Unity and foresight are key to the future of Irish haulage

01/02/2022

Only with all stakeholders working together in an all-inclusive environment of mutual respect and appreciation can Irish haulage move forward and thrive. Tipperary-based commercial vehicle mechanic and livestock haulier Jonathan Cahill, who has been involved in the industry all his working life, is adamant that a proactive, united approach can take every aspect of our industry to the next level.

Jonathan Cahill believes it is a time for change in the Irish haulage industry. Although everybody working in the sector is essentially on the same team, working towards a common goal, traditionally there has been a tendency for various parties to look after their own interests, often at the expense of others.

The proprietor of North Munster Commercials in Nenagh, County Tipperary, feels that this disjointed and counterproductive approach has to end quickly if haulage is to prosper, deal with current challenges and fulfil its true potential. “Everybody has a part to play in the industry and that includes bigger companies looking after the smaller haulier,” he states. “Everything is so profit-driven now and it’s a race to the bottom with too many only looking at the short-term picture.

“A small percentage of the profit that large service users of the haulage industry declare each year would be the difference in that haulier mechanic or service provider keeping his head above water or not, and maybe the difference between the next generation deciding to take it over. The big companies are often playing hauliers off against one another, and that is in nobody’s interest. The value of drivers and mechanics is only really being recognised now, with the long hours they put in, and for their contribution to keeping standards and demands met.”

Jonathan has worked with commercial vehicles all his adult life - and indeed for many years prior to that! He grew up around trucks as his father fronted John Cahill Transport and also ran a workshop, while his grandfather also had trucks on the road going back to the 1960s. “I love this industry. From the age of ten or eleven, all I wanted was to be a mechanic,” he enthuses.

The Tipperary man left school at 16 and served his time with the ESB. He started working from home as a mechanic in the evenings and at weekends and that business grew gradually. As his own business showed promise and he was losing two-and-a-half hours a day on commuting, he eventually opted to set up full time on his own.

Having been known locally simply as Cahills Garage or J Cahill, Jonathan took the plunge earlier this year to incorporate the business as a limited company (Old School Carney Ltd., trading as North Munster Commercials). “As we were also doing some haulage, I wanted to put a more professional face on the workshop and garage,” he reflects. Providing professional, economical and efficient commercial vehicle repairs, servicing and diagnostic solutions as well as 24/7 roadside assistance and breakdown recovery, North Munster Commercials are extremely busy and currently generate employment for a team of six.

Speaking to the proprietor, I was struck by his strong views and proactive ideas on how the haulage industry can be improved and strengthened going forward, with everyone working together for the common good. These are the issues he is most passionate about rather than trying to promote his own business…

“How can we change our industry to attract the next generation and prevent lads from leaving? If there was more recognition of the role of each individual and if all parties worked together it would certainly be a good starting point.

“From our own perspective, we have our customer base built up and, while that’s not to say we aren’t looking for new customers, we only have a certain capacity and we are very busy, as I’m sure all good workshops are. If you want to expand, you need to take on new guys. You need to introduce them to the working environment, take the time to train them in, and that can be difficult in an environment that is already busy.

“With insurance these days, young lads can’t be in the workshop or out with their father in a truck. As an industry, we need to create the appetite for the industry at a young age and give them the soft skills early. Where are we going to be in 15 years if this generation is lost? You need a certain amount of young people coming through to sustain any industry. I have a young apprentice in his first year and there are only twelve in his class, which is a very small number, considering there were 25 in mine.”

Not only is the industry failing to entice the youth of today – is it also haemorrhaging skilled personnel. “If you look at the amount of qualified staff who have been taken out of the repair system and into the testing system, because testing has been ramped up, that is also concerning,” Jonathan continues. “In our region, a lot of experienced staff are now working with the RSA or have left the industry altogether, and a vacuum has been created in the repairs sector, with qualified, experienced people taken to different roles and not being replaced.

“The whole industry needs to be looked at in terms of how we are going to get more young people involved. I had my artic licence at 19 but that would no longer be possible with theory tests, CPC courses, case studies, lesson criteria etc.”

As a wholly independent workshop, North Munster Commercials covers all makes and models of trucks, trailers, vans and the occasional bus / coach, providing keen repairs, servicing, dealer-level diagnostics, scheduled maintenance and CVRT prep solutions to a diverse customer base. “Our motto would be to keep it as economical as possible – to strike the right balance between a good long-term repair and a feasible, practical repair,” Jonathan notes.

“When a truck comes to us with a problem, we try our best to troubleshoot it properly rather than throwing parts at the problem. It’s all about keeping things simple, keeping it right and minimising downtime and expense. The invoices that go out are completely transparent and I stand over everything so that the customer knows where they stand. You are talking big figures – five grand on a lorry is nothing these days – so you do all you can to keep those costs down to the minimum. Customers appreciate that and tend to come back when you are fair with them. You build up relationships with your customers. In a way, it’s like building a relationship with your GP – you need to be able to earn their trust by giving them the service they require consistently.”

Ideally located just off the M7 (10 minutes), North Munster Commercials have regular customers from Tipperary and surrounding counties Laois, Offaly, Galway, Clare and Limerick. Jonathan is constantly investing in the latest tools and equipment for his workshop. “The equipment is expensive but you need it if you want to provide a fast, reliable and efficient service,” he continues. “However, the one thing you can’t buy is experience. People trust us with their vehicles and you have to uphold that trust. We have to make sure every vehicle leaving here will be fully compliant when it is inspected on the side of the road. A small problem at home is a major problem away from home. But at the end of the day, the book stops with what the customer wants.

“The one thing ‘A Garage Man’ asks from his customers in return is loyalty. It’s better for everybody as you become familiar with the vehicle & customer and tend to know them and their needs … it doesn’t work out when it’s criss-crossing between one garage and another. It’s true that you are only as good as your last job, but you are also only as good as the people you have around you.”

Since 2017, Jonathan has also been providing a livestock transportation service from a local piggery. “A long-time customer & neighbour of ours, who was getting out of the business, approached me and asked me if I was interested in taking over,” he explains. “He knew from the service we had given him over the years that things would be right with us. It’s something a little different and it keeps us in touch with what’s going on out there on the road as well.”

The owner of North Munster Commercials believes that customer service should be the No.1 priority for all garages: “When a customer rings me I have to ask myself ‘what way is he thinking?’, or ‘what situation is he in?’” he concludes. “I have to be able to find a solution to his problem straight away. He expects us to come up with answers and to deliver upon them. When you help people out, they will appreciate it and remember it and they are more likely to come back to you again in the future.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all members of my team; Darragh, James, John, Justin, Jerry and Cian. Everyone pulls well together, and we all give each other a dig out when needed. I appreciate all your hard work.

“To all our customers; we appreciate your continued business, and our aim is to keep serving your needs efficiently for many years to come.”

They say behind every successful man is an even better woman. “I’d like to say a huge thank you to my wife Grace for her continued support and help day in day out. If she’s not collecting parts, she’s collecting me from the test centre or giving me the odd counselling session,” he says with a laugh.

North Munster Commercials,

Carney,

Nenagh,

County Tipperary.

Tel: 087 9119138

Email: [email protected]

Published in Irish Trucker & Light Commercials magazine, October/November 2021, Vol 24 No 6