASSIFIEDS

Founded in 1988 by PeterO’Malley and his wife Carol,O’Malley Transport has firmly

established itself as the leadingindependent live fish transportcompany in Ireland.

Starting out with one trucktransporting live fish throughout the

country, Peter has since expanded hisfleet and haulage services. As well asspecialising in live fish transport,O’Malley Transport offers a generalhaulage and fuel delivery service. Thisthriving family-run business is knownfar and wide for its quality, reliability,value-for-money and total dedication

to customer service.“While we are best known as live fish

transport specialists, there is more tothe business than meets the eye,”explains Peter and Carol’s sonKenneth O’Malley, who is a driver withthe company.

“Because live fish transport isn’t ayear-round business, we couldn’tconfine ourselves just to that so wealso decided to offer general haulageand fuel delivery services. We operatethree trucks – two Scania and a DAF –and have five drivers between full andpart-time. We are fortunate to have astrong and loyal customer-base. I’dsay 90 per cent of business is repeat.”

With over 20 years experience intransporting live fish, O’MalleyTransport offers an unrivalled servicein this particular field. Auditedapproved by Marine Institute Irelandand Freedom Foods UK, the companyworks closely with clients to

O’Malley Transport -the live fishtransport specialists

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

The family-run businessis well-known for its

reliable service

The Co. Mayo company hasbeen in business since 1988

O’Malley Transport -the live fishtransport specialists

16

accommodate their fish movements byroad to any destination throughoutIreland, UK and Europe. O’MalleyTransport prides itself on having themost up-to-date equipment andvehicles for transporting live fish inIreland.

“We mainly transport live fish withinIreland and the UK, but on occasionswe also transport to the Continent. Wedid a run to Austria recently. When youare dealing with live fish, you arerestricted on the amount of time youcan have them in transport,” Kennethsays.

The fish are checked before, duringloading, and on leaving the site ofdeparture. Air is distributed to the fishtanks via oil-free air compressors. Thein-cab oxygen monitor display showsclearly the oxygen levels in each tankon the vehicle during the journey. Thisis controlled automatically to thepreset level by solenoid valves.

All of O’MalleyTransport’s driversare highlyexperienced in livefish transport andcan advise onstocking densitiesdepending on watertemperatures, fishtype and size. Thedrivers will alsocarry out a series ofmanual checksduring transport. Inthe case of long-distance journeys,two drivers aresupplied to reducejourney times.

All of the company’s equipment isdisinfected before and after anymovement of live fish using steamcleaner and virkon disinfectant. Allvehicles are covered by 24-hour

breakdown throughout Ireland, UK andEurope.

Equipment used includes: dualoxygen systems on each trailer (one inoperation and one back-up system incase of failure; custom manufactured

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS 17

As well as having the distinction of being Ireland’s largest independentlive fish transport company, O’Malley Transport in Newport, Co. Mayo alsoprovides a top-class freight service. Kenneth O’Malley explains more.

O’Malley Transport was set upby Peter and Carol O’Malley

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS18

TYRES • ALLOY RIMSWE STOCK ALL MAJOR TYRE BRANDS

OPEN 6 DAYS • MON-FRI 9-6 SAT-9-5Golden Mile Industrial Estate, Breaffy Road, Castlebar, Co. MayoTel: (094) 9023531 Fax: (094) 9023992

Email: [email protected]

Best Wishes To O’Malley Transport

TOGHER TYRES

Continued Best Wishes To O’Malley Transport, From

Johnson Manufacturing LtdSUPPLIER OF

FUEL & AIR PRESSURE TANKS TO TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

100, 60 & 40 It air tanks in stock & Some Fuel Tanks

Moneen Road, Castlebar • Telephone: 094 90 23755


Best Wishes O’Malley Transport From

Sean Kelly Commercials LtdDealers In All New & Used

Commercial Vehicles

Also Diff RepairsNew & Second Hand Lorry Parts Available

PSV Preparations • Brake Testing Equipment

93 Corryglass Road, Trillick, Co. Tyrone T: (028) 8956 1403 From ROI 048 • M: 07751 675 133


Wishing Continued Success To O’Malley Transport

From

Curraun Blue LtdDoughill, Mulranny, Westport, Co. Mayo.

Telephone: 087 2858758Email: [email protected]

Aghilly, Buncrana,Co.DonegalT: 074 9321896 F: 074 9321896

www.coylefuels.com

Best Wishes ToO’MalleyTransport

COAL IMPORTERSCOAL WHOLESALERS

Continued Best Wishes To O’Malley Transport From

Patrick J. Durcan & Co.

SOLICITORSWestport, Co. Mayo • T: 098 25100 F: 098 26110

American St., Belmullet, Co. Mayo • T: 097 20524Spencer St., Castlebar, Co. MayoT: 094 90 24840 F: 094 90 24240

Dublin Office: 24/26 Upper Ormond QuayEmail: [email protected]

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN

IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHTCOMMERCIALS MAGAZINE

Call BARRY now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923

self-draining fibre glass tanks with 8”Mucon valves for easy unloading.Each valve has a sleeve which will fitinto most outlet pipe sizes; Point FourOxygen System providing in-cabmonitoring and automatic oxygen levelcontrol; Ample oxygen with automaticchangeover valves; oil-freecompressors for aeration; on-boarddisinfection system.

Based on the Mulranny Road,Newport, Co. Mayo, O’MalleyTransport is ideally located to servethe needs of fish producers situatedalong the West coast. The companyhas an excellent working relationshipwith Derrylea holdings in Cliften andMarine Harvest on nearby ClareIsland, which is the biggest producerof salmon in the country.

In addition, O’Malley Transport candeliver full-load freight consignmentsto any part of Ireland, UK or Europe.The company operates a number ofcurtain-siders, flat-bed trailers and boxvans. In this regard, its maincustomers include AllergenPharmaceutical in Westport and anumber of builder providers in Mayo.

Kenneth argues that fish farmingcould be a much bigger industry inIreland if it was promoted andencouraged more by the Government.

“It could be a massive industry if itwasn’t for the amount of red tapeassociated with it. It could createthousands of jobs, but theGovernment don’t seem to see thepotential that’s in it,” he laments.

Like all haulage companies, O’MalleyTransport hasn’t been immune fromthe recession with Kenneth admitting

that rising fuel costs have put amassive strain on the family-runbusiness.

“The price of diesel is killing theindustry,” he claims.

“And it’s frustrating to think that thereis no-one in the industry prepared tostand up and say ‘stop’. Whenpoliticians were making their promisesbefore the General Election, there washardly a mention of the predicamenttransport companies currently findthemselves in.

“We’d love to upgrade our trucks,we’d love to be able to expand, but wecan’t do that at the moment. We haveenough work to keep us going, but likea lot of companies, are working tosurvive. Hopefully, things will pick up

soon and, from our point of view, moreemphasis is put on fish farming.”

Kenneth concludes by praisingO’Malley Transport’s drivers for theircontribution to the company’s growth.

“They have played a huge part in thesuccess of our company over theyears. They are excellent at what theydo and can always be relied upon todo a good job.”

For more information aboutO’Malley Transport, contact 098-41300 (telephone and fax) or 086-2578763 (mobile). Website:http://www.omalleytransport.comEmail: [email protected]


The company also offers ageneral haulage service

O’Malley Transport specialisesin live fish transport

It was a new beginning for Ford inCork. When Cork City Ford Centrethrew open its doors in September,

2006 it signaled a new level of serviceand customer focus to the Ford carand van market on Leeside. Now, witha proven track record, it is theirintention to continue delivering a highlevel of service to both new andexisting customers for years (andgenerations) to come.

Chairman Eddie Nolan is the retiredformer chairman and MD of FordIreland, so it would be anunderstatement to say he boasts a

wealth of knowledge and experienceof the motor industry – and the Fordmarque in particular. Eddie establishedCork City Ford Centre in conjunctionwith Cormac Hughes of South DublinFord Centre almost five years ago; inJuly 2009, Eddie and his son JohnNolan (General Manager) took thebusiness over. You’ll be hard pressedto find a more professional Ford teamanywhere in Ireland, as John confirms:“My father joined Ford in 1958, so itwould be fair to say he knows Fordinside-out.”

With John now also on board in the

family business, the long Nolan familyassociation has been brought into thenext generation. Visitors to Cork CityFord Centre will be impressed by thehigh level of customer service andtempted by the great offers on all newand used vehicles, with a great rangeof services provided to both new andexisting Ford customers. Thousands ofcustomers have already found this outfor themselves, and Cork City FordCentre continues to radically changeand improve the Ford experience inCork.

Cork City Ford Centre has

Cork City Ford is a thriving business

20

Dedication toexcellenceIn September, Cork City Ford Centre will celebrate five years in business.But this is no overnight sensation – the Nolan family has beensynonymous with Ford for over 50 years and Cork City Ford Centre putsall that experience to optimal use, providing an unrivalled commercialvehicle service down south.


established itself as oneof the biggest Forddealers for new andused Ford sales inMunster, servicing andparts. Great low ratefinance deals can bearranged for new andused Ford vehicles inthe resplendent Fordshowrooms on the city’sAirport Road.

As well as an excellentrange of passengercars, all of which arehousehold names – thesuperb new Mondeo;the spacious seven-seater Galaxy; the best-selling Focus; the cleverand roomy C-Max; theversatile seven-seaterS-Max; the trendy new

Fiesta; the funky new Ka; and the stylish Kuga - Ford alsooffers the best range of commercial vehicles available to theIrish van driver. The Ford Transit has been the most popularvan in Ireland for years and Cork City Ford Centre stocksthe all-new Ford Transit Van as well as its hugely successfulsibling, the Ford Transit Connect Van.

