Cooper Heavy Haulage: Precision, Power, and Passion for the Road
19/06/2025
From marquees to mega-loads, Johnny Cooper's journey to the top of the heavy haulage industry is one of ambition, precision, and smart planning. Twelve years after launching Cooper Heavy Haulage, his company has become a name synonymous with expertise, reliability, and adaptability in abnormal transport
Based in Navan, Co Meath, Cooper Heavy Haulage is a leading Abnormal/Heavy Haulage firm with a strong commitment to excellence. Irish Trucker sat down with Johnny Cooper, Managing Director of Cooper Heavy Haulage, to discuss the company's journey, its highly specialized fleet, and what it takes to operate at the highest level in heavy haulage across Ireland, the UK, and Europe.
Cooper Heavy Haulage employs seven full-time staff and has as many trucks on the road, with a superb new Scania 770 S recently added.
Now 34 years old, Johnny's origins in the transport industry tie into his own family's business which focuses on marquees for concerts and different types of events throughout the country.
The Meath man, who manages that same marquee company today, became interested in the methods of transport for marquee materials and, from there, he would eventually go out on his own with his own company. The rest, as they say, is history.
Johnny, thanks for taking the time to chat. Cooper Heavy Haulage has built a serious reputation in the industry. What's the secret to your success?
“It comes down to service, planning, and adaptability. Abnormal transport isn't just about putting a big load on a trailer and hitting the road. For every one hour we're driving, there's about five hours of planning that goes into it-permits, escorts, route surveys, weight calculations, and contingency plans. We treat every job like a precision operation because that's what our client's expect."
Your fleet is something else-tell me about what you're running at the moment.
"We've grown steadily over the years, and right now we run seven trucks, including our latest addition, the Scania 770 S. Each truck in the fleet is purpose-built for heavy and abnormal loads, and we're set to expand even further this year with: A new 120-tonne Scania joining the fleet. A 250- tonne Push/Pull MAN tractor unit arriving in July.
“We have a range of specialized trailers, including Low-Loaders, Step frames, Extendable trailers and a 10-axle Goldhofer trailer with a 17-metre low bed, capable of carrying up to 300 tonnes.
"The biggest challenge in this industry isn't just having the right equipment-it's knowing how to use it efficiently and safely. That's why we put so much focus on planning and execution."
You've mentioned that planning is a huge part of what you do. Can you walk us through that process?
"Absolutely. In this industry, planning isn't just a step in the process, it is the process. And that's where Paul Markham, our Planning Director, really comes into his own. Paul has been with us for eight years, and in that time, he has perfected the science and strategy behind transporting abnormal loads. He doesn't just handle permits, route planning, and coordination; he's also a key point of contact for our clients, educating them on the logistics, legal requirements, and documentation needed to make everything run smoothly.”
So, clients aren't always aware of what's involved? Paul, can you walk us through the intricacies of planning?
“Heavy haulage is more complex than just booking a truck. There are regulations, infrastructure limitations, police escorts, and even unexpected challenges like weather or roadworks. I work closely with our clients, helping them understand what's required while ensuring everything is lined up perfectly before we hit the road. We always say that for every hour a truck is on the road, there's five hours of planning behind it. My job is to ensure that time is spent wisely. Our knowledge, experience, and ability to anticipate potential roadblocks are a huge part of why our operation runs so efficiently. My job is to ensure every move is mapped to perfection, it allows the business to operate at 90% efficiency, maximizing uptime while keeping waste and downtime to an absolute minimum.”
Sounds like a vital role.
"It is. Planning isn't just paperwork-it's problem-solving, strategy, and relationship-building. Clients trust us because of our expertise and attention to detail. We built strong relationships in the industry by being a trusted guide through the logistics process, and that makes all the difference. Internally, our ability to think ahead, adapt, and problem-solve under pressure keeps our fleet moving and our clients happy. This is a huge part of what makes Cooper Heavy Haulage a leader in this industry".
Johnny, You're clearly big on planning, but what about drivers?
"I think we're very driver focused as well in terms of keeping that side of the business right because we understand that while we can have very good equipment and use it as an incentive, we also offer a good pension scheme here and it's very driver focused. As a rule, we don't like drivers sleeping out in lorries, we try and put them into hotels.
"They don't sit on long ferry crossings. We ship the truck and trailer unaccompanied and the driver flies over and meets it at the nearest airport. Due to the nature of our work as well, a lot of stuff is oversized so we try to ship it to the nearest destination port in mainland Europe and then it's met by the driver.
"So, in terms of miles on the road, we don't do major distances. We try to plan for that as best we can. For example, if we're going to Sweden or Denmark, we don't go through the UK and we don't use Landbridge; we'll ship everything to the nearest port as feasibly possible. That reduces our cost base, it's better for the environment, its less administration, less diesel, less maintenance and less wear and tear. Happy drivers mean better service, and that's what keeps our customers coming back"
You're not just about moving loads; you offer storage too. Tell me about your warehousing facilities.
"Yeah, we've got a 30,000 sq. ft. facility on a two-acre site in Navan, giving our customers secure storage options for oversized or heavy equipment. We offer: 30,000 sq. ft. of dedicated storage space. Heavy-duty handling, with the ability to move loads up to 40 tonnes. Two gantry cranes, a mobile crane, and a 10-tonne forklift to handle all types of cargo. 24/7 security with external CCTV surveillance. A full range of machine stakes to cater to different storage needs. A team of CSCS-accredited slinger/signallers to handle crane unloading safely and efficiently. Round-the-clock access, because not every business works 9 - S"
So, what's next for Cooper Heavy Haulage?
"We're targeting an 18·20% expansion in 2025. That means: New fleet additions to handle more capacity. Further Investment In planning & technology. Bringing In new drivers who share our passion for the industry. Everything we've built so far has been based on trust, expertise, and doing things the right way. We plan to keep that momentum going and grow stronger in the years ahead".
Last question-what do you want people to remember about Cooper Heavy Haulage?
"That we're not just moving loads-we're engineering solutions. Every transport job is different, but our commitment to precision, safety, and efficiency never changes. That's why our customers trust us, and that's why we'll continue to lead in this Industry.
"What makes us different as well is that we're also very adaptable. We understand that due to the nature of the business, whether it be weather, road, permit, infrastructure related, any sort of circumstance beyond our control, we adapt and try to find a solution.”
Cooper Heavy Haulage
Mullaghboy Industrial Estate
Navan
Co Meath
C15 PD79
Johnny Cooper: 086 805 5086
Paul Markham: 083 041 7718
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Trucker magazine May/June 2025, Vol 28-3
