Fridge over troubled waters

When economies constrict, the strongest survive. In the current economic climate, only transport companies who provide a top-quality service have any chance of survival. Newry-based McGeown International Ltd. is a case in point: providing a comprehensive, professional and thoroughly reliable refrigerated transport service across Ireland, the UK and Europe, they are here for the long haul!

The McGeown International operation at Rathfriland Road

When it comes to continental haulage, McGeown International Ltd. is clearly in a league of its own. For the best part of 40 years, the renowned Newry-based company has been offering an exceptional service, forging a reputation as an undisputed leader in its chosen field of excellence. Despite the economic downturn, the company is still going strong.
It’s a period of consolidation in the haulage sector and McGeown International is well placed to ride out the storm. Managing director Francis McGeown runs a tight ship and makes sure that any savings are passed on to his strong customer base. Over the years, McGeown International has provided a keen service, using only the best equipment, highly-trained personnel and offering all this to customers Europe-wide at an affordable price.

The team at McGeown International are proven experts in continental refrigerated transport. A safe bet. With a presence all over Europe, the company fleet can be spotted as far afield as Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Spain, France, Slovakia, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy etc., while daily services also run between Ireland and the UK.
McGeown International Ltd was established in 1971 and has expanded from humble beginnings (a single truck) into a leading international haulage company, specialising in refrigerated services, with routes into the heart of mainland Europe. This progression has been achieved through offering excellent (and transparent) levels of customer service, investing in a modern fleet and offering a UK, Ireland and Europe wide service (to both EU and non-EU countries).

Part of the impressive McGeown International fleet

McGeown specialises in all types of refrigerated transport, including chilled, frozen, fresh, ambient and dry products. This comprises all food products as well as pharmaceutical and hazardous goods.
The company is ideally headquartered in Newry, County Down, along the main transport route between Belfast and Dublin with good transport links to ports in Belfast, Dublin and Warrenpoint. A spacious yard offers secure internal and external storage facilities for dry products.
The comprehensive McGeown International fleet is state-of-the-art, manned by a crew of experienced and fully trained drivers. All maintenance is conducted in-house by a team of fully-qualified technicians. All trailers are refrigerated, with a capacity of 33 Euro pallets (with or without dividers). The trailers also contain a self-powered front mount cooling and heating multi-temperature host unit.

Temperature Control is provided via DAS data logger, which records temperatures and ensures the cargo is maintained at the required temperatures. If there is a problem, the data can be downloaded to determine the temperature history of the refrigerated container. Trailers can take the form of single/dual compartment floor loader, in which chilled / frozen consignments or dry goods can be combined.
All vehicles are fitted with mobile telephones and are contactable Europe-wide 24 hours a day. Tracking devices are fitted, to instantly access the exact location of consignments. The punctual delivery service is available 24 hours a say, 365 days of the year, guaranteeing collection and delivery times throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Jimmy OÕHare and Colin McCauley looking after maintenance

A full range of delivery options is offered to meet specific customer requirements, including express deliveries for more urgent consignments. All goods transported by McGeown International Ltd are fully insured by Freight Operators Insurance.
Currently, the fleet comprises ten trucks – a mixture of Volvo, Scania and DAF – as well as 14 refrigerated trailers. The fleet is maintained in top condition at all times, with every effort made to ensure the vehicles are as new and fresh as possible. Three ’08 DAFs and an ’08 Scania were introduced last year. “We try to keep it fresh and clean, but it’s a bit slower than normal at the minute, so we probably won’t invest in any new trucks this year,” notes transport manager Brian Wilson. At peak times, 20 people are employed between drivers, technicians and office staff.

What’s the best way through the recession? “We’re looking out for extra work and we try to get as many backloads as possible. It’s hard for everybody but we’ve been at this a long time and we know what we’re doing. We’re doing everything we can to keep costs down, but margins are tight and you’re coming up against lads who will cut rates so low that they’re running at a loss. It’s lethal at the moment. Everybody in the industry should be working together, not cutting each other’s throats. There’s no point doing work that you can’t make a profit on.”

Garry McGeown with another load for delivery

McGeown International has a lot going for it, however. Unlike most of the competition, they have a glowing reputation and are renowned for excellence nationwide and right across Europe. They have four decades of experience, provide an expert service, look after customers first and foremost, offer security and peace of mind, and deal directly with clients on a person, one-on-one basis.

“People are paying for a service they can depend on and that’s exactly what they get with McGeown International,” Brian concludes. “It’s time to tighten things up and hopefully the recession will pass. We’re getting by and we’re still providing the same quality service we’re renowned for. There are 20 people here and we want to keep them in work.”

McGeown International Ltd.,
67A Rathfriland Road,
Newry,
County Down BT34 1LD
Tel: (028) 3025 1616
Fax: (028) 3025 1617
Email: info@mcgeowninternational.com
www.mcgeowninternational.com