THE BEST OF IRISH

25th September 2003, Page 62

25th September 2003

Page 62

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Page 62, 25th September 2003 — THE BEST OF IRISH

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Are you a haulier in the Republic of Ireland? Enter this years Irish Road Transport Awards!

If you're out to prove you are the best haulier in the Republic of Ireland there's no better way than to enter the Road llansport Awards 2004. Now in their sixth year. the awards were launched in 1999 arid have up to now been supported by Commercial Motor, through its Irish supplement Commercial Motor Ireland.

And since CM has taken the decision to relaunch itself at the heart of Britain and Ireland's road transport industry, we're running the awards in CM this year.

As previous winners have told CM,the awards have had an undisputed positive effect on their businesses We'll be profiling shortlisted candidates in coming months Operators have until 14 November to enter, and winners will be announced at next Easter's annual conference of the Irish Road Haulage Association. PREVIOUS WINNERS 1999: HAULIER OF THE YEAR: Sean Delaney & Sons The inaugural competition winner was this Glarnnire, Cork-based reefer specialist . Sean Delaney has since served a two-year term as president of the IRHA. At the time of winning, the company had doubled the size of its fleet from eight vehicles to 16 within two years—a result of its relationship with bakery company Cuisine De France, which specialises in supplying retailers with part-baked bread and pastries Most of the company's business is international, and included significant exports of Irish meat and imports of raw material such as flour for the French-style bakery products produced by Cuisine De France.

2000: HAULIER OF THE YEAR: Freightshift Services In its winning year Limerick-based Freightshift Services reported a boom in interne shopping, the record seeing the company handling 800 deliveries in a 24-hour period.

"That's where I see the most growth coming from," says director Sean Murtagh."I think that traditionally people in our business shied away from that type of operation but, realistically, it's where the future is going to be."

The company's emphasis on good driver training has since led it to develop its own training company which can offer courses to third parties.

Murtagh says that winning the award created a great deal of interest from potential new customers; he is on the management committee of the IRHA.

2001: HAULIER OF THE YEAR: Wilson Transport

NATIONAL HAULIER OF THE YEAR (five trucks plus): Wilson Transport INTERNATIONAL HAULIER OFTHE YEAR: Caffrey International NATIONAL HAULIER (one to five trucks): P Hayes

2002: HAULIER OF THE YEAR: O'Donovan Transport (Cork)

A Cork-based operation specialising in fish exports to France and Spain with other clients in the meat and food industries; director Pat O'Donovan is international in outlook.The company operates a direct service to Brittany in conjunction with Norfolk Line. "We find we have to work in cooperation with more and more people. We also have to look at Europe as our place of business rather than just a particular country in Europe," says O'Donovan who is chairman of the IRHA's Cork branch. 2002: NATIONAL HAULIER OFTHE YEAR: K&L Deliveries INTERNATIONAL HAULIER OF THE YEAR: O'Donovan Transport (Cork) OWNER-DRIVER/SMALL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR: McCabe Tiansport BEST NEWCOMER OFTHE YEAR: Tennyson-Treacy International SPECIAL SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY. Gerry McMahon

2003: HAULIER OF THE YEAR: Cargocare Based in Dublin, Cargocare is headed by Liam Brewer and is a truly family run-outfit with nine members of the Brewer family working for the operation.

The company specialises in national distribution services to Irish industry and a network of transport companies in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Italy: customers can access proof of delivery documents from the company's website. "Winning Haulier of the Year had a terrific impact and is a real validation for the drivers who look after their equipment so well," says Liam Brewer. -We hope it will open some doors."

Earlier this year the firm received a visit from a delegation of operators from Finland's haulage association, eager to see a line example of best practice in operation 2003: NATIONAL I IA.ULIER OFTHE YEAR:Cargocare INTERNATIONAL HAULIER OFTHE YEAR: Hughes Transport OWNER-OPERATOR OFTHE YEAR: Tennyson-Treacy International SPECIAL SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY: Sheila McCabe IRHA COUNCIL MEMBER OFTHE YEAR: Frank Whitten

SPECIAL SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY 2003: SHEILA McCABE

McCabe has been involved with the IRHA since 1990 and served as president from 1993-95. She organises the annual conference and serves on the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, which allows Irish hauliers a voice on the level of insurance premiums.

"Winning this award is a great honour and I was thrilled. It's lovely to get recognition for what you've done," says McCabe.

McCabe's forward thinking during her presidency contributed to her win—she was an early champion of consignor liability law (introduced in 1999) and eager to embrace the challenges of Europe, with many visits to Brussels during her term.

Her continuing commitment to the IRHA was greatly admired by the judges.

2002: GERRY McMAHON

I RHA president from 1999 to 2001, McMahon 's leadership of the association during the September 1999 fuel protests won him a lot of admirers both inside and outside the industry.

Irish hauliers took the risky decision to stage public demonstrations and a nationwide convoy in protest at soaring fuel costs. McMahon recognised the risk involved.

At the time he said; "The public could have dismissed us as militant truckers or supported our cause."

In the end, the strategy paid off with the government agreeing to temper fuel duty in the budget and set up a number of multi-agency task forces to address hauliers' legitimate grievances. •