For livestock transportation and heavy haulage, you won’t find better than Hinde!
05/03/2026
Specialising in livestock transportation and heavy haulage, Hinde Exports is an industry-leading second-generation family business operating across the continent and nationwide from its Newcastle, Dublin 22 base.
At the heart of the business is a stunning, immaculately presented fleet of trucks and trailers allied to a professional, respectful service, invariably delivered with a smile.
For more than four decades, Hinde Exports has been synonymous with the highest level of livestock haulage around Ireland, Europe and sometimes further afield. This renowned family operation has also recently opened up a dedicated heavy haulage arm (Hinde Low Loader) and is going from strength to strength across the board.
Zac Hinde oversees HLL and is also a director of Hinde Exports, alongside his older brothers James and Josh. Reflecting on the genesis of the successful, longstanding family business, he told Irish Trucker:
“The business was originally started up by my Dad, Charles Hinde, who was a sheep dealer. In 1984, he started dealing sheep abroad and from there he went into dealing cattle. It just grew from there. He stopped the sheep after a while and has been focused on cattle ever since.”
There’s a long tradition of working with livestock in the family’s DNA – Charles’ Dad Gerry worked as an auctioneer at Maynooth Mart back in the day – so they leave no stone unturned in ensuring that every animal is treated with the utmost respect and care, and travels in total comfort and safety.
“We pride ourselves on running a nice fresh fleet and this is particularly important in livestock transportation,” says Zac. “Inside all of our livestock trailers, we have fans and water and temperature monitoring system and also straw for the cows to sleep on. We keep the trailers very clean inside and outside and the animals are always very comfortable.
“It’s important that the trucks and trailers are clean and presentable when they are on the road or going through the Port and that only happy and healthy cattle arrive at the farm or their final destination.
“For whatever reason, people look down on livestock transport, but they don’t understand how professional it is and how well these animals are treated. We treat them with serious respect and that’s why we have such a good reputation in this line of work.”
Going back to the natural evolution of the business as the second generation started to get involved, Zac continues: “As Dad got older, my oldest brother James joined and became more and more involved in the day-to-day running of the business. Hinde Exports blossomed and we started to go to France, Italy and all over Europe – out as far as Turkey, Tunisia and even Morocco.”
Maybe not as exotic as it might sound? “Well, drivers are a different breed of people as I’m sure your readers know and they are one-of-a-kind. While long journeys might not be for everybody, the drivers embrace them and the experiences that go with them – like seeing donkeys or camels walking up the middle of a road. Where else will you get an experience like that at work?
“We also had the honour of transporting bison into Tayto Park for the late Ray Coyle, who was a friend of ours, and that was a unique job to get and an enjoyable one.”
The business has continued to grow and expand down through the years. At 27, Zac is the youngest of the three brothers who run Hinde Export today, with Charles still very much involved behind the scenes. “Josh drives the rigid crane lorry and James is office-based; both are directors. Dad is still here, too, and you’d be lost without him.
“A very good friend of ours, John O’Hagan, is Transport Manager. John has been with us a long time. He started as a driver and then wanted to stay at home more, so we appointed him Transport Manager. He’s like family to us.”
Zac is hands-on and drives himself and also oversees the four step frame low loaders comprising the heavy haulage wing of the business, Hinde Low Loader (HLL), which was set up recently. “We decided to expand into heavy haulage because livestock transport can be seasonal and can also be impacted by the weather and other factors causing boats not to sail. Hinde Low Loader has been going very well for us, thankfully.”
As well as the aforementioned HIAB lorry and four low loaders, the trailer fleet also comprises twelve livestock trailers and three curtainsiders. There are 15 units in the truck fleet – twelve Scanias and three Renaults. The Scania trucks are sourced from Delaney Commercials in Naas, while Setanta in Blanchardstown is Hinde’s Renault dealer of choice.
This year alone, Hinde Exports took possession of a pair of stunning brand-new Scania 660S A4x2SBs as well as two new Renault T High 520s. As the Hindes continue to replenish their fantastic-looking and brilliantly performing fleet, three more brand-new units are on order for 2026!
“I appreciate that my clients are putting their faith in me and I tend to make a good impression with spotless, clean, fresh trucks and by making it clear that I’m happy to be there and glad to have the work,” Zac notes. “There’s a lot of negativity in this industry, but we try to be positive and we make it clear that we are happy to be there and looking forward to the work.
“Everything is geared towards having a happy face when you go into these places. We are genuinely glad to help and to work with people and we appreciate every job we get. In return, we look after all our customers and give them the best possible service. This includes being easy to talk to and mannerly over the phone.
“I’d like to think that we’re known for the genuine personal touch we give our customers. At the end of the day, in this line of work, you wouldn’t have a business without your customers and their cargo, so the very least you can do is look after them, appreciate them and respect them.”
Hinde Exports,
Milltown,
Newcastle,
Dublin 22.
Tel: 01 6214273
Mobile: 087 6848553
Email: [email protected]
Web: hindexports.ie
First published in Irish Trucker magazine January/February 2026, Vol 29-1
