Common sense never tyres

Any prudent businessman knows the folly of placing his eggs in one basket. It’s always best to have a back-up plan, a contingent component of the operation to increase the chances of survival and – dare I say it? - prosperity. Laois man Kieran Mooney diversified his haulage business by setting up Waste Tyre Collection Service last year – and he hasn’t looked back.

The genesis of WTCS has given Kieran Mooney Haulage a whole new demension

Most economic plans and business strategies are no more than common sense hidden behind big words and needless jargon. Business is a part of life and the same rules apply to both: exercise caution; be practical; treat people well; don’t push your luck. An effective manual on sound business practise could probably be written on the back of a postage stamp. In two sets of three words: ‘Follow your instincts’ and ‘use your head’.

Kieran Mooney is one of those operators who is constantly re-assessing his company and its position in the greater scheme of things. He’s flexible, sensible and honest with himself and with others. It’s working so far and it has led to the genesis of Waste Tyre Collection Service (WTCS), which is providing an important service to clients and the environment alike.

Kieran Mooney Haulage Limited was established in 1990. In March of 2007, the eponymous founder/proprietor also set up WTCS to fill a niche in the waste services market. The new concern has done extremely well since its inception and Kieran is confident that the future is bright. Indeed, there is every possibility that the fully-permitted waste tyre side of the business will gradually account for a bigger and bigger percentage of the overall operation.

Kieran, Kathleen and Donal Mooney; Kieran Mooney Haulage provides a flexible and sensible service

So how does the new tyre collection business work, then? “Basically, I collect waste tyres from customers and bring them all back to my base [between Durrow and Ballyragget in County Laois]. Once I have a large volume of tyres gathered, I bring them to Crumb Rubber in Dundalk or one of the other tyre recycling businesses in Ireland,” Kieran explains.
It’s an end solution that suits everybody as waste tyres are recycled into a whole host of new products.

Outside of his native patch, Kieran – who runs the family business alongside his wife Kathleen - carries all the relevant waste collection permits from Carlow County Council, Kilkenny County Council, North and South Tipperary County Councils, Waterford County Council, Wicklow County Council, Wexford County Council, Longford County Council, Offaly County Council and Westmeath County Council.
A lot of business is generated through word of mouth, while an advertising campaign has recently been undertaken to promote the new branch of the business and Kieran also physically calls into yards to let people know about the service he’s providing. There’s nothing like dealing with people on a one-to-one basis.

Kenneth Mooney doing his bit for the family business

Tyres are collected in a small truck, which can accommodate up to 500 car tyres. These are then loaded into a 45-ft curtainsiders for delivery to Dundalk. To increase the viability of the journey, a backload is usually secured from somewhere in the North.
Kieran runs his company very much in a hands-on manner. Regarding his move into this line of work, he explains: “I’ve done some haulage for Midland Environmental and it was through that that I became involved in the tyre collection.” He got into this line of work at just the right time too! “As of January 1 this year, tyres can only be given to an authorised collector such as ourselves,” he notes.
Kieran operates six trucks – three Scania and three DAF – as well as a small Caddy van, a small rigid (DAF) and an assortment of trailers. Kieran Mooney Haulage Ltd. does a lot of container work out of Waterford Port and also specialises in the transportation of steel sheeting, predominantly from Duggan Steel Services, Kilkenny. In addition to the containers and the steel, he also squeezes in a little general haulage when it is profitable to do so.

With a mechanic on hand, Kieran looks after all his own servicing and fleet maintenance on site in the company yard.
The operator places a major emphasis on customer satisfaction and this is probably the main reason why he is so popular within the industry. He leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that customers receive a perfect solution every time, which generates a steady flow of repeat custom as well as positive recommendations. Once you provide a service that people can depend upon, you won’t go far wrong in the haulage sector!

At present, the company employs a team of six but there’s every opportunity this number could rise in the coming years. Looking to the future, Kieran notes: “We have diversified into the tyres now and I can see us focusing more and more on that area. I think it’s the way forward. There’s an opening there and it’s a part of the business we’re hoping to grow over the next two or three years. We have set up a website, www.wtcs.ie, which is also important in this day and age. Hopefully, that’ll prove useful to customers and will attract more business.”

By exploring and embracing new opportunities, Kieran Mooney continues to provide a top class service. Everyone’s a winner…
Waste Tyre Collection Service
Earlsgarden,
Attanagh,
County Laois
Tel: 057 8736658
Fax: 057 8736654
Mobile: 086 2541226
email: kmooneyhaulage@yahoo.ie
www.wtcs.ie