OLIVER TRANSPORT. SERVICES Diversification the Key to Success

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "OLIVER TRANSPORT. SERVICES Diversification the Key to Success"

Eustacia Robinson
5 years ago
Views:

This Coleraine headquartered family run company has just opened up a new state of the art workshop and warehousing unit on the Northbrook Industrial Estate on the outskirts of the town, and within

1 in profile OLIVER TRANSPORT SERVICES Diversification the Key to Success It may not be the best of times in the haulage industry, but some companies like Oliver Transport Services are proving to be an exception, thanks in no small measure to forward planning and diversification. This Coleraine headquartered family run company has just opened up a new state of the art workshop and warehousing unit on the Northbrook Industrial Estate on the outskirts of the town, and within shouting distance of its main administrative base on the Ballycastle Road Industrial Estate. The 20,000 sq ft premises boasts all the latest servicing and maintenance equipment that enables it to handle anything from a family saloon car to a 44 tonne artic truck, and already business is brisk. 44 Oliver Transport Services operates over 30 tractor units and around 70 trailers comprising curtainsiders, flats, extendable flats, tankers, euroliners and low loaders, specialising in a number of diverse areas, including the movement of timber, steel, palletised goods, concrete products, hazardous goods and light/heavy machinery. It has also recently moved into the waste management sector. The company was founded by Willie Oliver more than three decades ago. He s no stranger to the transport industry; 15th Mar - 15th Apr 2009 Oliver Transport 8pgs.indd 44 12/03/ :39

And, of course, he won Transport Personality of the Year at the recent Export & Freight All Ireland Transport & Logistics Awards, so there s no one who knows more about the industry than Willie

Oliver Transport's new Maha brake testing unit We already did a lot of outside vehicle repair and recovery work, apart from maintaining our own fleet, and this new workshop will enable us to expand

2 in profile indeed, he s been one of the leading lights, being a past National Chairman of the Road Haulage Association. Over the last 10 years with the RHA, he has also acted as Northern Ireland chairman, and Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional Chairman. And, of course, he won Transport Personality of the Year at the recent Export & Freight All Ireland Transport & Logistics Awards, so there s no one who knows more about the industry than Willie Oliver, whose son Andrew joined him in the family business six years ago as General Manager. Oliver Transport's new Maha brake testing unit We already did a lot of outside vehicle repair and recovery work, apart from maintaining our own fleet, and this new workshop will enable us to expand this side of the business, says Andrew. We have installed a new Maha brake testing unit, the same as you d find at an MoT Centre, and we have a new inspection pit that is also on a par with MoT specifications, together with a qualified team of diesel fitters capable of working on all makes of trucks. The workshop operates Monday to Saturday and is supported by a 24/7 call out service, meaning customers can get assistance as and when it is needed by simply making a phone call. We also undertake recovery call outs for other repair shops around the country, says Andrew. We ve always serviced and maintained our own 30 strong transport fleet but having outgrown our former facility at Castlerock we needed somewhere more spacious and jumped at the chance when this site came on the market, adds Andrew. It is certainly a spacious site, with more than ample room to accommodate drop trailers, while the adjoining secure warehouse is used to store overnight groupage. Growing It s the latest stage in the growth of Oliver Transport Services, which currently employs a 25-strong team of drivers, and follows on from last year s strategic acquisition of P.J O Kane Transport, which presented the company with the opportunity to provide an even better service to new and existing customers, covering the UK mainland and Ireland. Comments Willie Oliver: O Kane Transport was a very well run business with a wide customer base specialising in abnormal loads. In addition, the general haulage side of the business included a UK-wide refrigerated traffic operation, so it gave us the chance to expand our services, having always mainly focused on the Irish market th Mar - 15th Apr 2009

3 TOMMY OLIVER TYRE SERVICE LTD and The perfect combination for all your commercial vehicle & car tyre needs All popular commercial vehicle tyre sizes and patterns stocked Fitting at our depots in Limavady and Ballymoney Breakdown Service Oliver Tyres 12 Mill Place, Limavady, County Londonderry BT49 0BJ Tel: Knock Rd, Ballymoney, County Antrim BT53 6LX Tel: Oliver Tyres fp ad.indd 1 13/03/ :31

other companies. Some drivers are also ADR approved to carry hazardous goods and there s an in-house Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor.

