Approaching 50 years in business, Ian Hayes Haulage in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone continues to go from strength to strength by providing unrivalled haulage services across Ireland and the UK.
From humble beginnings in 1977, the family-run business has firmly established itself as a leading transport provider specialising in bulk powder. The company has grown to run a state-of-the-art fleet of trucks and bulk tankers. With their striking blue and white livery, they’re a real head-turner.
For many years, founder Ian Hayes ran the business with his late wife Florence. While Ian is still involved, his son Lloyd now oversees operations with the help of his sister Beverley, who looks after the administration side of things. Ian Hayes Haulage employs a top-class team of drivers who will shortly be joined by Lloyd’s teenage son Jamie, who represents the third generation of the family to get behind the wheel.
“We pride ourselves on being a family business that always goes the extra mile for our customers,” Lloyd says.
“Over the past half-century, we’ve grown to offer a variety of haulage services across Ireland and the UK. With our modern fleet, we promise to get your goods transported efficiently, safely and on time, ensuring you meet any deadlines you may have. With our years of experience, knowledge and expertise, we’re able to fulfil any kind of transport requirements.”
With every load being precious, the Hayes’ are constantly upgrading their fleet. They’re currently running 12 Scania trucks and 25 trailers, including two new Feldbinder tankers which were purchased from Ashbourne Truck Centre in Co. Meath. Feldbinder develops and manufactures customer-specific specialised silo & tanker trailers, including tipping silos, liquid, hazardous, and foodstuff tanks. Feldbinder also manufactures tanks and silos for use in rail & container operation.
“We’re running eight Scania 450s, one 770S, one 730, one 650 and one 620. I drive the 650, my father drives the 770S, which we bought new from Road Trucks in Larne a couple of years ago, and Jamie will drive the 620 when he turns 18 in October,” Lloyd explains.
“We also have three Scania Bull Noses which are retired after each giving 10 years’ service. My father started with 2800 and 3300 DAFs before buying his first Scania – a 143 – in 1991 which he still has. The trailers are mostly tankers. They include 15-16 belly tanks and five tipping tanks. In addition, we have three-four tipping trailers and a handful of skellys.
“We take great pride in the appearance of our vehicles which are regularly maintained and serviced to ensure there is no such thing as downtime. As well as carrying out some of the maintenance ourselves, we send the trucks to Patrick Loughran and the trailers to Gary McMullen. They are two very good local mechanics who help to keep our wheels running smoothly.”
Ian Hayes Haulage boasts a large and loyal client-base that includes Creagh Concrete, Wilson Salt, Northstone Materials, RTU (Ready Mixed Concrete), Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Company and Millburn Concrete, who are also based in Cookstown.
“We enjoy an excellent working relationship with all of our customers,” the affable managing director points out.
“We’ve been transporting cement for Creagh Concrete for many years. Since acquiring the Norman Emerson Group in 2024, they’ve now got six different plants dotted across Northern Ireland in Toome, Dunloy, Lurgan, Draperstown, Tandragee and Ardboe. Their expansion has generated a lot of extra work for us.
“We transport everything from cement, limestone and sand to mortar mix, asphalt materials, salt and animal feed. We also store material in our yard and load it into the tanks. Most of our customers have been with us a long time and they know they can rely on us to get the job done right.
“Once our customers are happy, then so are we. They know we can be relied upon to provide a good service which we are committed to not only maintaining, but improving. There are always challenges in the haulage industry, but you just have to deal with them and meet them head on.”
Ian Hayes Haulage operates a TASSC-approved bulk feed service tailored to its customers’ needs. The TASSC (Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops) code of practice aims to combine food / feed safety legal requirements with recognised industry good practice and specific customer requirements to provide confidence in the food / feed train. Lloyd’s drivers are TASCC trained and up-to-speed with all current legislation.
In summary, Ian Hayes Haulage prides itself on its professional, dependable, trustworthy, value-for-money and exceptional service. Lloyd and Ian would like to take this opportunity to thank their clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as their drivers for their dedication, hard work and expertise.
Here’s to the next 50 years!
Ian Hayes Haulage
11 Drumnacross Road,
Cookstown,
Co. Tyrone,
BT80 9DT.
Telephone: 07780 227755 (Lloyd) / 07760 410399 (Ian)
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Trucker magazine September/October 2026, Vol 29-5
