Brewing up a storm july 2004

When the McArdle Moore brewery closed its doors four years ago, it sent shock waves through the Co. Louth town of Dundalk. The closure also posed a serious challenge to local haulage company Dundalk Trucks and Trailers Ltd., who had garnered much of its work from the now defunct brewery. Owner Sean Hand re-lived events with John Loughran.

The Hand family has been closely associated with the bulk beer haulage sector for the past 25 years. Sean's late father Oliver got the ball rolling back in 1979, when he began hauling for McArdle Moore and Harp, two of the town's largest employers at the time.

On leaving school Sean joined the family business. He first cut his spurs in the garage, but once he got his driving licence, it was inevitable that he would take to the open road.

Sean runs a fleet of 17 trucks and
assorted trailers

For many years Sean worked side by side with his father, until Oliver's death in 2001, at which time it was decided to rename the family business Dundalk Trucks and Trailers.

Following the demise of McArdle Moore, Sean was forced to diversify into other areas to fill the void. It took him the best part of six months to get the business back on an even keel. "It was a massive blow to the town because there was a couple of hundred people working in McArdle Moore. It rocked the town on its heels. We weren't the only ones affected."

He continued: "We were faced with going out of business or moving into other areas. That is when we broke into refrigerated transport, which now accounts for about 50 per cent of what we do."

During that turbulent time he received a helping hand from another Dundalk haulier. "Hanlon Transport put a lot of work our way at the time, which was greatly appreciated. They kept us ticking over until we got back on our feet and we will always be grateful for their help at a very difficult time for the company," Sean recalled.

Clare Savage, Director, Dundalk
Truck and Trailers

Based in Balgregan, Dundalk, the company is still dependent on the bulk beer sector for much of its core business, but it has managed to diversify into other areas of the haulage industry. "We still draw out of Harp for TDG Logistics and we are very thankful for that work," he elaborated.

However, bulk beer haulage will always remain an integral part of the company's set-up. "It will always be a part of this place. Anything we have was built on the strength of drawing beer. If we were starting over now, I don't think we would get off the ground," he opined.

Nowadays Sean runs a fleet of 17 trucks and assorted trailers engaged in bulk beer haulage, as well as international refrigerated groupage to Italy and Spain. Volvo is the preferred marque although there are a sprinkling of Scanias and DAFs.

"It is all down to the back-up service we get from main dealers McDonnell Commercials in Monaghan. They are willing to go that extra mile for you, which is very important. Volvo's back-up service on the Continent is also excellent," Sean commented. He added: "Volvo are a very comfortable truck to drive. They are also a very driver friendly truck and they are extremely popular with our drivers."

Office administrator Greta Hand

The Hand fleet of trucks were registered between 2004 and 1994. "We have a good spread and we try to update one or two trucks every year. All of our trucks, whether they are a year old or 10-year old, are maintained to a very high standard," Sean confirmed.

To that end the company mixes main dealer and 'in-house' maintenance to great effect. "We do about 80 per cent of the work ourselves. The rest of the work would go back to the main dealers. We feel we have the mix about right," Sean revealed.
By doing the 'bulk' of the work 'in-house' Sean feels the company can keep a tight grip and on costs, as well as control over the fleet maintenance programme.

"Importantly the mechanics in our workshop are flexible and will do the work at a time that best suits us. If they needed to be in the workshop at 4.00am in the morning, they would do it to keep a truck on the road. Consequently downtime is never a problem," he quipped.

Assistant transport manager Deirdre Casey

All 17 of the company's trucks are on the road everyday, which means there is no room for error with regard to downtime. "All of the trucks are working all of time. We don't have any spare trucks or a relief lorry so to speak, so we can't afford to have any of them idle," Sean remarked.

To complement its fleet of trucks, the company has an extensive fleet of bulk tankers and refrigerated trailers. "Trailer maintenance is costly and takes up a lot of our mechanics' time. We have one fulltime mechanic and an apprentice and they are never idle," he noted.

Hard at work in the accounts
office - Fiona Larkin

Sean fully realises the important role the company's staff play in delivering the company's promises. "We are very lucky in that respect. We have a very good team. Some of the staff have been with us since my father set up the business 25 years ago."

To that end the company sets out its stall to deliver extremely high levels of customer service. "Reliability is our strongest selling point. We offer our customers a 24-hour service. You wouldn't haul for Guinness for 20 odd years if you weren't reliable," Sean commented.

Sean believes the ability to say 'no' is vital in delivering high levels of service. "We wouldn't take on a load unless we were sure we were able to do it to the best of our ability. Sometimes you have to say no to your customers and they will respect you for that," he noted.

Conor McKenna loves his DAF

On occasions the company can call on a number of sub-contract hauliers to bolster its own fleet. "We wouldn't take in a haulier to make money on him. If we give them the work, we will pay them the rate. We would only do it for the benefit of our customers," Sean confirmed.

Dundalk Truck and Trailers' fleet is tastefully painted white with blue sign writing. "The colour scheme adds to the whole package and we are continually getting compliments on how well the fleet is presented," he noted.

"Nowadays customers expect your trucks to be well presented, and we put in a big effort in that respect. The trucks and trailers are washed regularly and are a good advertisement for the company on the road," he added.

Thomas Thornton is a Scania fan

Sean is cautiously optimistic about the future of the business, buts says haulage is very like a cork in the Atlantic. "You never know when the next wave is coming to upset you. After we got over the closure of McArdle Moore, we were hit with huge insurance increases. Now we are looking a spiralling fuel prices. In this business you never know what is around the corner," he concluded.