Donnell & Ellis - the heavy haulage specialists

Donnell & Ellis is a thriving transport/heavy haulage firm based in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. The company offers quick, reliable, efficient and cost effective solutions for the movement of quarry equipment and large plant machinery in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Pictured in the Donnell & Ellis yard are l/r: Darren Burke, Alan Armstrong, Elaine Donnell, Scott Donnell and Tom Barber. Front, Taylor and Jamie Burke

From humble beginnings, Donnell & Ellis has grown into one of the most successful transport companies of its kind in Ireland.
When business partners Willie Donnell and Albert Ellis founded the company in late 1990, they bought their first lorry, a Scania 112, and got on the road. They purchased their second truck, a new Scania 113 Streamline, in 1995 and since then, the business has expanded at a rapid rate. Donnell & Ellis now has a fleet of 20 tractor units and over 50 trailers of differing specification. The company employs a staff of 30 and provides a heavy haulage service covering Ireland, the UK and Europe.
“We’ve come a long way over the past few years,” Willie Donnell proudly states.

“Both of our backgrounds were in the engineering sector and we had set up an engineering company only a few months before we started the transport operation. I suppose you could say we saw an opening in the market for the transportation of heavy goods.

“Our other business was producing quarry equipment and by buying a truck, we were able to look after our transportation needs. The transport company developed from that and we now move quarry equipment for a whole host of companies throughout Ireland and the UK.”

Alan Armstrong on the office computer, planning a route for one of the trucks

Similar to the transport company, the engineering business has also experienced significant growth. Based in Castlederg, not far from Omagh, Donnell & Ellis Engineering Ltd specialise in the manufacture of quarry equipment and also employs in the region of 30 staff. “While we are equal partners in both companies, I generally run the transport business and Albert looks after the engineering side of things,” Willie explains.

Various companies in the engineering, construction or quarry sectors can avail of the services offered by Donnell & Ellis. Most loads go to Britain and the Continent in the hands of very experienced drivers.

The company specialises in abnormal loads which require the drivers to be extremely skilled, especially when it comes to loading and unloading. The vast majority of the company’s work involves the moving of plant and heavy machinery to and from sites all over Ireland and the UK. Donnell & Ellis offer a service second to none, meaning the customer gets the job done and with the minimum of fuss and hassle.

Transport Manager Darren Burke with his son Taylor

“There is a big demand for our service. We transport a lot of tracked quarry equipment. There are a number of companies in Co. Tyrone who produce this sort of equipment.
“It’s massive equipment which seems to be getting bigger and bigger all the time. Our drivers are very skilled and they need to be because not everyone could handle loads of that size.

“We also transport large concrete and steel beams for bridge sections. Recently, we moved a 37-metre steel beam from Harland & Wolfe to Omagh which was used in the construction of a new by-pass.”
Permits, which are required if a load exceeds 44 tonnes, are in place to move loads at short notice to various locations, and with their extensive contacts in the shipping lines, Donnell & Ellis can offer a one-stop shop for quotations through to the destination.
Many of the deliveries are bound for the Continent. Loads destined for the rest of the world are delivered to deep sea ports such as Liverpool, Southampton and Immingham (near Grimsby), from where they continue their journey.
From day one, Scania has been the preferred choice of truck for Donnell & Ellis. All but one of the company fleet is Scania. “We’ve one Mercedes and the rest are Scania,” Willie says.

Young Chloe Donnell looking the part in the office

“We’ve always gone for Scania. They aren’t the cheapest, but they have good second hand value and driver appeal, are very reliable and I personally think they have the edge over the rest. There happens to be a Scania garage – Road Trucks West – located no more than a quarter of a mile down the road from us, and that is very convenient for us, especially from a repairs point of view.”

Donnell & Ellis employ 22 drivers, some of whom have been with the company for more than a decade. “Because we look after our drivers, we are able to hold onto them. It helps that they are all driving new trucks. Our oldest truck is a 2001 model.”
There are two transport managers with the company – Darren Burke and Alan Armstrong. Darren began working for the firm as a mechanic, and then spent five years as a driver. His background in the mechanical and driving fields made him an obvious choice for the position he now holds.

Both Darren and Alan oversee the movement of an extensive range of trucks from 7.5 to 200 tonnes, and also a range of semi-trailers to include extendable low-loader, extendable semi low-loader, extendable flats and euroliners, all from premier manufacturers.

Recently, the staff of Donnell & Ellis moved into new offices at 24, Beltany Road, Omagh. The new premises incorporate shower/wash facilities for the drivers, who hail from both sides of the Irish Sea. The company has also purchased an extra yard about two miles from its Omagh headquarters.

Despite the company’s success, Willie is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“Like all businesses, we’re always aiming to expand and improve our service.”