Moving with the times November 2009

Moving with the times

Longevity is one of the keys to success when it comes to business and McArdle’s Test Centre has the experience to know what it takes in this regard.

With over 25 years experience in the industry, the McArdle’s team are one of the most highly trained in the country and given their large customer base, it is easy to see that their reputation precedes them.
Office manager Margo Mitchell spoke to Irish Trucker about the changes made to the business in recent years, while she reveals why the company has remained in such high esteem for so long.
Margo and garage manager Jim Lennon continue to run the business for owner Joe McArdle. In recent years the guidelines for testing has changed dramatically and due to this McArdle’s upgraded the premises to meet all the necessary legislation put in place by the Department of Transport.

Based on the Coes Road, Dundalk, McArdles have state-of-the-art technology to help improve their quality of work and any failure will be found down to the very last percent, while they always keep up to the most modern standards.
“We have brought everything up to the guide lines. People are now obliged to be able to see the test in operation and we have installed a camera system in the waiting room to allow this,” said Margo.
“There has been a significant investment made on the business and new signage was put up as well as other areas that had to be brought up to spec.”
The development of DOE testing has proven a vital part of the company’s progression. For some time the restrictions imposed on testing meant that only vehicles up to a certain weight could be tested. Now those weight limits have been increased. This means that the firm has greater access when it comes to offering the service.

The introduction of penalty points for failing to have a vehicle tested has resulted in a huge increase in the request for tests, but Margo revealed that they have now caught up with the backlog.
“At one stage the waiting list was a month long, but now we have it down to a week. Hauliers will receive five penalty points for failing to test a vehicle that is on the road and this saw a huge increase in tests.
“We are available to carry out DOE tests six days a week. We endeavour as much as possible to fit in a test to suit our customers busy time schedules. Also, if we find that something is wrong with a particular vehicle at the DOE test stage, our adjoining service department can usually offer the option of repairing the fault on the same day and re-testing on the same day.
“It is only in the past few years with the increased volume of commercial vehicles the demand for D.O.E testing became so heavy and we also specialise in related services such as the supply and fit and calibrations of tachographs, chassis plate measures and install and calibrate speed limiters.

"These days there are far more commercial vehicles on the roads and so we are kept busy all the time. The trucks have to meet certain standards and the tests are run to a very high standard.
“Our valued customers have helped us greatly by recommending us to others. Word of mouth has been a great thing for us for some time but there is room for us to be able to increase our sales and overall services. There is always potential to develop a business like this,” she added.
"We generally test one HGV and one LGV an hour or 16 vehicles a day, which is a decent ratio and it is our aim not to hold onto the trucks for any longer than necessary, but no corners will be cut with regards to testing the vehicle. We have set ourselves very high standards and to maintain those, we have to continue a high level of efficiency. This is just standard procedure, we have guidelines to follow and that is what we do," stressed Margo.

McArdle’s customer base covers the majority of the north-east to include Louth, south Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath. Their location is beneficial for many reasons including the fact that commercial vehicles sold from Northern Ireland in the Republic must undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the Department of the Environment.
"Our aim is to test vehicles to the highest standard and ensure the road worthiness of each vehicle. If a vehicle undergoing a test is found to be in need of minor repair work, McArdles will assist in anyway they can.
"Due to the nature of some of our customers’ busy schedules and long working hours, we will endeavour to facilitate anyone who cannot bring their vehicle to us during normal working hours.
“We are delighted to be so busy at the moment. Our aim is to hold on to what we have and hopefully build up the customer base even further. We haven’t taken on any new contracts, but still maintain a large core of private work.”