4 in profile Drivers The company prides itself on adhering to strict industry standards. All of its 25 drivers are fully trained and one of them is currently being trained up to become an in-house CPC instructor, with the possibility of offering that training service to drivers with other companies. Some drivers are also ADR approved to carry hazardous goods and there s an in-house Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. The company also analyses all its own tachographs to ensure it continues to run a 100% legal fleet. It takes a long time to build a good reputation in this business and O Kane Transport was a perfect example of this. We had known for some time that Patsy and Jean O Kane wished to retire and as we were looking to acquire increased market share it seemed sensible to talk to them. The takeover went very smoothly. Oliver Transport Services has a close relationship with other transport companies in the Province. We re great believers in working together with other hauliers. We don t mind sharing work; in many instances it is more economical and benefits everyone involved, says Andrew. Waste Management Oliver Transport Services recently moved into the waste management sector, having won a significant contract from Strabane District Council to transport all its domestic waste to the Biffa landfill site in Newtownabbey. It means adding a number of ejector trailers and double drive tractor units and hopefully the contract will enable us to expand this new side of the business in the months ahead, says Andrew. We ve always had a Waste Carriers licence and we believe waste management will play a big part in the future, so we ll be actively seeking more contracts in this area. Other Activities Diversification is obviously a key to Oliver Transport Services continued success; other elements of the Oliver group include a highly successful and well established kitchen manufacturing business trading as Exorna Kitchens, with an extensive showroom on the Ballycastle Road Industrial Estate in Coleraine; it s managed by brother Richard. Indeed, the kitchen business, providing custom designed and manufactured bespoke kitchens, was where it all started for the Oliver family. Today it is busier than ever. Just over three years ago we acquired Coastal Self Drive Ltd., which offers a range of commercial and passenger carrying vehicles and is managed by Andrew th Mar - 15th Apr 2009

Like many businesses today, Oliver Transport Services is treating 2009 as a year of consolidation

The addition of the new workshop and warehousing is part of that strategy.

Est. Coleraine BT52 2EB Tel: 028703 27522 Fax: 028703 54211 info@olivertransport.co.uk www.

THOMPSON supplier of DAF Trucks to Oliver Transport Services From wherever you are to where you want

19 Michelin Road, Hydepark Ind Est, Mallusk, N abbey BT36 4PT Tel: (028) 9034 2001 Fax: (028) 9083

Diviny Drive, Carn Ind Est, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5RH Tel: 028 3839 3300 Fax: 028 3839 1710

5 in profile Of course, if a new business opportunity presents itself we may well take a look at it, says Andrew. You can t have all your eggs in one basket these days. The future As for the future? Like many businesses today, Oliver Transport Services is treating 2009 as a year of consolidation and making sure they are well placed when the upturn comes, whenever that may be. The addition of the new workshop and warehousing is part of that strategy. More Information For more information, contact: Oliver Transport Services Ltd Ballycastle Rd. Ind. Est. Coleraine BT52 2EB Tel: Fax: info@olivertransport.co.uk T.B.F. THOMPSON supplier of DAF Trucks to Oliver Transport Services From wherever you are to where you want to be Managing your Risks in an ever changing world T.B.F. THOMPSON DAF TRUCKS A Division of T.B.F. Thompson (Garvagh) Ltd. 19 Michelin Road, Hydepark Ind Est, Mallusk, N abbey BT36 4PT Tel: (028) Fax: (028) Killyvalley Road, Garvagh, Coleraine BT51 5JZ Tel: (028) Fax: (028) Diviny Drive, Carn Ind Est, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5RH Tel: Fax: Congratulations and Best Wishes to Oliver Transport Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority 8th Floor, Victoria House, Gloucester Street, Belfast BT1 4LS. Tel: th Mar - 15th Apr 2009

6 in profile RK Trucks Centre High Quality Curtainsiders OLIVER TRANSPORT use MAN power Carryduff, Co. Down t. 028 North: +44 (0) South: +353 (0) F Dungannon, Co. Tyrone t. 028 f. 028 Lisahally, Co. L derry t f Kelly Fuels 1-4 ad.pdf 1 13/03/ :54 components your first & last stop for Replacement Parts & Garage Equipment 100,000 car, motorcycle & commercial vehicle replacement parts in stock Quality replacement parts to suit any Vehicle Thirty years experience Approved supplier of tel th Mar - 15th Apr 2009 Oliver Transport 8pgs.indd /03/ :58

Fleet Maintenance and Recovery Services

Fleet Maintenance and Recovery Services We carry 5000 parts in stock at our state-of-the-art workshop 82% of vehicles we attend at the roadside are repaired within 90 mins Mark Foster, Owner of Osborn