Nic(h)e one Tom

Tom Grealy has been in general haulage for more than 20 years. Based in Clarenbridge in Co. Galway, the affable haulier took time out from his busy schedule to speak to Irish Trucker.

Grealy Transport was established in 1978 when Tom set up as a owner driver delivering building aggregates, road maintenance materials and concrete products on a contract basis in the Galway area. In 1980 he branched into artic tipper work. “From there we kept building it year by year,” Tom revealed.

Working for a wide spread of customers and delivering a diverse range of products the company has built an enviable reputation for offering a quality service. “What we do, we do well and we do it on time. We have been working with the same companies for the last 20 years and that in itself says something. We have built up a good relationship with our customers. We will work around the clock if needs be, and our customers know that.” Tom enthused.

Over the years the company has built up a loyal and valued customer base including McDonagh’s of Galway, Connacht Gold, Top Form, Galway Metal, Dominic Lydon, Cold Chon, Lockwood Veneers and Oran Precast. To facilitate the needs of these customers, the company runs a fleet of 10 trucks and 30 trailers, including bulk tippers, flats, curtainsiders and bulk tankers.
Tom explained that much of the company’s work is seasonal. However, he has been able to mix and match customer requirements to keep the fleet busy throughout the year. “We would draw about 5,000 tonne of beet for farmers in the Galway area to the sugar factory in Mallow. That would start in mid-September and run until Christmas.

In the winter months we would draw a lot of animal feedstuffs. During the summer we are very busy with road re-surfacing. The building trade is busy all year round. It all works in very well. It all falls in rotation,” Tom explained.

In conjunction with the company’s domestic commitments, Grealy Transport also operates in Northern Ireland and the U.K.. To that end achieving ISO 9002 status in 1996 proved to be an important selling point. “We are always asked for ISO 9002 in U.K.. It is very important over there. It has helped to tidy up the business,” Tom commented.

The company runs a modern fleet of vehicles with a sprinkling of 00 G registered trucks. In order to keep the fleet in top condition the company adopts an “in house” maintenance policy for a number of reasons. Tom explained: “We do all our maintenance in the evenings and on Saturday. That way you can do it at a time that suits you. You can also be sure the work is done properly. We can keep a close check on all the vehicles and therefore avoid major break downs.”

Recruitment and retention of quality drivers is becoming increasingly difficult in the transport industry but to date Tom has been lucky in this regard. “It is not as easy as it used to be (driver recruitment) but there is still plenty of good drivers out there. Some of the lads have been with me for a long time. Good drivers are big advantage.”

Grealy Transport is very much a family run concern and Tom’s wife Nora and nephew Austin have important roles to play in the running of the business. “Nora looks after the accounts and credit control and Austin drives. I look after the logistics of who goes where,” Tom commented.

The thorny issue of unlicensed hauliers is a topic close to Tom’s heart and he feels the time has come for a major clampdown in this respect. “ There should be an even keel for everybody. It would be better for everybody in the long run. The amount of unlicensed haulage going on out there is absolutely crazy,” he remarked. Tom added that the proliferation of unlicensed hauliers had the effect on keeping rates artificially low.

He continued: “we have managed to get a rate increase and we are just managing to keep our heads above water. The rate increase didn’t keep up with the increase in the cost of diesel.” Tom however, welcomed the Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy’s decision to cut excise duty on Diesel in the December Budget and at the time of writing he was cautiously optimistic that the cost of fuel would continue to fall.

Tom’s trucks traverse the highways and byways of Ireland daily and he is delighted to note that Ireland’s road network is improving all the time. “It is only fair to say that the road network is improving all the time throughout the country. The money is there and they are making a good job of it,” he enthused.

However, he is less than enamoured with the growing traffic congestion which he feels is eating into profits and impinging of the company’s ability to provide a quality service. The numbers of new cars coming onto the roads are exacerbating the problem. He reflected: “traffic delays are causing us big problems. All you have to do is look at the numbers of new cars on the road. Going from Galway to Dublin on a Sunday evening is a nightmare.”

Tom feels the company has grown to its optimum size and he does not anticipate further significant growth. He believes the cost of diesel, poor rates, high insurance premiums and the huge capital investment required to purchase additional plant are disinsentives to future expansion.

The company has found its niche and will strive to deliver a high quality of service, for many years to come, Tom concluded.