Culletion Transport gets the cream

19/08/2016

Culletion Transport Ltd has been providing a top-class milk collection and delivery service for Glanbia since 2002. The family-run business collects over one million litres of raw milk from nearly 300 dairy farms in counties Carlow, Wicklow and Kilkenny each year.

Based in Ballymurphy, Borris, Co. Carlow, Culletion Transport became a limited company in 2006, having operated as a sole trader for four years prior to that. It is run by husband-and-wife Lar and Margaret Culleton with the help of their son Laurence. Laurence’s siblings JJ and Celia also assist from time to time.

Lar has been involved in the transport industry for many years. He hauled containers into and out of Rosslare Harbour for P&O Ferries in the 1990s and also did some relief work for Glanbia before securing his first farm-to-creamery contract with the Kilkenny-headquartered dairy giant in the Rathdrum and Carnew areas of Co. Wicklow.

Lar has since taken on a number of other milk collection runs spanning three counties. His seven-strong fleet of bulk collection vehicles cover an area from Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny to Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, and from Arklow, Co. Wicklow back across to Bagenalstown and Ballon in Co. Carlow.

Culletion Transport calls to 293 farms every second day, who between them, supply over one million litres of milk to Glanbia per annum.

The milk is delivered to Glanbia’s dairy processing facilities in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, Wexford, Virginia, Co. Cavan and Belview, Co. Kilkenny. The new state-of-the-art Belview facility, which is located on the Kilkenny-Waterford border, is the largest single infrastructure investment in Ireland by an indigenous company since the construction of Ardnacrusha on the River Shannon in 1929.

“We’ve been collecting exclusively for Glanbia since 2002,” Lar explains.

“We started with a small run in Rathdrum and Carnew, and grew from there. We’re collecting milk closer to home now which is great from a convenience point of view. We’re busier than we ever were. Since the EU quota was lifted earlier this year, there is more milk to be collected. There is no such thing as a quiet time anymore.”

The Culleton fleet is made up of four Volvo and three Scania. The newest addition is a 151-registered Scania R500, which was purchased from KD (Garage) Services in Drinagh, Co. Wexford. The trucks pull six high-tech collection tankers, which are supplied by Glanbia and bear the Glanbia livery. 

The bulk tankers are designed to reduce milk collection times on farm and automate the secure transfer of information needed to pay farmers for the milk collected. The tankers boast state-of-the-art technologies such as GPS supplier recognition, data transfer by satellite and GSM. They are equipped to pump up to 57,000 litres of milk per hour, reducing collection time on farm and allowing for a more efficient operation overall.

While Glanbia maintain the tankers themselves, the trucks are maintained and serviced by Laurence Culleton Jnr. Laurence is a qualified mechanic who served his time with Pender’s Garage in Bunclody, Co. Wexford.  For bigger repairs, the trucks are sent to either KD (Garage) Services or McCarthy Commercials in Kilkenny. Culletion Transport employs seven full-time drivers and 12 at peak times. It goes without saying the drivers are highly-skilled, efficient, reliable and courteous. Indeed, Lar is very proud of the fact that they are on first-name terms with their customers and enjoy a great rapport with them.

Lar is also proud to be associated with one of Ireland’s biggest and most successful companies. With deep roots in the dairy industry, Glanbia has a turnover of over €3.5 billion per annum, almost 6,000 employees and a presence in 34 countries worldwide. Its vision is to be one of the world’s top performing nutrition companies, trusted to enrich lives every day.

“They are a great company to work for,” he says.

“Glanbia enjoys a terrific reputation all over the world. We’ve had a very good working relationship with them since 2002 and please God that relationship will continue for many more years to come.”

Culletion Transport has developed and expanded by providing a professional, prompt and friendly service. Through ongoing investment and training, it has certainly come a long way in a little over a decade.

Culletion Transport Ltd
Tinnecarrig, Ballymurphy, Borris, Co. Carlow.
Telephone: 059 9773378
Mobile: 087 6792242
Email: [email protected]

Taken from Irish Trucker & Light Commercials magazine, Vol 18 No 9, November 2015