The smaller Fiesta Van or Fiesta Van Sport are ideal fortradesmen, while Transit Chassis Cabs – available in short,medium, long and extendable frame wheelbases – canhandle just about any job, as can the Ranger, Ranger XLTor Ranger Thunder. The Tourneo Connect and TransitTourneo Bus complete a comprehensive commercial fleet.

A vibrant urban motor dealership, Cork City Ford Centrewas the first all-new Ford dealer to open up in Cork fortwenty years. Services include new and used car andcommercial van sales, car and commercial servicing, a fullrange of Ford parts and accessories, tailored financepackages including contract hire, leasing and hire purchase,vehicle valets and car and van hire (short- and long-term).

As John points out, the commercial vehicles side of thebusiness is a real priority at Cork City Ford Centre: “It’s veryimportant to us and it’s an aspect of the business that we’reanxious to grow. The Transit and Connect business is vitaland we have forged strong ties with many local businesses.So far, 2011 has gone well. Van sales were up 100% for thefirst quarter. As we establish the business more and more,we are experiencing an increased volume of commercialsales and that is encouraging.”

What does John see as the main selling point of Fordcommercial vans? “Obviously, the Transit is a strong brandand Ford vehicles have an excellent reputation, but at theend of the day the thing people are most conscious of at themoment is price. To this end, we are trading very


All your LCV needswill be catered for

Eddie Nolan (Chairman) andJohn Nolan (General Manager)

of Cork City Ford Centre

aggressively to secure the bestpossible price for our customers. Afterthat, we offer a very good back-upservice. We go out of our way toprovide a holistic service as opposedto just a van.

“The price of the Transit has gonedown significantly and we have cut ourmargin to reduce that price as far aspossible. As vehicles get older, theybecome more expensive to run, sothere are a lot of merits to replacingolder vans withnew ones –mainly to reducedown themaintenancecosts. The mainproblem seemsto be gettingcredit, but onceowners can gettheir hands onthe money, itmakes sense todrive a new van.”

Cork City FordCentre pridesitself on itsaftersalesservice. Whetheror not a vehiclehas been boughtfrom them, theyensure that itsmaintenance willbe as hassle-freeas possible. Asmodern vehiclesdeploy

increasingly-sophisticated technology,it is essential to avail of the bestservicing technology and skills toensure their smooth, efficientoperation. Cork City Ford Centre haveinvested in the latest diagnostictechnology and have highly skilled andexpertly trained technicians to ensurethat all cars and vans continue tooperate in an efficient manner.

Looking to the future, John Nolan isupbeat: “We’ve pushed the business

during one of Ireland’s worst everrecessions but we always felt that wehad a strong franchise and that therewas potential for a Cork-based Forddealer backed up by a man with vastexperience of the industry. When westarted, the market was twice the sizeof what it is now but we havemanaged to remain efficient andprofitable.

“We employ 16, which we are proudoff and would hope to increase thisnumber as our business grows. Ourtechnicians participate in ongoingtraining courses in conjunction withFord and out sales staff also undergocontinuous development. So we havevery experienced and skilled staffthroughout all facets of the business.

“Our aim is to grow organically andin line with the market as it recovers.We want to continue to develop anexcellent reputation and to grow thebusiness in a steady fashion asopposed to an aggressive manner.”One gets the distinct impression that

this exciting dealership will be here fora long, long time.

Cork City Ford Centre- Continuingthe Ford tradition in Cork.Forge Hill,Airport Road, CorkTel: 021 4315650Fax: 021 4966399Email: [email protected]


Pristine Ford’s on display

Cork City Ford Centre on Forge Hill

22


Best Wishes & Continued Success ToCork City Ford Centre From All At

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Tralee Road, Castleisland, Co. KerryTel: (066) 7143954 • Fax: (066) 7163873

Best Wishes To Cork City Ford Centre From

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Wishing Cork City Ford Centre Continued Success In The Future From

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Prop: Donal O’RiordanForge Hill, (Off Airport Road) CorkTelephone: (021) 4961847 Mobile: (087) 2515137

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Full Diagnostics / Full Car Servicing / Exhausts / BrakesShocks / Clutches / Tyres / Batteries / Tracking

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www.exhaustshop.ieTel: 021 4314242 Fax: 021 4317835

IRISH

& LIGHT COMMERCIALS

Don’t be left in the dark log on to


George Mullins Transport is inbusiness over 22 years

24

‘Driving’s the easy part’

George Mullins Transport is represented at Sales in Ireland, UK andFrance all year round, specialising in transporting bloodstock to and fromall major sales and racing venues. Irish Trucker got an update fromManaging Director, George Mullins, to find the latest about the Carlow-based company.


When it comes to the transport industry, there arefewer businesses tougher to be in than thehaulage game and for over two decades now

George Mullins Transport in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow havecontinued to make it work.

Providing a service to all sectors of the equine industry,George Mullins Transport aims to provide a prompt serviceat very competitive prices while putting the horses needsfirst. For those who wish to transport their own horses, ieracehorses, showjumpers, eventers, they provide a serviceto assist with paperwork and can provide competitive ferryrates available all year round.

“We’re based here in Closutton, Banglestown, Co Carlowand we’re established over 22 years,” explained companyMD, George Mullins.

“We’ve 13 full-time full time employees and transport solelyhorses. We bring horses all over Europe and attendall the major sales in England and France. We go toItaly and France every week. Recently we moved oneof the most valuable Showjumpers in the world called‘Libertina’.” who has come home to Ireland to retire.

Given George Mullins’ lineage it isn’t surprising thathe pursued a career closely linked to the Irish equineindustry. His father, after all, was leading national hunttrainer Paddy Mullins, while his brothers Willie, Tonyand Tom and sister Sandra all hold trainers’ licences.

George has been involved in horse transportationsince the early 1980s. Initially he began driving for hisfather, before establishing George MullinsInternational Horse Transport, a company he has runsuccessfully.

George Mullins International Transport specialises inequine transport in the broadest terms coveringIreland, Britain and most of Europe.

“We would move horses from all over Ireland to allover Europe and vice versa,” he confirmed. “Nationalhaulage would represent about 10 per cent of thebusiness. The rest would be international. We coverthe UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain, but we gowhere ever the work takes us,” he continued.

The company garners significant work on the back ofIreland’s booming bloodstock industry. “We wouldbring in an awful lot of brood mares for covering byIrish stallions. When they foal, we would bring themback to their own country. That would represent asignificant part of what we do.”

“We would also do a lot of airport work, many horsesfly around the world from Ireland, so we would eithertake the horses to the plane or collect them from it”.

While he had an unusually hectic period in the buildup to this summer, George explained that thecompany’s busy season extends from Septemberthrough to December.

“There would be a lot of thoroughbred sales at thattime of year. Thousands of horses would go over andback to England to be bought and sold in Sterling,” herevealed.

The four-day Cheltenham Festival is also anotherbusy time of the year for George Mullins InternationalTransport. Over the years trainers’ requirements havebecome all the more demanding.

“Five or 10 years ago, we would load up all thehorses on Saturday night and head over on the boat.Because of the threat of disease and so on, trainersare hiring the truck for the week and bringing over just

their own horses. Trainers are now becoming loathe to mixthe horses,” he commented.

“You might think the whole occasion is glamorous, butthere is nothing glamorous about it from our point of view. Atrainer could be preparing a horse for 12 months and findthe horse has a temperature on the morning you are set todepart. The racing end of it is a precarious game,” heconfessed.

The George Mullins fleet of seven trucks is comprised ofVolvo, Scania and MAN, with the emphasis heavily on theScandinavian marques.

“Fuel has gone up 40 per cent in the last few months andit is really hard for a lot of companies, but I suppose you justhave to keep going,” he said.

“In our fleet we’ve three Scanias, three Volvos, a MAN anda little Renault 2 stall truck, which acts as a feeder to the bigtrucks.

“We would never do any repairs of our own, The maindealers would carry out all repairs and services to the fleet.

“Our customers just won’t accept break downs. We areoperating in a very time sensitive business. The welfare ofthe horse comes first at all times. Therefore, we leavemaintenance and repairs to the experts,” he explained.

Equine transport is a million miles away from any othersector of the haulage industry. In that light George concedesthat his crew of drivers are first and foremost horse-lovers,who happen to be experienced truck drivers.

“Obviously they would have to be experienced drivers or Iwouldn’t entertain them, but they also have to have a love ofhorses. We moved a horse recently that was worth well over£1 million. That is why you need people, who areexperienced in handling horses as well as driving. We would


George Mullins Transport is basedin Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow

always have two drivers to eachtruck,” he added.

In truth most truckers would look onequine transport as a vocation, ratherthan a job. It takes a special type ofdriver, according to George. “It istough going. There is no hiding thatfact. You have to put the well being ofthe horse ahead of yourself at alltimes,” he elaborated.

Unusually George would have anumber of lady drivers on his books.

“I employ a few female drivers, Theywould be as equally as good as themen. Primarily they would have a lovefor horses and would have servedtheir time driving horses all overIreland. The European work isprobably more attractive and iscertainly better paid,” he added.

