The vehicle recovery specialists

Kelly Motor Services’ recovery trucks have become a familiar sight on both the M50 and M11 motorways in the past couple of years. The Co. Wicklow-based company’s managing director Eamon Kelly explains more.

The Kelly Motor ServicesÕ recovery fleet

While the new barrier-free tolling system and the addition of extra lanes have greatly reduced traffic congestion on the M50, the role played by Kelly Motor Services in keeping the traffic flowing has been equally significant.
On November 2007, the Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow-based company was awarded the inaugural M50 and M11 Motorway vehicle recovery service contract by the National Roads Authority (NRA). The aim of the service is to minimise traffic disruption caused by broken-down vehicles, especially during peak hours, and there is no doubt that Kelly Motor Services, which trades as KFG Ltd, has excelled in this regard.

On obtaining the contract, the company took delivery of four brand new vehicles from Boniface Engineering, and it has since added a fifth dedicated recovery vehicle to cater for the increase in broken-down vehicles. The five vehicles – two Mitsubishi, two Renault and one MAN – are fitted with state-of-the-art lifting and recovery equipment, which comply with Recovery Industry Engineering Standards.

Kelly Motor ServicesÕ recovery trucks are a familiar sight on the M50

“We’ve recently added another assist truck on the M50 to keep up with the volume of calls we are receiving,” Kelly Motor Services’ managing director Eamon Kelly explains.
“An average of 18-20 vehicles break down every day after running out of fuel, getting punctures or more serious mechanical faults, but obviously some days are busier than others for us. Some days we’d be literally run off our feet, so having a fifth truck has helped to take the pressure off us.
“Even though the volume of traffic on the M50 is down due to the recession, the volume of calls has increased because there is more scope for speeding. And when speed is involved, there’s going to be more crashes and accidents.”
Eamon was forced to draft in an extra eight recovery vehicles last February when heavy snowfall threatened to bring M50 traffic to a standstill.
“We had 13 trucks on duty during the snow,” he remembers.

Kelly Motor ServicesÕ attends to an overturned truck on the M50

“It was a case of all hands on deck to keep the traffic moving. The road would have been impassable if we hadn’t brought in the extra trucks and personnel. Whatever it took to keep the road open, we were prepared to do it.”
The recovery vehicles are strategically located along the M50. There are two at the Toll Plaza (Southbound) and one each at the Toll Plaza (Northbound), Junction 17 and Junction 4 (Ballymun Exit).
The service can be activated by means of a free phone number which is manned by M50 Concessions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This number (1800 77 50 50) is displayed along the M50 Motorway. The service is free of charge, including a 24-hour storage period after which time a charge is incurred. Estimated response times average 15 to 20 minutes.

Kelly Motor Services was awarded the M50 recovery service contract in 2007

Each recovery vehicle is manned by 24 hours a day, seven days a week highly-trained and skilled personnel.
The NRA has always provided a vehicle recovery service along the active construction sites on the M50, but to maximise its effectiveness from a traffic management point of view, they have expanded the service for coverage along the M50 and M11 corridor. Recovery vehicles are now patrolling the entire corridor from Dublin Airport as far south as Bray, in addition to the identified stations along the route.
It came as no surprise when Kelly Motor Services was awarded the M50 and M11 contract as not only has it the expertise and experience to deal with the contract, but its client list is impressive to say the least.

“The business was founded in 1976 by my brother Liam, who has remained a director along with my sister Eilish. My son Keith is also involved now. Over the years, we have built up a successful business and now employ 24 staff. We also have 29 trucks, including three new additions,” Eamon says.
“We have contracts with blue-chip companies such as the AA, AXA and RAC. We also have contracts with Dublin Metropolitan Police East, North Wicklow Police, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin Airport where we have responsibility for towing away illegally parked vehicles on both the airside and landside.

An overturned truck is about to be lifted

“The work we do with the gardai can vary from picking up abandoned vehicles to store vehicles in forensic sheds that we have.”
Eamon has seen many changes in the recovery industry over the years with new legislations being introduced on a regular basis. But despite the extra paperwork involved, he feels the changes have been for the better.
“Certainly, the introduction of more stringent laws has helped remove the ‘cowboy’ from this industry and anyone trying to get into the business has to have the proper certificates in place. Before this, a lot of operators were not properly covered with the right insurance, but that can’t happen now.”

Kelly Motor Services prides itself on having the most highly-trained and qualified staff in the Irish vehicle recovery industry. Indeed, each operator received his training from the IFRS Recovery Federation & Training Centre which is run by Eamon and Derek Beahan from a new 44,000 sq ft facility adjacent to Kelly Motor Services’ depot in Kilmacanogue.

The Training Centre was first brought to Ireland by Derek in 2003, having had its genesis in Europe several years previous to this.
“All the hard work we put into setting up the Centre paid off when Boniface Engineering approached us to train and do live demonstrations in Europe. The first course in Budapest was a great success,” Eamon explains.
“IFRS Ireland was formed with Derek and I as directors, Brian Drury as company secretary, while trustees from all over Ireland and UK have also come on board.”