Passing the test of time
18/11/2024
Serving truck, van and coach operators from counties Monaghan, Louth and Cavan, Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney has been delivering fast, efficient and fair commercial vehicle testing services for a quarter of a century and counting.
In August, 2024, after 16 years of service, Colm Ruddy departs his role as manager of Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney. With Colm’s long-serving colleague Bernard Duffy taking the reins, it will certainly be a case of ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’ at one of Ireland’s most modern, professional and customer-focused CVRT centres
Since throwing open its doors in 1999, Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney has led the way as a model commercial vehicle test centre. Setting the standard when it comes to booking and implementing roadworthiness tests to complete customer satisfaction – with an experienced and knowledgeable team on hand at modern premises and access to cutting-edge equipment – the CVRT Centre in ‘Blayney has gone from strength over the past 25 years.
Fittingly, they have just had their testing licence extended until 2034, so commercial vehicle operators in Monaghan and surrounding counties can rest assured that the stellar service they receive at the well-appointed Ballybay Road facility is here to stay.
Alongside Bernard and Colm, Gary Hamill is the third tester at the CVRT Centre in Castleblayney, while receptionist Caron McPhillips completes the team. Meanwhile, Nigel Thornton manages parent company Philip White Tyres’ tyre depot, where he is joined by father and son, Maurice and Conor Comiskey.
Established in Castleblayney in 1982 and now with depots in Dungannon, Armagh and Derry, Philip White Tyres stock in excess of two million tyres covering the entire spectrum of the industry. Covering cars, trucks, trailers, vans, agricultural equipment, buses, speciality tyres and everything in between, they carry a comprehensive choice of premium, mid-range and budget tyres and also offer unbeatable 24/7 breakdown, alloy wheel and wheel alignment services.
“The test centre has two bays – one for heavy and one for light commercials,” comments outgoing manager Colm. “We run all MAHA testing equipment, which is the best you can get, and they are excellent with their back-up service, which ensures that everything is fully serviced and in top nick all the time.
“We relocated to this site in 2016, which was a brand-new building at the time, so it’s one of the newest test centres in the country.”
Over the past 25 years, Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney has built up a strong base of loyal customers from the owner driver to large fleet operators, some of whom include McDonnell Commercials in Monaghan, TD Freight in Doohamlet, Mulligan Transport in Castleblayney, Leonard Engineering (Ballybay) Ltd., EMK Motors, Global Trailer Rentals, WD Motors, Tuskers, Meegan Builders, Sevens Coaches in Dundalk and Carna Transport in Castleblayney.
From Monday through to Friday, Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney is a hive of activity, carrying out fast and efficient tests in comfortable surroundings and always ensuring minimum time off the road for their customers’ prized vehicles. “On average, we get through around 25 full tests a day” says Colm. “Including retests, the average is in and around 150 vehicles a week. We cover Cavan, Louth, Monaghan and parts of Meath.”
The key to providing a quality commercial vehicle roadworthiness test? “Customer satisfaction is top of the list, but you have to strike the right balance and make sure that you are keeping both the RSA and the customer happy. You work with customers as best you can, but at the same time you have to be firm but fair. Obviously, you make sure there is a quick turnaround every time – and that extends to the tyre business as well, where time is also of the essence.
“The two businesses are very similar in that respect. We have a mobile service unit to provide a tyre breakdown service and it’s all about getting customers back on the road as quickly and safely as possible. When you look after customers and give them the standard of service they expect, then they are more likely to stick with you.”
Alan McMahon is a past employee of the Test Centre and now has his own training centre in Ballybay, Alan McMahon CPC Training. “I would like to say well done to staff at Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre for their continued high standards,” said Alan.
On the tyre front, a large proportion of business is related to the commercial and agricultural markets and Philip White Tyres have worked extensively with many leading haulage companies over the decades, looking after all their fleet tyre needs.
“We stock all the leading brands of tyres,” says Colm. “Bridgestone is perhaps the biggest and we also sell a lot of Semperit and Continental. There’s so much more to consider than the initial price when buying a new tyre. We do all the premium and budget tyres, so that customers have the best choice, but performance over the life cycle of the tyre has to be considered and I personally find with tyres that you get what you pay for.”
Although he’s moving on to pastures new after 16 happy years at Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre Castleblayney, Colm is backing the business that is so close to his heart to continue to go from strength to strength:
“They are going strong on both fronts – the tyres and the testing – and I have no doubt that will continue to be the case,” he concludes. “Everything is revamped here in the test centre and we’ve just received our licence for the next ten years up until 2034. We invested in a new lift and everything else here is as good as new.
“Best wishes to Bernard taking over as manager. He’s been here for 13 years and has proven during that time that he is more than up to the challenge.
“There’s a bright future ahead for this business. We’ve always gone out of our way to give customers a great service and that will continue to be the main focus going forward.”
Philip White Tyres CVRT Centre
Castleblayney,
Muldrummon,
Ballybay Road,
Castleblayney,
County Monaghan,
Tel: 042 974 0112
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Trucker magazine September/October 2024, Vol 27-5
