Coolmoyne goes from strength to strength

Since its establishment over 20 years ago, Coolmoyne Couriers has gained a reputation as one of the most professional, reliable and efficient courier operators in the country. Here, Irish Trucker profiles the thriving family-run Co. Tipperary-based company.

Coolmoyne Couriers founder Bill Murphy

For the past 21 years, Coolmoyne Couriers has been delivering an unrivalled courier and transport service to its large customer base in Ireland.
Based in Fethard, Co. Tipperary, Coolmoyne Couriers is a family-run courier business which covers the east, south, south-east and mid-west regions. Set up by Bill Murphy, Coolmoyne Couriers is now headed up by his son Sean, though Bill still maintains an interest in the company. With Bill’s wife Anne and Sean’s wife Siobhan also actively involved in the running of the business, Coolmoyne extols all the virtues of a well-run, efficient, family transport solutions provider.

Bill Murphy in the Coolmoyne Couriers office

Taking its name from the local townland, the company’s headquarters are situated just off the main Fethard to Clonmel Road. It is 8km from Cashel and 12km from Clonmel, while other large towns and cities such as Tipperary, Carrck-on-Suir, Thurles, Kilkenny and Waterford are also within easy reach.
Bill Murphy decided to set up Coolmoyne Couriers following his return from England where he worked as a truck driver for many years. Despite the company’s humble beginnings, Bill always had an eye on the future and was continually looking for ways and means to expand the business.

Coolmooyne Couriers staff members Joseph Gula, Kevin Power with Bill Murphy (centre)

He was one of the first couriers in the country to introduce mobile phone technology to his developing business. He recalls: “I had a big Motorolla mobile phone. It was probably the best phone I ever had. It revolutionised the way we conducted business.”
Bill identified the catchment area he wanted to cover from an early stage. Importantly, he realised if he cast his net too wide, he would dilute the quality of service he could offer his customers. Equally, he realised the need to cover a big enough area to generate sufficient business to keep the company afloat.
His daughter-in-law and accounts manager Siobhan explains: “We cover an area from Dublin down to Ennis, across to Cork city, over to Wexford and back to Dublin through Carlow. In special cases, we will cover all of Ireland. Most of our customers are based in Dublin.”

As the business developed, Bill began adding to his fleet. Starting out with a Renault 4 van, he quickly traded up to a Ford Transit. The company has come a long way since then and now has 20 vehicles on the road, including rigids, vans and a recovery truck. It also counts a number of refrigerated units among its fleet.

Joseph Gula is a key member of the Coolmoyne Couriers operation

“Most of the fleet are Iveco rigid trucks. We recently took delivery of a new Iveco van and truck. We buy all of our new trucks from James Mahony on the Naas Road in Dublin. We have a five-year replacement policy for the fleet. On the whole, it is a modern felt although we do keep a couple of older trucks in reserve to cover in the event of a breakdown,” Siobhan says.
As the company’s fleet grew, so too did its staff. While the majority of its 16 staff members are drivers, Coolmoyne Couriers also employs office personnel and a full-time mechanic who operates the company’s fully equipped workshop. Among Coolmoyne’s most experienced drivers are Joe Allen, Chris Boles and Tom Cummins and Richie Whelan who fills managing director Sean Murphy’s shoes when he’s on holidays.

Kevin Power servicing one of the Coolmoyne fleet

Both Bill and Sean have been approached on numerous occasions down the years by national courier networks with a view to entering into reciprocal sub-contracting arrangements. However, they have always rejected the temptation in the interest of their customers.
“We are a family-run business with a very loyal customer base. We aren’t interested in sub-contracting other people’s work or giving out our work to sub-contractors. We would rather focus on our own customers and servicing their requirements,” Bill explains.
Another cornerstone of the company’s success has been honesty, according to Bill: “Customers respect honesty, even if you are telling them something they don’t particularly want to hear. They want to know where they stand so they can make alternative arrangements.”

Coolmoyne Couriers carries everything from a small parcel to a pallet for a host of companies operating across a multitude of sectors. The cargo may vary, but the high level of service offered is the same with all collections and deliveries.
The company also prides itself on the appearance of its fleet and places great store in corporate image. All vehicles are perfectly turned out and are resplendent in their distinct blue and gold livery.
“They are painted in the Tipperary GAA colours. The livery is plain and simple and effective. We have our own washing bay here on site and the trucks are washed regularly. Our customers expect that their goods will be delivered in a nice, clean truck,” Bill adds.
The company’s “one man, one truck” policy ensures that the fleet is kept in pristine condition.
“As far as possible, we keep the same driver on the same truck. That means the drivers take care of their vehicles. When drivers are continuously swapping and changing vehicles, it is that much harder to keep them neat and tidy,” he adds.
Bill is glowing in his praise of his team of drivers and has no hesitation in saying they have played a major part in the company’s success.

“They are all long-serving and play a vital part in the running of the company. When drivers come to us, they tend to stay with us.
“We put great trust in our drivers and allow them to get on with their job. They know our customers and their requirements, which is vitally important.
“Some of our customers have been with us since the very early days, which speaks volumes for the type of operation we are running.”
Add in a modern, well-presented fleet of trucks and vans, manned by friendly and ultra-reliable staff, and the reasons for the company’s ongoing success are apparent.
For further information about Coolmoyne Couriers and the services it provides, telephone 052-31502 or fax 052-31505.