“I have 2 full time girls in the officewhich is the nerve center of thebusiness, bookings come largely fromour website and by calls directly to theoffice, the office organizes all of theloads from which truck is being usedto booking drivers, ferries, stablingalso collection times/delivery times. Ifa horse is being moved tomost EEC countries there isalso additional paperwork thatmust accompany each horse.It’s a hugh part of thebusiness and we havesomeone on call 24 hours aday. Its an easier job drivingthe lorries than trying toorganize the loads”.

Over the years George andhis team have developed anenviable reputation withregard to caring for thehorses in their charge. It isone of the company’sstrongest selling points. Theskill of its drivers is another,

according to George. “Our drivers are very adept at moving

the horses as smoothly and ascomfortably as possible. Over theyears, we have had only minimalinjuries,” he said.

George puts great store in presentingthe fleet in pristine condition. In thatlight each truck is washed anddisinfected after every trip, withspecial emphasis on the interior of thehorsebox. “It is part and parcel of thedrivers’ job to clean the truck,” heacknowledged.

The company employs a five-yearreplacement policy for all vehicles.

“We would never keep them beyondfive years and we trade them in afterfour if at all possible. I find it ischeaper to make the repayments onthe truck than pay the maintenance,”he elaborated.

In that vein George sells his trucksprivately rather than through trade-ins.“I actually sold a truck recently to oneof my competitors. He was going toget a truck somewhere, so it might aswell have been from me,” he quipped.

The trucks’ bodies are built by

horsebox specialist Joe Cahill inGraignamanagh in Co. Kilkenny.

“I work closely with Joe,. he hasbeen building bodies for me for thepast 15 years or so. They are a built toa very high specification and tailormade to suit our requirements,strength and safety are the mostimportant aspect in building the bodiesfor us” he said.

All trucks are fitted with largecapacity fuel tanks and cabs have allthe extras to, “Rome for example isan eight-day trip. So you have to makethe truck as comfortable as possible.They would all be fitted with airconditioning, air seats and all thelatest equipment.”

The quality of the company’s drivers,quality of equipment and a reputationfor prompt delivery and collections setthe company apart from thecompetition.

“Customers can set their clocks byus. Price doesn’t really come into it.Getting the horse from A to B, injuryfree in a timely manner is what it is allabout,” he concluded.


George Mullins Transportspecialises in equine transport,

covering Ireland, Britain and Europe

Some of the day to day work thatgoes on in the Bagenalstown base

26


FOR THE BEST DEAL ON WHEELSUpper Patrick St., Kilkenny Fax: (056) 7761289

Email: [email protected] www.tctyres.com

Best Wishes & Continued Success ToGEORGE MULLINS

K.D. (GARAGE) SERVICES LTD.Best Wishes &

Continued Success To George Mullins

FOR INFORMATION ON OUR RANGE OF TRUCKS PLEASE

CONTACT KEITH

Scania and Mitsubishi Trucks Tel: (053) 91 45554Rosslare Road, Drinagh, Wexford • www.kdgarage.com

CAHILL HORSEBOXESManufacturing Truck Bodies, Horseboxes & Specialist

Vehicles Since 1939High Street, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny

T: 059 9724201 E: [email protected]

Best wishes & continued success to George Mullins International Horse Transport

Best Wishes & Continued Success ToGEORGE MULLINS

E.S.C. Commercial Test Centre&

Mount Leinster TransportCorries, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow

Tel: 059 9723050 or 059 9721853Email: [email protected]

VEHICLE TESTING NETWORK

These are tough times, but formany it's just a case ofknuckling down and working

harder than ever. One such firm thathas adopted that policy is LyonsEuropean Ltd and we speak tomanaging director Gary Lyons aboutthe services that the Armagh basedcompany supply to its vast array ofcustomers.

Specialising in the delivery andcollection of goods between Ireland,Britain and Europe, this well-established firm has built a reputationfor providing an efficient and reliableservice to a large customer base.

Gary set up the company in 1997and as the client list grew over theyears so too did the business andfrom their original base in Lisburn,

they moved to another premises in theArmagh town, before finally findingtheir 'home' at purpose built premiseson the Derrynahone Road, just outsideMoira, eight years ago. With plenty ofstorage available and workshopfacilities, Lyons European Ltd; thebusiness is more advanced than manyof its competitors.

Specialising in general haulage

Lyons European callsMoira hoem these days

28

Lyons’ roar to successOperating a successful business within the haulage industry is by nomeans an easy task, especially in the current economic climate that hasseen diesel prices escalate, while rates have nose-dived considerablyleaving it a turbulent time for all involved.


means that Gary and histeam provide many differentservices in the industry andhe feels given the nature ofthe business that this is animportant string to their bow.“We would haul a wide rangeof goods to and from Britainand Europe as well asIreland. We feel we'reequipped to carry out alltypes of haulage work andthrough this we havedeveloped a large customerbase over the years.

“Regardless of how big orsmall a customer's transportrequirements, we arecommitted to providing asolution to meet their needs.Whatever their needs we aimto satisfy your deadlines andachieve optimum resultsevery time.”

A fleet of 15 trucks whichare made up of mainly Scaniaas well as a couple of DAFsand a Volvo are kept inpristine condition andmaintenance is a major partof the business. “We keep thefleet fairly new so must of thevehicles would be underwarranty and go back towhere they were bought formost of the work, but wewould also carry out minorrepairs ourselves.”

The fleet of trailers consistsof Euroliners, flatbeds, low-loaders and fridge trailers.The refrigerated trailers are26/33 pallet in size with dualtemperature compartments.This provides the customerwith the flexibility to distributefresh and frozen productstogether on the one trailer.The Euroliners have sideloading clearance of 2.7m(2.75m through rear doors)whilst the flats and lowloaders are equipped withtwist locks and vertical

goalposts for added security.Every truck is fitted withsatellite tracking whichenables up to the minuteposition information foradded security as well asaccurate times ofdeparture/arrival.

“There are also plans toextend the fleet next year,we bought a few trucks lastyear and hope to addanother two trucks to it nextyear. We also have an arrayof trailers that are also keptin excellent condition.”

This family orientatedbusiness strives to ensurethat the level of serviceprovided is second to noneand they used the motto ofputting the customer first togood effect since firstbeginning operationsfourteen years ago.

“We specialise in offeringfull and part load driveraccompanied services to andfrom any European countryfor temperature controlledproduce and dry freightgoods. All our drivers havemany years of experiencetravelling across Europe andhave a good knowledge ofthe rules and regulations thatgovern each country.

“Our aim is to deliver ourcustomers goods on timeand in perfect condition byoperating a well maintainedfleet, which is constantlyupdated and serviced by ourin house garage techniciansensuring reliability of serviceat all times.”

A staff of 22 ensure that theday-to-day running of thebusiness runs as smoothlyas possible and Gary admitsthat he has full trust in hisemployees to deliver thestandard of serviceassociated with the company.


Lyons European wasfounded in 1997

Wishing Continued Success To Lyons European From

International Freight, Forwarding & Logistics

Unit 10, Charlemont Ind Est, Moy, Co. Tyrone BT71 7SDTel: (028) 8778 9279 • Fax: (028) 8778 9563

www.rha.uk.net

“We would have a very low turnoverof staff, many of whom have been withus for a number of years now. Thedrivers know their jobs inside out asdo the mechanicsand the officestaff. We have agood working unithere and it hasserved us welldown through theyears.”

Gary admits thatkeeping theoverheads downis one of the keysto stayingcompetitive in thisbusiness andevery decisionmade in thecompany is giventhe utmostconsideration.“Definitely, if youcan keep the overheads down, it isa big help, but tobe honest this isa situation noteasily achievedgiven theoverheads thatthere are in this

industry.“Fortunately, we are in a decent

place at the moment and hopefully wecan continue to provide an efficient

service and make sure that thecustomers are satisfied with ourservice. We cannot stress howimportant it is to achieve this.”


The company has afleet of 15 trucks

The fleet is made up ofVolvo, DAF and Scania

28


Best Wishes & Continued Success To

Lyons European

2 IRISH TRUCKER & LIGHT COMMERCIALS

BIT’S ‘N’ BOB’ST R U C K A C C E S S O R I E S

TRUCKNEWS

in association withMonaghan (087) 2480730

• TRUCK ACCESSORIES IN 1 STOP - INTERIOR & EXTERIOR• IRISH AGENT FOR KELSA TRUCK BAR’S• NATIONWIDE NEXT DAY DELIVERY

Cooking up a storm as TPN announces €750,000 deal withWeber

The Pallet Network (TPN), Ireland’s leadingfreight, transport and logistics services provider,has signed a deal worth €750,000 with WeberUK & Ireland. The three-year deal will seeWeber use TPN and their 24 member network toship, store and distribute all of its products andsupplies to its Irish customers, which include allthe leading DIY centres, hardware stores andgarden centres across Ireland North and South.The deal includes the shipping and storage ofthousands of Weber products at TPN’s recentlylaunched logistics centre. Weber Barbeques is the world’s premiermanufacturer of charcoal, gas and electric grills,grilling accessories and other outdoor room products. The products carry the famous Weber 20 year warranty. Thecompany has grown its Irish business by 50% over the last three years.Brendan Dunne, Weber’s Sales Manager, commented, “Our amazing progress over the last few years is due to thequality and range of our products and in no small way to the superb logistics services provided by TPN. Our clients nowknow that when they order stock they will receive the correct products on time every time in presentable condition.“Weber already has a strong following in the Irish market for our high quality barbecue and grill products. This

partnership will see us consolidate our position and grow our percentage of the Irish market. Over the last number ofweeks, we have been travelling across Ireland in our customised “SilverStream Trailer” showcasing the Weber BBQexperience and our unique grill, roast and bake barbecue techniques, cooking a range of recipes you never thoughtpossible on your barbecue!”“This deal represents another feather in the cap for TPN”, says Owen Cooke, Chairman, TPN. “Weber is a leading brandand a world class company, and we are very proud to be continuing this key relationship with Brendan and his team,having had a very successful year’s trial. TPN’s network of 24 regional transport depots played a huge part in securingthe deal. With all of our member depots being a fully certified ISO 9001 operation, Weber can be assured of top classsupply chain service.“Due to the partnership agreement with Weber, we invested in a new custom designed warehouse management systemwhich eradicates manual checking, by scanning all movements of Weber products in and out of the warehouse. Inaddition, it can give Weber 100% visibility and access to their product movements via a web based virtual warehouseapplication.” Cooke added that the company had seen its turnover increase year on year since 2004, when it had start-up-revenues of €1.7 million. TPN is projecting a turnover of €18 million for 2011.

