New additions to O’Donovan Transport fleet

29/05/2023

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Trading for over 60 years, O’Donovan Transport (Cork) Ltd recently took delivery of five new Scania S500s and two new Renault T High 520s as part of its replenishment programme.

They are the latest additions to the company’s 42-strong fleet of tractor units which are predominantly Scania and Renault. The new Scanias were purchased from AOC Commercials and the Renaults from Munster Vehicle Sales. A mix of left and right-hand drives, the S500s come with some unique features such as vulnerable road user collision prevention and blind spot warning sensors as well as full leather interior, cab part cooler, Dura-Bright alloy wheels and colour-coding. The tipping equipment is fitted by Hi Power Ltd, Cork, while the paintwork and signage was carried out by Tierney Motors in Co. Monaghan.

In addition, O’Donovan Transport runs 120 trailers which consist of flats, scrap metal bulkers, grain bulkers, refrigerated units and curtain-siders.

Based in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, the third-generation family business offers a wide and varied service, working primarily with seafood, scrap metal, malt and animal feed companies across Ireland and Europe. The bulk haulage side of the business mostly entails the transportation of grains, malt, barley and scrap metal, while refrigeration comprises fish and food products to Spain and France, with backloads mainly of fruit, vegetables and meat.

Its clients range from the Malting Company of Ireland and Castletownbere Co-op to Cork Metal Company, Total Produce, United Metals, A1 Metal Recycling, National Recycling and Spanish retail giants, Mercadona.

O’Donovan Transport operates a TASSC-approved bulk feed service tailored to the needs of its customers. 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. The O’Donovan drivers are TASCC trained and up-to-speed with all current legislation. The company also holds Waste Carriers Licenses for Ireland and the UK.

“Most of the new trucks are 6X2 midlift with tipping equipment. They’re required to be versatile because of the seasonal nature of a lot of our work,” Patrick O’Donovan says.

“This investment underlines our commitment to offering customers an exceptional service. We wouldn’t be able to deliver on that commitment without having reliable equipment, staff and experienced drivers.

“We generally stick to Scania and Renault because of their reliability and the fact that we get a very good back up service from both dealerships (AOC Commercials and Munster Vehicle Sales). We provide a range of services to Ireland, the UK and Europe. We transport mainly fish and food to Europe as well as some scrap metal. All our scrap metal runs used to be to the UK, but now some customers are sending the materials further in to mainland Europe due to Brexit difficulties.

“Having said that, the UK is still our biggest market in that regard. Our backloads from the UK include everything from stone and coal to ash for making hurleys.

“We also provide a twice-weekly groupage service to France and Spain for fresh & frozen produce. We’re Mercadona’s dedicated haulier for goods that they buy in Ireland and enjoy a very good relationship with them. We pride ourselves on our reliable, friendly and value-for-money service.”

He continues: “Transporting animal feed stuff and malting barley is a big part of our business here in Ireland. We haul malting barley from the Malting Company of Ireland’s factory in Cork to distilleries and breweries all over Ireland.”

O’Donovan Transport was established by Jack and Mary O’Donovan and has been run by their son Pat & his late wife Celine for over 50 years. Pat’s sons Anthony, Patrick and John now take charge of the day to day running of the business along with a super workforce of over 50. Pat is still very hands on within the business and plays a major role in making sure that the family business stays in shipshape and in good order. Pat’s late wife Celine and late son Kevin also worked in the business and played a key role in making it what it is today. They are dearly missed from the family, the company and even in the haulage industry. Like Pat, who is a former president of the IRHA (Irish Road Haulage Association), Kevin was an active member of the Association. With Kevin’s sons now also showing a keen interest in the business, the future of O’Donovan Transport looks to be in safe hands.

Patrick is full of praise for the family business’ top-class team of drivers, mechanics and administration personnel. He stresses the company is lucky to have good loyal staff at a time when they are difficult to come by.

“Our drivers are professional, dependable and always deliver on time. They take tremendous pride in their work and look after the trucks as if they were their own. We do all our own maintenance and repairs which is a big thing because a lot of garages are struggling to get suitably qualified people. Our drivers and mechanics are our face & our shop window so if they perform well the company will follow suit. Thankfully we have many long-time employees who are very trustworthy and reliable.

“We also have super staff in the office, including Mark, Sue, Aisling, Emma, Caroline, Deirdre, and Eimear. We’d be lost without them. It’s a real team effort to keep the show on the road.”

Brexit, Covid and rising fuel costs & other costs amounted to a triple whammy for the transport industry according to Patrick.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone involved in haulage over the last number of years. Even before Brexit, a lot of time and money was spent getting ready for Brexit & the unknown. The cost & time delays of customer declaration & delays in customs continues to be a major issue for hauliers and their customers who have had to take these time delays on the chin. Brexit, Covid and fuel costs were three major costs that the haulage industry have had to absorb. The cost of parts, equipment, tyres, shipping etc. have all skyrocketed also which in most cases the haulier has had to absorb. We along with most other hauliers were left with no choice but to introduce a fuel surcharge to keep trading. Thankfully most of our customers have been understanding of the situation that we are in and have been supportive of the fuel surcharge in order for us to provide a decent service level to meet their requirements.

“You can only do your best and try to meet the challenges head on,” he adds.

Committed to providing unrivalled transport solutions and maintaining the family’s proud reputation in the industry, O’Donovan Transport would like to take this opportunity to thank all of its customers and suppliers for their continued support.

O’Donovan Transport (Cork) Ltd,

Main Street,

Carrigtwohill,

Co. Cork.

Telephone: 021 4883399

Email: [email protected]

Web: odt.ie

First published in Irish Trucker magazine Vol 26 No 3, May/June 2023