Kevin Devlin Transport celebrates 30th anniversary

Kevin Devlin Transport Ltd in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow is celebrating 30 years in business. And Irish Trucker & Light Commercials couldn’t let the occasion pass without talking to the man himself, Kevin Devlin.

Kevin Devlin behind his desk in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow

2009 is a landmark year for Kevin Devlin Transport which is celebrating 30 years in business.
And while the Co. Wicklow-based company hasn’t been immune from the recession, it remains a busy concern, counting such reputable companies as SIAC, Sorohan Builders, O’Reilly Builders, SM Morris Ltd, Bestcon Civil Engineering and Shannon Valley Plant Hire among its long list of clients.

Initially established as an international haulage company, Kevin Devlin Transport now specialises in quarrying, site clearance, contract crushing, demolition and plant hire. The company, which also offers a low-loader service, prides itself on providing its customers with a top-quality, reliable service that offers exceptional value for money.

“We specialise in a number of things,” says managing director Kevin Devlin.
“We offer site clearance, plant hire and demolition services and also supply all sorts of crushed stone and aggregates. While most of our customers are from the construction sector, we also get a lot of business from farmers and people building their own houses.

Kevin Devlin has a fleet of 15 tipper trucks

“We appreciate all the business we get and strive to give our customers the best possible service,” he adds.
While the company is based in Woodstock, Kilcoole, its quarry is located eight miles away at Mullinaveige, Roundwood. Kevin is currently awaiting planning permission to extend use of the quarry, which is two-thirds exhausted.
“The quarry is 12 acres in total and we have applied to Wicklow County Council to extend its usage. Fingers crossed, we’ll get the green light and will be able to start quarrying on the remainder of the site shortly,” he says.

In the early days, Kevin Devlin Transport was an international haulage company. But after branching into site excavation and plant hire in the early 1980s, Kevin eventually decided to phase out the overseas operation.
“The international haulage business was quite successful, but it also involved long hours and huge mileage. You were never at home and there’s only so long you can stick that kind of a lifestyle. We had a contract to transport beef from Ireland to the US forces in Germany and Italy, but when that went, we decided to wind up that side of the business. So since about 1990, we’ve been specialising in what we do now,” Kevin explains.

Kevin Devlin Transport specialises in quarrying, site clearance and plant hire among other things

After the building boom of the past 10 years or so, Kevin admits that the onset of the recession has hit his business hard. Kevin is brutally honest in his assessment of the situation when he says: “I’ve never seen it as bad.
“We’re 30 years in business and this has been the toughest year without a shadow of a doubt. Things have gone very slow, we had to let 10 lads go recently, and our staff has dropped from 50 down to 32 over the past couple of years. We’ve had 10 trucks parked up since Christmas and there’s not a thing we can do about it. You can’t even sell any plant or trucks because they’re worth very little in the current climate.

“It’s a very tough time for anyone in business, especially for a company like us that’s so reliant on the construction industry. We’re after taking a lot of hits, what with companies going into liquidation, not being able to pay and so on. But we are fortunate in that we still have a lot of excellent customers who have remained loyal to us through thick and thin
“It’s been a tough time for us, but it’s a case of trying to ride out this storm and keep going.”

Kevin has a 15-strong fleet of tipper trucks, as well as three low loaders. He owns numerous other plant, including excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks and crushing and screening equipment. Most the plant is also available for hire.
Scania and MAN are the preferred truck with Kevin Devlin Transport.
“We’ve always bought Scania and MAN because it’s easy enough to source spare parts for them. They are also a good reliable truck and are fairly economical. But, as I already said, trucks at the moment aren’t worth anything like what they were a few years ago,” he explains.

Caroline Hempinstall at her desk

On a different subject, Kevin believes his line of work is in danger of becoming bogged down in bureaucracy and red tape, and is calling on the various Government departments and local authorities to show some “common sense” to get the country moving again.
“One thing that has become very noticeable to me in recent years has been the Government’s obsession with regulations. Some of the regulations have become way too stringent.

“We are being effectively treated the same as a waste disposal company, which we’re certainly are not. We now need permits to tip topsoil and subsoil. It’s hard to believe it’s got to this stage. A little bit of common sense wouldn’t go amiss.”
Kevin attributes his company’s success and longevity to the quality of service it provides and its competitive rates.

He concludes by saying: “We’ve a very good working relationship with our customers and hopefully this will remain the case for many years to come. The recession is affecting everyone at the moment, but it won’t last forever and we’re looking to the future with optimism.”
For more information about Kevin Devlin Transport Ltd and the services it offers, telephone 01-2874912 or fax 01-2871340.