Shipping lines enforce EU cargo information rulesShipping lines have informed their customers that cargo will not be loaded unless the customs data is supplied inadvance. Failure to this will result in fines, while the cargo will not be loaded after new EU regulations were implementedon January 1st, but are only becoming operational now as customers were allowed time to get use to them. Maersk Linewarned customers: “The European Customs Advanced Manifest rule will be strictly enforced from 1 July and failure tocomply may lead to penalties and/or fines.“We would like to emphasise to our customers the importance of submitting the Transport Document Instructions (TDIs) inaccordance with the deadlines established by local Maersk Line offices as the information is submitted to the EU memberstates’ Customs. “Failure to submit the shipping instructions in time will lead to cargo not being loaded. For short seashipments, cargo arriving to EU ports without a timely lodged ENS could prevent cargo being accepted for discharge orput on hold at EU entry port, fines and/or penalties could as well be imposed by customs.”

Just the right temperature for a new deal: (l-r) Brendan Dunne, Ireland SalesManager, Weber, Nicola Smith, Customer Services Manager, TPN and Owen

Cooke, Chairman TPN with the Weber BBQ Experience.


in association with

TRUCK NEWS

01 862 0000

Eddie Stobart launchestraining programmeEddie Stobart Transport, which has one of the largestfleets in the UK and Ireland, has launched anapprenticeship programme that will create 150professionals in the logistics industry. The transportcompany and the UK’s largest logistics trainingprovider System Training will create the positions aspart of Stobart’s new Logistics ApprenticeshipProgramme. Applicants are to between 16 and 18and they will take part in six months intense trainingthat will include warehousing, traffic planning,delivering goods and driving goods vehicles. TonyHiggins, System Training’s Director of Learning, said:“Logistics businesses are starting to realise thebenefits that highly-trained young people can bring totheir company. Businesses can receive apprenticeswho can be moulded into their way of working andare ready to learn.”

Shipping rates set for further fall

Shipping lines are gripping themselves for a further fall in ratesas larger vessels with lower unit costs distort the market.Carriers are turning to larger containerships in order totransport more goods and this is causing the rates to fallconsiderably over the last few months. Analyst Alphaliner said:“Pressure to match the unit slot costs of competing carrierswhich already operate larger ships could soon force theremaining carriers to upgrade their fleets, leading to further ratecompetition as they strive to fill these ultra-largecontainerships.” Janet Lewis, Regional Head of Industrials &Shipping Research in Asia at Macquarie Capital Securities saidthat overall demand on the Asia-Europe trade had been“robust” this year, but the deployment of vessels of more than10,000teu capacity was having a “disproportionate” impact onthe market. “There’s pressure from owners to fill them,” shesaid. “If you replace an 8,000teu capacity vessel with one of13,000teu and you want 90% utilisation, then there’s thetemptation to discount, because your cost per teu is lower.”

Further traffic increases a possibility

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar’s announcement that there will be a rise inpublic transport fares could be bad news for hauliers as more people will revertto using their own vehicles on the roads. Traffic congestion is a common sightin Ireland but has been eased considerably due to the road networkconstructed during the Celtic Tiger. However, some towns and cities still sufferfrom the problem and if public transport costs do rise, it is likely that more andmore people will take to the roads and this means even more traffic. Hauliersare already facing long delays and idleness is a bane of the industry, especiallyat a time when diesel prices, although falling slightly in recent weeks is still amajor outlay for haulage companies. Mr Varadkar said the C.I.E is losingmoney and therefore changes need to be made. The level of fare increaseshas yet to be determined but it is understood it will depend on cost reductionsand getting more people to use public transport.

Larger contrainershipsare causing shipping

rates to fall

Eddie StobartTransport launch an

apprenticeshipprogramme

Rise in fares could seemore congested roads

Terry Lilly Commercials issituated in Finglas

32

Lilly Commercialscontinue to deliver


Terry Lilly Commercialswas founded in 1990 andquickly developed a

reputation for supplying topquality used light commercialvehicles. Through the hard wordof Terry and his team, theircustomer base quickly grew andthey have set standards that arerivaled by very few in thiscompetitive industry.

We all know that over the lastfew years, the recession thathas gripped this nation tighterthan a vice has had a massiveimpact on all trades, but themotor trade has been one of theworst hit and unfortunately somebusinesses did not avoid thecull, but those with theexperience and guile of TerryLilly Commercials withstood thissetback and one could suggestthat they are stronger and moredetermined for it.

Having dealt in lightcommercial vehicles since itsgenesis 21 years ago, Terryknew that they had to diversifythe business in some capacityand he revealed that acquiringthe Fiat dealership was an easydecision to make.

“I suppose like everyone else,things just went very quiet andwe were thinking what we coulddo to increase business. I'vealways found that Fiat has beena very good seller and theirrange of vans are very popular,”said Terry. “Plus I had neverdealt in cars before and thisgave our customers an extraoption when they came to viewvehicles.”

Terry admits that it is adecision that he is delighted tohave made as it really hadhelped turned the businessaround at a time when everymove has to be made with theutmost of consideration.

“I'm very happy with it. Fiat area great company to deal with

and I must say it really has helpedthe business. In fairness we arestill not as busy as we were a fewyears back, but I don't think we willget back to that level for a numberof years yet, no one will.

“But, we have to keep workingaway and although business isquiet, we are happy with thedirection that the company isheading and we will continue towork hard to ensure customersatisfaction is guaranteed.”

Through the years the expansionof the customer base beenequaled by the amount of repeatcustom that the North Dublincompany has retained over theyears and Terry would like to thankall for their continued support.

“Yes our customers have beenvery loyal and I would like to thankthem for the support that theyhave given us over the years andwe aim to continue providing thesame level service for many yearsto come. The majority of ourcustomers would be commercialclientele, but there is a goodinterest in the car sales too andthis is an area that we are hopingto develop in the future.”

The one problem that all dealersseem to be having is trying to getfinance for their customers asbanks are refusing to releasemoney, which is ironic, given thefact that it is mainly because ofthem that we are in this mess.However, Terry revealed that he isdealing with finance brokers thathave been very helpful to hiscustomers.

“Trying to obtain finance hasbeen a major stumbling block overthe last few years and it hasturned right around from the days,banks were eager to give outloans, but we use First AutoFinance Ireland Limited who havebeen excellent in obtaining financefor customers. So if anyone hasany worries or queries aboutgetting finance then they should


In October 2009, Terry Lilly Commercials acquired the Fiat dealership andin the same year, they opened a new state of the art premises in Finglas,Co Dublin. Almost two years has now elapsed since that momentous yearfor the long established business and we speak to dealer principal TerryLilly about the intervening 24 months.

just get in touch with us and we canhave a chat.”

All new vehicles come with a fullmanufacturers' warranty, while thecompany also offers extensivewarranties on all of its quality usedvehicles. With enormous purchasingpower, the company is also extremelycompetitive on price.

A cursory look around Terry LillyCommercials is all that is needed toestablish this company's bona fides.The company is without question atthe leading edge of light commercialvehicle sales in Dublin, if not thewhole country. A purpose builtshowroom, which houses a myriad ofmarques and models is proof positivethat this company means business.

Terry Lilly Commercials is ideallysituated just 500 yards from theJunction 5 exit on the M50 motorway,but there is a whole lot more to thecompany than the premises.

The company's ongoing success isembedded in its very fabric. Terry LillyCommercials exudes an air offriendliness and professionalism whichplaces potential and existingcommercial vehicle customers firmly inthe comfort zone. This is anestablishment where the commercialcustomer is king.

Success has been built on deliveringhigh levels of customer service inevery aspect of the business fromsales right through to after-sales

service. “We are commercial vehiclespecialists and we know the businessinside out. We have a proven trackrecord stretching back 21 years so wehave the experience to deal with therequirements of the commercialcustomer.”

To complement the company'sextensive sales activities, Terry LillyCommercials also offers a wide rangeof finance options to its customers.“We offer all kinds of finance packages

from contract hire, to hire purchaseand leasing. We are experts in allaspects of vehicle financing,” addedTerry.

Terry Lilly CommercialsNorth Road, Finglas, Dublin 11,Ireland.Ph: 01 8640000 F: 01 8641144e-mail:[email protected] www.terrylillycommercials.ie


All vehicles are cleanedand maintained

The spacious showrooms atTerry Lilly Commercials

34


GRIFFITH J. ROBERTS LTD.MOTOR BODY BUILDERS, ENGINEERS

Unit 615 Kilshane Avenue, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dubin 15

Tel: 01 8612081 Fax: 01 8612083

www.griffithjroberts.com

Best Wishes & Continued Success

ToTerry Lilly Commercials

Wishing Continued Success To Terry Lilly Commercials From

Rothwell McHughCHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS

Registered Business Advisors & Auditors

27 Phibsboro Place, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.Tel: +353 1 882 7600Fax: +353 1 860 0560

Best wishes to Terry & Staff on their 20th yearin business, wishing them many more successful years!

From

MARTIN & COLIN TALBOT

MT AUTO REPAIRSCONTACT US AT

086 8724648 or 01 8201466

Wishing Terry All The Best For The Next 20 Years!

“For All Your Renault Fleet Requirements”

Tel: 01 8830535 or [email protected]

CONTINUED BEST WISHES TOTERRY LILLY COMMERCIALS FROM

AT SQUARE FIT WE OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FORCARS • VANS & 4X4’S

St. Margarets Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.T: 01 811 0793 F: 01 864 2590 E: [email protected]

Old Blessington Rd, Tallaght, Dublin 24.T: 01 4511824 F: 01 4514739 E: [email protected]

Lower Ballymount RoadT: 01 8110793 E: [email protected]

www.squarefit.ie

Best Wishes To Terry Lilly Commercials From

Dent Repair ExpressYou Dent Them, We Mend Them

5 Clonshaugh Green,Clonshaugh, Dublin 17.

Tel [email protected]

www.dentrepairexpress.com

Causeway Pallets has come a

long way since the company

first saw the light of day in the

early 1990s. Back then, when Samuel

Bartlett started up a small operation

just outside Ballymoney in Co Antrim

with the aim of building, restoring and

supplying pallets to a range of goods

and manufacturing companies in the

vicinity, only the most optimistic could

have foreseen where it is today.

Eighteen years and two new

headquarters later, the company –

now known as Causeway Pallets and

Transport Ltd – prides itself as the

only firm on the island of Ireland

offering the complete service for

palletised freight, from the supply of

pallets to storage to distribution, not

only within Northern Ireland but

throughout the 32 counties and the

36

Causeway - thegiants of palletisedfreight

Causeway - thegiants of palletisedfreight

As the country’s only complete service provider for all aspects ofpalletised freight, Causeway Pallets and Transport has cornered itsmarket. And, as director Nigel Bartlett tells Irish Trucker, the main reasonbehind their success is by doing everything to the highest standard withthe help of their loyal and hard working team.


United Kingdom and into Europe.Nigel Bartlett, the son of fellow

directors Samuel and Marian,became involved in the mid-1990s and the move intotransport happened soonafterwards. So how did thatdecision come about?

“To be honest,” he says, “it wasan idea that really grew from a lotof enquiries we were getting fromour customers. We weredelivering pallets to companiesaround the area and more andmore of them started asking us if

we could deliver their goods from A to B as well. It was anatural progression for us but we definitely got the idea fromour customers enquiring in the first place. It’s gone well,we’re very happy with the way the business has movedforward, definitely.”

The upward pattern of the graph has been constant overthe past 18 years. From a small company supplying palletsto one customer, and then branching into transport anddistribution with one vehicle, Causeway Pallets andTransport now works a fleet of 12 trucks and 30 trailers,while the new base on Fivey Road, about five kilometreseast of Ballymoney, also incorporates approximately100,000 sq feet of storage.

While the pallets and transport sectors of the company areeffectively separate, the two strands are very closelyinterlinked, says Nigel, and the fact that Causeway Palletsand Transport offers the one-stop shop to potentialcustomers is a big selling-point.

“We do a lot of pallet deliveries to companies and many ofthose companies deploy us to distribute their goods too, sothey compliment each other very well. We offer the wholepackage, from the very beginning when they need a palletto put their goods on, to when they need their goods liftedand taken on to a warehouse or a customer.


There are 12 trucks and 30trailers in the fleet

Causeway’s reputation sees them gain a lotof new business through word of mouth

Causeway Pallets andTransport operate withthe highest standards

“We don’t really have a typicalcustomer. We do a wide range of workfor various companies in very differentindustries, from distilleries to fruit &veg, to steel companies andagricultural clients such as potato-growers. One thing we do notice,though, is that a lot of the newercustomers come on board because ofword of mouth. We retain a lot of thecustomers that come to us – the veryfirst company that my father startedsupplying pallets to is still a customer

of ours today. We provide the bestservice we can and we’re proud of thefact that our customers recommend usto others.”

Having worked extensively in boththe UK and Ireland, the people atCauseway Pallets and Transport arewell placed to comment on thedifferent ways in which the economicdownturn has affected the twocountries.

“There’s no real difference working inthe South or in the UK,” says Nigel. “It

doesn’t affect the running of it in anyway, but we have noticed a bigdifference in the economic climate inthe Republic of Ireland as opposed tothe UK.

“We have noticed a significantdifference in the economic climate inthe Republic of Ireland as opposed tothe UK. We used to have 6-7 vehiclessouth of the border every day and nowif we have one per day crossing theborder that would be a good week.You’d really notice the slowdown in the


The company wasfounded 18-years ago

38

Best Wishes To Causeway Pallets & Transport from

R.BARKLEY & SONS LTD.U.K. & Eire Services

Warehousing & DistributionHAULAGE CONTRACTORS

14 Landhead Rd., Ballymoney, Co. Antrim BT53 1HDTel: Ballymoney (028) 276 63301 /62696

Fax: (028) 276 65286Heywood Depot

Tel: 0170 662 2252 • Fax: 0170 662 2280


home heating oil... the only cure for the cold!

Distributor ofHome Heating Oil • Commercial Fuel

Lubricants

Ballymena Tel: 028 2565 6616Larne, Carrick & Ballyclare Tel: 028 9334 4700Ballymoney Tel: 028 7032 6080www.wrkennedy.com

Best Wishes To Causeway Pallets & Transport From


24:7 rentalsTruck & Trailer Rentals

74 Fivey Road, Stranocum, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, BT53 8JH

t: +44 (0) 28207 52074 e: info@24:7rentals.co.uk

www.24-7rentals.co.uk


TBF ThompsonMallusk: 028 9034 2001

Garvagh: 028 2955 8353Portadown: 028 3839 3300

DAF Distributors-Northern Ireland

Best Wishes To Causeway Pallets & Transport

South. The North has slowed down aswell but it doesn’t seem to be anythingcompared to the South. The wholeeconomic situation means that now wejust do less work in the South and tryto grow and obtain more work in thenorth, to compensate for the loss.”

Like every successful company in theprevailing financial conditions,

Causeway Pallets and Transport Ltdhas come up with new ways ofstreamlining the business – and an in-house maintenance service is onearea that has worked out well.Included among the 25 staff based atits Fivey Road base is one full-timemechanic, so all the maintenance andservicing required by the fleet of

vehicles is carriedout on site – andthat’s somethingthat has worked outwell.

“Like everyoneelse, we’restretchingeverything out,”says Nigel. “Wemaintain ourvehicles to thehighest standard butwhen it comes toupgrading the fleet,if we can get

another year out of our trucks bykeeping them well maintained thenthat’s the best route for all concerned.We set up our own garage here, sothat’s a big help. If a job needs to bedone then we can do it on site insteadof bringing it to a garage and payingby the hour. For us, it’s definitely theright way to do things.” To assist withthe huge increase in fuel costs theentire fleet has been fitted with a fueland driver style monitoring system;“We have found that by monitoringvarious aspects of each vehicle wecan dramatically cut the amount of fuelwasted, helping us keep our ratescompetitive while keeping our highstandard of service.”

Doing things the right way. Just likethey’ve always done.

For more details on the servicesoffered by Causeway Pallets andTransport Ltd, check outwww.causewaypt.co.uk or call 0282075 1617.


The only firm on the island of Irelandoffering the complete service for

palletised freight

Best wishes to Causeway Pallets & Transport, from

22 Lislagan Road, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim BT53 7DD

Tel: 079 0062 5255 • 077 10 800 181 • 079 005 68692

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Ireland jump up road safety listIreland is now rated the sixth safest country when it comes totraffic accidents according to a new report published by theEuropean Transport Safety Council (ETSC). Since 2001,Ireland has made massive progress in regards to road safetyand to be listed as sixth safest amongst the 27 EU memberstates is a huge achievement for all involved. Road deaths inIreland dropped by 11% between 2009 and 2010 and RSACEO Noel Brett revealed that he was delighted with the findingsbut stressed that as a nation we needed to keep working onroad safety. “Yet again road users in Ireland have shown thatby taking road safety into the heart of their communities, manylives can be saved and injuries prevented. Your achievement isremarkable and you have become an example to the rest of

Europe and indeed the world by your responsible actions on the roads. But these achievements can be easily taken awayfrom us if we allow ourselves to become complacent. There is still a big gap between Ireland and the safest counties inEurope,” said Brett “So I would ask you all to keep up the great work and to renew your efforts to stay safe on the roads.Already this year, your efforts are showing results with 16 fewer deaths on our roads to date compared with the sameperiod last year. If I could pick three areas for improvement it would be to slow down, don’t use a mobile phone whiledriving and wear a high visibility jacket when out cycling, biking or walking.”

Fuel prices back on UKagenda

Following its successful first campaign, FairFuelUK has once again asked the UK Government toaddress the problem of rising fuel costs that isstrangling many of the companies that itrepresents. There had been a reduction in theprice of fuel after the campaign groupsuccessfully lobbied the House of Commons, butthey now want more as oil prices have droppedbut that has not been reflected at the pumps. “Oilprices have fallen, but what we pay at the pumpfor petrol and diesel remains far too high,” it said.Last week, representatives of the campaign groupwere at Westminster in a bid to force the fuelissue back on the political agenda, telling thegovernment that oil companies needed to pass onreductions in the price of oil. “If they don’t, thegovernment needs to take action,” said FairFuelUK. “It needs to do much more about fuel tax. Itneeds to abandon its current plan to increase fueltax in January 2012, and needs to understandthat the current high level of fuel tax is hurtingmotorists, businesses and the road haulier.

Fears over introduction oflonger trailersCampaign groups have been forming all over Europe to protestagainst plans to introduce longer trailers on European roads. Inthe UK there has been a campaign group formed recently toprotest against government plans to introduce longer lorries onUK roads, which they feel are not safe and could put somesmaller hauliers out of business. The Campaign for BetterTransport and Freight on Rail – backed by the Campaign toProtect Rural England, CTC (the national cyclists’ organisation),Friends of the Earth, Living Streets, RoadPeace and Sustrans –predicted that plans to increase lorry lengths could lead to sixmore road deaths a year, more road congestion and cost smalland medium-sized hauliers up to £1.8 billion (US$2.57bn) overfive years. Campaign for Better Transport CEO Stephen Josephsaid: “The government’s research is misleading and inaccurate.All the evidence points to longer lorries being more dangerous,having a negative impact on road congestion and theenvironment while providing very little economic benefits – in factthey could be the final nail in the coffin for smaller hauliers. Thegovernment needs to re-examine its own figures as a matter ofurgency.”

New service station openedon M7 motorwayHauliers travelling on the Cork to Dublin motorway can now availof a new service station that has been opened nearMonasterevin, Co Kildare. The new €7 million facility has beenopened just off the motorway at junction 14 and is a privately runpremises. The National Roads Authority have now put a halt toplans to construct another service station near Mountrath in CoLaois. "Considering the lack of funding for additional servicestations, the new private operation will satisfy a need that theNRA agrees is there," said a NRA spokesperson. Only three of 12planned motorway services stations have opened — atCastlebellingham and Lusk on the M1 and near Enfield on theM4. Plans to open the remaining nine facilities, including one atMountrath, were postponed indefinitely by the NRA due to a lackof Government funding.

Ireland is now rated sixth safestcountry when it comes to traffic

accidents

UK Government havebeen asked to look at

rising fuel costs


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Choice of 2000/2002Iveco 75E17 7.5 tonInsulated Dropside Tipperwith Tar Chutes & TowHitch

2003 Iveco 75E17 Tector20ft Curtain Side FridgeInsuliner


2004 Mercedes 815 Atego7.5 ton 16ft Fridge


2001 Scania 94D 220 4x2 18Ton SWB 23ft Flat


2002 Daf 75 CF 250Sleeper Cab 6x2 Rear Lift28ft Curtainside With TailLiftwww.currancommercials.ie

05 Daf cf 75 310 twinsleeper 4x2 on air 28ft grpbox with tail lift


2005 Daf LF 45 150 7.5 ton16ft Fridge 3 Barn Doors


05 Volvo FLE 220 15 ton OnAir 20ft Curtainsider withBig Tail Lift


2005 Mercedes Vario 814d17ft Curtainside with AutoGear Box



Scania introduces two reviseddistribution rigid models

Scania has extended its range of complete vehicles by introducingtwo revised distribution rigid model ranges – Scania Complete Boxand Scania Complete Curtainsider. The Scania Complete Box andCurtainsider range offers a wide selection of 18- and 26-tonneoptions with a choice of Scania Euro 5 EGR engines. ScaniaOpticruise, Scania’s automated gear-selection system, can also bespecified.Scania is working with Cartwright to provide the bodywork for itsComplete Box and Curtainsider range. Box and curtainsiderbodywork options include a selection of interior and exterior fitmentsand load restraint systems, plus a choice of column and tuckawaytail-lifts by leading manufacturers. According to sales director MartinHay: “Several years ago we launched the Scania Complete Vehicleprogramme to provide a one-stop service to take away the pain ofdealing with multiple suppliers. “Since then, our understanding ofoperators’ needs from a bodywork perspective has continued todevelop and grow and the programme we are now launchingprovides our broadest-ever range of specification options, allowingvehicles to be optimised for a multitude of specific transport tasks.”Other vehicles in the complete range include: the Scania CompleteSkiploader, the Scania Complete Hookloader; and the Scania Wet Kitand Petroleum Regulations tractor units.

Japanese vehiclemanufacturers hiringagainToyota and other Japanese vehiclemanufacturers intend to hire thousands ofcontract workers. The announcement came asthe carmakers endeavour to make up for lostproduction due to the March 11th earthquakeand tsunami. Toyota plans to hire up to 4,000contract workers at its Japan factories. “Interms of domestic output, the companyexpects production will start recovering fromaround October, making up the delay causedby the Great East Japan Earthquake,” aToyota statement reads. “In order to meet thechallenge, the company plans to hire 3,000 -4,000 contract workers throughout the nationfrom mid-July.” These will represent Toyota’sfirst new contract hirings since December2009. The positions will be for partmanufacturing and vehicle assembly. WithJapanese manufacturers cautious aboutoffering new full-time positions in whatremains a volatile economy, Honda also plansto hire about 1,000 new contract workers andrenew contracts with current employees as itlooks to boost output in the second half of theyear. And Nissan aims to increase its numberof contract workers by at least 200 at its fivedomestic plants by the end of July.

Malcolm Group Choose SDC’s Strong CurtainsideTrailersUK trailer manufacturer SDC Trailers has signed a deal

to supply The Malcolm Group with 200 new semi-trailers over two years – SDC’s first order from theleading haulier in over five years.The new tri-axle trailers are 13.6 metres long and 4.5metres high and SDC aims to deliver 90 in 2011 with afurther 110 due for delivery in 2012. They will be directreplacements for old trailers coming out of the Malcolmfleet.The trailers will be constructed to EN12642XLcertification ensuring conformity to structural bodystrength standards to deliver a more stable andstronger unit. This is backed up by WISA-Trans flooringto produce a very robust and resistant surface whichisable to cope with the demands of daily haulage.They feature flush rear doors, aerodynamic side skirts and an aero bulkhead pod to improve fuel economy.SDC was the first UK trailer manufacturer to gain EN12642XL certification for its products and the company has seensales of around 500 of the higher specification trailers since November last year.Mark Cuskeran, SDC Trailers Managing Director, said: “SDC is pleased to supply The Malcolm Group with our new highstandard curtainside trailer. We are seeingmore and more customers opting for trailers constructed to the newcertification as they are more robust. As well as strength, the trailer also provides solid fuel economy through the addedaero package.”Andrew Malcolm, The Malcolm Group Chief Executive, said: “Quality and service is paramount to our business and this isderived from our continual investment in the latest vehicles and cuttingedge technology. Our decision to invest in SDC’strailers was made easy by their excellent quality.”

Scania complete box and Scania Complete Curtainsider

SDC Trailers will supply theMalcolm Group with 200 new semi-trailers over two years


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M8 Recovery’s FH is smarter than the average bearAlec McManus of Glasgow-based M8 Recovery has added another spectacular Volvo wrecker to his fleet. With specialistrecovery bodywork, the Boniface Engineering Trident recoverer will be pulling home trucks and coaches that have fallenby the wayside on Scotland’s busy east-west motorway. Alec runs a mixed fleet of nearly 40 specialised recovery vehiclesand this latest £400,000 monster packs a 50 tonne crane-lift and a 150-tonne train weight under the bright red bodywork.It has a cuddly side to it too. Alec says, "We like to give each of our trucks a cartoon identity with a bespoke livery." Thislatest FH13-460 6x4 has been liveried as ‘Yogi Bear' who no doubt keeps his eyes peeled for the Rangers on themotorway. Alec, or Junior as he is better known to his many friends, commented that it was the solid product reputationand excellent dealer support for his previous Volvos that meant he did not hesitate to take another FH. "The Volvo isbulletproof" he said. Adding, "I'd have an all-Volvo operation if I could, but I need to run a mixed fleet to satisfy the varietyof contracts I have." The roll call of M8 Recovery's PSV contracts are straight from the top flight of local and nationalnames in bus and coach circles, including Stagecoach, First Bus, Arriva and Parks of Hamilton. Alec runs a ‘one-man-one-truck' policy at M8 Recovery and the new 13-litre Volvo FH is driven by Paul O'Neill who, quite simply, "Loves it tobits." The Globetrotter XL spec cab and a manual gearbox make it "perfect for the job", says Paul. Already running twoVolvo FMs and another FH, Alec is about to place a further order for another FH from Volvo Truck & Bus Centre Northand Scotland, Cardonald.

Be road safety aware during school holidaysAs thousands of primary schoolchildren around the country prepare for the end of the school year and the beginning oftheir summer holidays, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding road-users to be on the lookout for children whenusing the roads. The RSA is also reminding parents and guardians to make sure their children play safely this summer.Mr Noel Brett, CEO of the RSA said: “With schools closing, there will be more children spending time outdoors duringtheir summer holidays so we are asking road-users to be extra cautious when using the roads, especially in built-upareas. Look out for children who might be playing, walking or cycling on or near the road. Remember, children are ourmost vulnerable road-users because of their age and the fact that they are not able to recognise danger like adults. Somake sure you pay extra attention when children are nearby.”Parents and guardians are also being advised to teach their children about playing safely near roads and being roadsafety aware when they’re walking or cycling.“Make sure your child knows how to behave safely on the roads. If they’re cycling, ensure that they wear the properprotective gear such as a bicycle helmet and high visibility clothing. If they’re walking or playing near roads, make surethey know that they should only cross the road with a grown up and only when it’s safe to do so. Most importantly, makesure you demonstrate good road safety behaviour at all times. Children learn from what we as parents do so if you’re inthe car, drive in a responsible and safe manner and always wear your seatbelt.”For more information on road safety for children, as well as interactive games and videos, visit the ‘Road Safety for Kids’section of RSA website, www.rsa.ieThe RSA also has the following advice for parents and motorists:

Travelling by Car* Motorists, be aware of children when driving, particularly through residential areas* All children should be restrained when travelling in a car* Select a restraint that is based on your child’s weight and height and is suitable for the type of car* Remember it’s safer if children travel in the rear of a car* Never leave children alone in a car

Walking:* Small children should not cross roads alone. They cannot decide how far away a car is or how fast it is going* Children walking on country roads should wear reflective armbands and bright clothing

* If there is no footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic keeping as close as possible tothe side of the road* Show your child how to cross the road by example. Choose safe places to cross and take time to explain why i.e.

footbridges, zebra or pelican crossings

Cycle Safety* Make sure they are highly visible by wearing a reflective belt and bright clothes and wear a bicycle safety helmet on all

journeys* Check that the bicycle’s brakes, lights, reflector and bell are in good working order

Circle Oil turns profitLimerick-headquartered exploration company Circle Oil has reported its first annual profit. The company owns producingassets in Morocco and Egypt. However, unrest in Egypt had led to delays in receiving payment for its oil (though theunrest has not affected production). Figures released show that the AIM-listed company made a net profit of $10.4m in2010, after a loss of $13.5m the previous year. Operating profits were $12.6m. Revenue from oil and gas sales almosttrebled to $44.4m.

11

Paul Mallee appointed newchairperson of Bus EireannThe President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport*, PaulMallee, has been appointed the new Chairperson of Bus Éireann.Mr Mallee is a management consultant specializing in the transport sector,and is a recent alumnus of Booz & Company where he was an Associate inthe Transport practice of this top-tier global strategy consultancy for thepast six years.Mr Mallee has served as President of the Chartered Institute of Logisticsand Transport since Autumn 2009, having served as Vice-President since2007. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 2010.Speaking on his appointment Mr Mallee commented "'I am delighted thatthe Minister for Transport has appointed me Chairperson of Bus Éireannand to the Board of the CIE Group, and I look forward to the challengesahead."My appointment is also recognition of the role and work of the CharteredInstitute of Logistics and Transport that has played an important part in thedevelopment of the transport and logistics sector in Ireland over manyyears."

Irish exporterslook to GermanyIreland is looking to Europe’s largestconsumer market for its exports as tradebetween us and Germany has increaseddramatically this year. Accountancy firmDeloitte carried out a survey recentlywhich revealed that many Irishcompanies are now looking to exporttheir goods to the German market.The advantage of this is that theGerman economy is booming at themoment and the fact that it is a eurozone lessens the risen taken byexporters. "It's the largest consumermarket in Europe so if you are seriousabout exporting you should be there,"said Helmut Clissmann, a Dubliner withGerman and Irish roots who has beendoing business in both countries foralmost 40 years. Mr Clissmann believesthere are fundamental differences thatmust be understood by anyone whowants to do business in Germany."Germany is a much bigger country thanIreland and business is not done on apersonal basis like it is in Ireland," saidMr Clissmann. "For this reason youreally have to do your homework beforeyou start talking. If you appear at ameeting and you don't know what you'redoing you won't get a second chance."


Sustainable travel projects receive €55million in fundingMinister for Public Transport and Commuter Policy, Alan Kelly, has confirmed that €55 millionwill be spent on sustainable travel projects this year. The Minister confirmed the figure as heannounced the 34 projects being carried out in our regional cities under the jobs initiative. Anadditional €5 million will be spent on labour intensive sustainable travel projects such as roadimprovement works, pedestrian crossings cycle routes and more sophisticated traffic controlsystems. These projects will be commenced in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford this year.“This funding is about creating jobs and making our transport system easier to use for cyclistsand pedestrians thereby taking cars off the road and boosting our competitiveness,” statedMinister Kelly. “The last census showed that over 200,000 of us drive less than 4 kilometres towork. To incentivise people to not use their cars, we have to make walkways, cycle paths andthe road network more user-friendly. This money is doing this while at the same time creating jobs. We are investing incycle networks in Cork and a City wide traffic control system in Galway which will help make traffic flow easier throughour cities,” he added. This funding goes towards improving the sustainability and integration of the current transportnetwork to make it easier for people to not use their cars to commute. “This is part of our plan to re-balance the transportbudget towards public transport. While we are in a very challenging period financially, it is important that we put whatresources we do have into sustainable transport and making non-driving options more attractive,” concluded the MinisterIncluded among the 34 projects are;€400,000 for new phase of Cork Cycle Network between Douglas and City Centre€250,000 for a city-wide intelligent traffic control system within City Hall in Galway including traffic signs, CCTV camerasand variable message signs€600,000 for advanced facilities for transport users and traffic calming measures for South Quays Green Route inWaterford€150,000 for improvement of existing cycle facilities in Limerick.

Alan Kelly Minister for

Public Transportand Commuter

Policy

Shipping lines go bigThree more shipping lines have ordered larger containerships as fears forthe industry continue to grow following a further drop in rates. Maersk,Neptune Orient Lines and MOL have announced that they have ordered acombined total of 24 large containerships as the majority of shipping linesgo big in order to stay competitive in the market. This is Maersk’s secondorder of large containerships following the announcement in February that itwould be acquiring 10 Triple E-class vessels and the company CEO EivindKolding revealed the vessels involved. “We now have 20 Triple-Es on order.They underline our strong commitment to the Asia-Europe trade and fit wellwith our current ambitions and expectations for the development of thetrade,” said Kolding. “We believe the Triple-E ships with their recordcapacity and energy efficiency will enable us to deliver on the commercialand environmental expectations of our customers and also give us asignificant competitive advantage in the market.”

Maersk announce pricing changesMaersk Line have announced plans to start charging customers who fail to fulfill bookings, while the shipping company will

also refund customers if a container is not loaded. Speakingexclusively to IFW, Maersk Line’s Senior Director for ChargeManagement, Network and Product, John Nielsen, said that,on average, around 20% of containers failed to turn up forthe vessel they are booked on globally. “Some customerspay for others’ mistakes. It is well known that a percentage ofbookings will be downfalls. The only way shipping lines cancompensate for that is to overbook the vessel, said Nielsen.“Then if the downfalls do not come, you have too muchcargo and you need to leave some behind. That hurts thewell-behaved customers who end up paying the price for theover-bookings made by others. “We want to make sure thatwhen they have a booking confirmation, then we will load it.Then customers can plan their supply chain better.”


UK clampdown onlitterbug truckersThe Highways Agency is cracking downon truck drivers who spill rubbish onroads due to insecure loads.Under the new arrangement, HA trafficofficers and contractors will report anysuch incidents to the North West TrafficCommissioner, who will then warn theoperator concerned that their O-licencecould be at risk. The HA says theinitiative could be rolled out acrossEngland if it proves to be a success inthe North West. Traffic CommissionerBeverley Bell says: "I support thisinitiative for HA traffic officers andcontractors to report instances wherethe drivers of commercial operatorshave not ensured that their loads aresecured effectively and I urge alloperators to remind their staff of thesafety implications of such incidents."Operators and drivers who are reportedto my office may find themselvessubject to consideration of disciplinaryaction." A-one+, HA contractor for southLancashire, Merseyside, GreaterManchester and Cheshire, isresponsible for removing litter anddebris from the motorway network onbehalf of the agency. Last year itcollected more than 66,000 sacks ofrubbish from motorways in the area.Brian Statham, A-one+ generalmanager, says: "A large amount ofcommercial litter is blown from the backof large goods vehicles. Typically, wesee large pieces of polythene, plasticand polystyrene wedged in trees andbushes, but there could be serioussafety implications if a piece of thismaterial caused other vehicles toswerve or brake suddenly."

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Domestic slump overshadows exports surgeOfficial figures have revealed that the domestic slump has outweighed the rise in exports as the country battles to getback on its feet. Exports have been the one shining light during this current recession and they have single-handedly keptthe haulage and shipping industries afloat. "The Irish economy performed a little stronger in the first quarter of the yearthan was generally expected," said IBEC chief economist Fergal O'Brien. "The export performance has remainedincredibly strong and it is very encouraging to see companies are increasing their investment in machinery and equipmentagain." However, he added, "despite the stellar export performance and the recovery in investment, overall economicgrowth remains fairly flat because consumers remain too frightened to spend. "Government must do everything it can togive households clarity on the economic situation and in particular it must clearly spell out as early as possible the likelyimpact of the budgetary adjustments on household finances. "If Irish consumers start spending again a solid period ofeconomic growth could quickly emerge."

Toyota downgradedToyota’s rating has been downgraded amid ongoing concerns about the manufacturer’s profitability.Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded Toyota Motor and its affiliates by one notch to Aa3. The Japanese motor gianthas endured a torrid twelve months, first affected by millions of safety recalls last year before the earthquake / tsunami inJapan hammered production. And now it is being affected by a strong yen and materials costs. The rating remains onreview as one notch of support is incorporated from Japan’s banks and government, who are also up for review atpresent. Toyota is one of Japan’s strongest exporters but the strong yen has made their product less attractive tooverseas buyers. Moody’s notes: “Toyota's profit recovery will not be as strong as preferred because of its weakeningmarket shares in various regions worldwide, the strong yen and high raw material prices.”


Stena Line buoyant withnew routes clearance

Ferry company Stena Line has expressed its delight at therecent announcement that its acquisition of the DFDS routesfrom Belfast to Liverpool (Birkenhead) and Belfast toHeysham has been fully approved by the CompetitionCommission. The acquisition, which amounts toapproximately £40M investment, will enable Stena Line toimprove its service on the Irish Sea by offering severaldifferent alternatives for transportation between NorthernIreland and Great Britain and will improve service andfrequency for freight and passengers. Irish Sea area directorMichael McGrath said: “We are naturally delighted to havebeen given the green light by the UK CompetitionCommission and will now engage in a process of evaluationand integration in terms of the wider Stena Line business.We have always believed that the DFDS acquisition wouldmake a perfect fit for our business and our customers and weare looking forward to implementing our extended routenetwork on the Irish Sea. We believe that the acquisitionalso strengthens Belfast as a key transport hub within ourroute network for both freight and tourism traffic.”As part of the deal Stena Line will also acquire four ships from DFDS which will include the chartered Lagan Seawaysand Mersey Seaways on the Belfast-Liverpool route and the freight carriers Scotia Seaways and Hibernia Seaways. Thiswill bring the number of Stena Line routes on the Irish Sea to six, adding to the existing Stranraer-Belfast, Holyhead-Dublin, Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire and Fishguard-Rosslare routes.

Competition Commission approves StenaLine’s acquisition of the DFDS routes

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Slane bypass rulingdeferred

A decision on Meath County Council’s plan to constructa 3.5km bypass off Slane village has been deferred byAn Bord Pleanala. Slane village has been a notoriousspot for crashes, mostly involving lorries unable tomake their way around a twisty bridge on the Dublinroad. Plans have been put in place to construct abypass that would include a new dual carriageway overa new 216 metre concrete bridge. In total 22 peoplehave been killed on the road over the years. However,there are those campaigning against the bypass asthey feel it would spoil views in the area and alsothreaten the village’s status as a world heritage site. AnBord Pleanala were due to give a decision on theplanning application in June, but it has been put backuntil August 30th.

Transport group increasesturnover for third year in arow to €16m9% increase in 2011 activity as TPN launches newLogistics Division

Blanchardstown-based The Pallet Network (TPN) andIndependent Express Cargo Ltd, two of Ireland’s leadingfreight, transport and logistics services providers, and partof the Independent Express Group, has announced acombined turnover of €16.1 million for 2010. This is thethird year in a row that the Group has reported year on yearincreases in turnover. The transport group has furtherreported a 9% increase in activity for 2011. IndependentExpress Group, incorporating TPN employs over 50 peopleat its €10 million 100,000 sq ft hub.The announcement of the group turnover came in the wakeof TPN’s recent €750,000, three year deal with Weber UK& Ireland, which will see Weber use TPN and their 24member network to ship, store and distribute its productsand supplies to its Irish customers, which include leadingDIY centres, hardware stores and garden centres acrossthe island of Ireland. The deal includes the shipping andstorage of thousands of Weber products at TPN’s recentlylaunched logistics centre. Independent Express Cargo Ltd was founded in 1984 byOwen Cooke. Cooke was previously nominated for theErnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2009.Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, IndependentExpress Group, said, “We are pleased to report anotherfurther increase in turnover for 2010, especially in light ofthe global economic crisis that clearly had an impact onIreland’s economy over the last few years. The company'spositive financial results show that our business strategy ison the right track and that our investment in newtechnologies, more efficient infrastructure and our newlogistics division is paying off. We plan to continue alongthe same lines in the future while continuing to stay as leanas possible. We are optimistic for the future as Ireland’strade and exports show continued growth. We areprojecting a group turnover of circa €18 million for 2011.”


Lorries containing stolenalcohol seizedGardai held six men following the recent seizure of twotruckloads of stolen alcohol. The arrests were made aspart of an investigation into dissident republicanactivities. Three men from Northern Ireland werearrested after an articulated truck was stopped on theM1 near Drogheda. The stolen truck contained aconsignment of alcohol. A second trailer, alsocontaining alcohol, was also seized. Three more menwere arrested in the midlands in a follow-up operation.The Garda operation was led by officers from theSpecial Detective Unit and the Louth-Meath division.

Major cigarette find atDublin warehouseThe gardai have arrested three men in connection withthe seizure of seven million illegal cigarettes at awarehouse at Baldonnell Business Park in June. Thecontraband was believed to be worth an estimated €3million and was brought into the country via Belfast portafter it was labelled as wooden flooring. Customofficials and Gardai monitored the cargo, which wasbrought to Baldonnell Business Park by truck and theythen swooped and made their arrests. The three men -two in their 20s and another in his 40s - were arrestedat the scene.

Decision on SlaneBypass deferred

Owen Cooke, Chairman, The Pallet Network & Independent ExpressCargo (foreground) and Seamus McGowan, MD (background) at thecompanies recently launched logistics centre. The leading freight,

transport and logistics providers have announced a combinedturnover of €16.1 million for 2010. The transport group has furtherreported a 9% increase in activity for 2011. Independent Express

Group, incorporating TPN employs over 50 people at its€10 million 100,000 sq ft hub in Blanchardstown.


Le Havre bid for traffic increaseThe port of Le Havre, which is used by many Irish hauliersworking on the continent, is launching an ambitious drive toincrease its new vehicle traffic. The aim of the project is toincrease traffic and help the port become one of Europe’sleading facilities over the coming years. To do this, the porthave called on everyone involved to help their cause and playsome part. The Ro-Ro Max project will bring together the port,stevedores, logistics companies, yard operators andengineering schools to help increase new vehicle numbers to500,000 units by 2015. Last year the port handled 340,000 newvehicles. Le Havre have announced plans to upgrade itsinfrastructure to help cope with the increase of traffic and it ishoped that up to 150 jobs can be created by the project, ifsuccessful.

New service station openedon M7 motorwayHauliers travelling on the Cork to Dublin motorway can nowavail of a new service station that has been opened nearMonasterevin, Co Kildare. The new €7 million facility has beenopened just off the motorway at junction 14 and is a privatelyrun premises. The National Roads Authority have now put ahalt to plans to construct another service station nearMountrath in Co Laois. "Considering the lack of funding foradditional service stations, the new private operation willsatisfy a need that the NRA agrees is there," said a NRAspokesperson. Only three of 12 planned motorway servicesstations have opened — at Castlebellingham and Lusk on theM1 and near Enfield on the M4. Plans to open the remainingnine facilities, including one at Mountrath, were postponedindefinitely by the NRA due to a lack of Government funding.

Hauliers boycott LimerickTunnelHauliers are avoiding a €600m tunnel in Limerick, claimingthat high toll charges cancel out any savings in fuel or time.The Limerick Tunnel, which runs under the River Shannon andopened last July, forms part of the ring road around Limerickcity. HGVs are charged €5.75 for a single journey and manyare therefore choosing an alternative route that also avoids thecity centre. “We don’t save enough in fuel to cover the costs,”says Sean Murtagh, MD of local company FreightshiftServices, who fears the alternative route could also be tolled.“Our drivers are instructed not to use it,” adds Martin Ryan,director of Martin Ryan & Sons Haulage, Cappamore. “There isno incentive to drop the price because the governmentsubsidises it. The tunnel is operated by Direct Route. Morethan 3,000 fewer vehicles than expected (guaranteed, in fact)are using the tunnel per day, lead to the NRA paying DirectRoute €1.25m compensation for the last quarter of 2010. TheIrish Road Haulage Association has tried in vain to negotiate abetter deal. Its members would use the tunnel if it was €3 lessper journey.

Varadkar: transportgoals achievedMinister for Transport, Tourism & Sport LeoVaradkar has detailed the achievements of hisDepartment, and those of his Ministers of State, inthe first 100 days of Government. Minister Varadkarsaid: ‘I am happy to confirm a wide range ofachievements and reforms across my Department.These have been introduced in the First 100 Daysby myself, and Ministers of State Michael Ring andAlan Kelly’.

TransportAdditional funding of €75 million to create orsustain 1,000 jobs, including:€60 million for road maintenance works to remedysome of the damage inflicted by two severe winters;Awarding €1 million for improvements at a numberof commuter train stations;€14 million allocated specifically to smartertransport projects including cycle schemes, buscorridors, park and ride, and pedestrian facilities;

Road SafetyIntroducing mandatory alcohol testing at the sceneof a collision where someone has been injured;Preparing further wide-ranging measures on roadsafety for introduction or legislation later this year.

NOL invest in shipsShipping giant NOL has ordered 12 new boxshipsas it sets about plans to expand his business evenfurther. The company is set to build 12 newcontainerships, while they have increased the sizeof ten that are already under construction. NOL saidit was investing in larger vessels to “reduce unitcapital and operating costs, meet future growthneeds and replace older and smaller charteredvessels that would be returned to their owners”.NOL also said it was also upgrading an orderplaced last year for ten 8,400teu ships to makethem 9,200teu capacity each.

Le Havre is looking to become one of Europe’sleading facilities over the next few years

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Irish Trucker magazine July 2011

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