SGL Logistics continues its impressive growth
20/11/2025
Established since 2017, SGL Logistics delivers specialised full and part loads throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe with bases in both Roscommon and Dublin. Irish Trucker touched base with Managing Director Patrick Dockery to hear more about the company, its impressive fleet and plans for moving forward.
When Roscommon men Patrick and Gerard Dockery first took the decision to set-up SGL Logistics eight years ago, they did so with the intention of it one day becoming a business renowned for its safe and professional service operating to the highest of standards on time with a reputation for excellence in its work amongst its customers. They had a vision to become one of the market leaders in their specialist transport sector and become the first name synonymous with data centre logistics.
Today, SGL Logistics operates with 23 staff across two separate bases with its Head Office based in Boyle Co. Roscommon and operating its fleet of truck, trailers and vans out of its premises in Rathcoole, Dublin.
Patrick’s brother Gerard Dockery is also a director within the business, having been immersed in the logistics game for most of his professional life.
Irish Trucker caught up with Patrick to learn all about this family-owned transport and logistics firm – from its origins to the state of business today.
“The business was set up from scratch in 2017 with the sole intention of servicing specialist niche markets throughout Ireland, UK and Europe,” outlined the Managing Director.
“Our main markets are the tech sector where we deliver by Tail lift and Moffett Mounty in specialised trailers to all the major Data Centres across Europe. These are high value goods mostly delivering computer racks and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“We also service the entertainment market delivering to Concert Sites across Ireland and the UK during the busy concert season with some of our most recent locations being Malahide Castle for the Justin Timberlake / Alanis Morisette concerts and Heaton Park in Manchester for the Oasis concert. These are very specialised markets where service and reliability are key.”
Many challenges have been met and conquered since 2017 like the COVID Pandemic, Brexit and Holyhead closures to name but a few major ones, when it comes to the transport industry, you can rest assured that there’ll be many more to come down the line. With these challenges the company has had to adapt its ways of operating to ensure our customer still received the seamless service they required.
Patrick stated: “Obviously, the pandemic hit shortly after we started up and that was a big struggle with travel restrictions and COVID testing, but, with people working from home it saw a surge in demand on data centre supply usage which led to a large number of data centres being required to meet this demand.
“Brexit has had a huge impact on our business for trucks in and out of the UK and Europe which has been a struggle as well as we had to stop transiting the UK for goods moving to Europe due to the high value of the goods and this in turn has its challenges when bad weather hits and ferries are cancelled or delayed as a result.”
SGL Logistics has grown its fleet to what it is today and have big expansion plans on the horizon in the early part of next year where they plan to take delivery of some additional new trucks and trailers to meet the growing demand.
Right now, SGL Logistics operates with 18 trucks and 32 specialist trailers from its yard in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
The company’s impressive fleet continues to grow year on year, giving it the ability to keep up with its customers’ demands and ensure they continue to receive the high level of service they have had since the start. SGL works alongside numerous Blue-Chip companies throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe and know that without these customers and relationships the business would not be where it is today.
“In terms of fleet there were three new Volvos added to the fleet in February of this year. They are FH500 4x2s in our distinctive black livery,” said Patrick.
“They’re going well since and we’re getting good fuel economy on them and drivers like them, so they’re a good all-round truck. These trucks are Euro 6 compliant like all of the rest of our fleet and in turn reducing our carbon footprint which is good for the environment. Drivers have been trained on all things Eco Driving and the safety functions of the vehicles which include cameras fitted all round the vehicle to help prevent incidents or accidents.
“Historically we have predominantly run Scania V8’s here and have done so due to their high resale value and driver appeal with some more ordered for January.”
In July, one of Patrick’s most coveted Scania’s was victorious at the Full of the Pipe Truck Show in Mondello Park where it won Best Tractor Unit (2001-2011).
Patrick, who avidly attends truck shows year-round, was delighted to see his 24-year-old Scania claiming top prize on the occasion.
“The truck took two years to rebuild. It’s a Scania 164 480, 2001, left-hand drive and it was a full nut and bolt restoration from chassis up,” he explained. This took a lot of time and effort to perfect but it has been life long goal of his to have a truck of this age and calibre to be able to attend the shows with. He stated that many people probably thought he was mad putting this time, money and effort into something like this but he felt it reflects his love of trucks and transport industry from a young age.
“It was finished probably this time last year, maybe a bit before that. Then it went to Holland to Sjaak Kentie Interiors, where it got a full interior put into it just before Christmas.
“We've been across Europe with it and won prizes in some of the major shows in Ireland, the UK and Europe for it”.
He added: “I have always attended a lot of shows throughout the years as a spectator and recently flew to Switzerland with a group of friends to one and as we would have a big interest in trucks and seeing the different types and attention to detail other people put into theirs.”
So, all of the above considered, the clear question is what has been the secret behind the success of SGL Logistics to date?
How has a small start-up grown year on year to the point now where it’s operating with 18 trucks on the road and over 20 staff across two different bases, along with an excellent reputation amongst its clientele as well.
“We have had a lot of good people that have helped and supported us along the way and without these people I don’t know if we would be where we are today. Gerard and I both have a huge drive to succeed and along with this our drivers have been a major contributor to our success also by being as professional as they are and having the will do and can do attitude that they have has made life a lot easier for us and in turn our customers as a result of this.” the Managing Director stated.
Patrick added: “A lot of our drivers here have either been with us from the start, or friends of lads that have been with us from the start and they've brought the lads with them. We do not have a turnover of drivers here and this I think is down to showing mutual respect to each other and working as a team to get the job done.
“Everything is just on time and must be on site for a certain time; can't be early, can't be late. Everything that's required is covered and we know the special requirements of the businesses we service because we've been doing it for years.
“We complete a lot of white glove service’s which is quite specialist. Drivers are trained to the highest standards and know exactly what they're doing going in and out of sites with tail lifts and Moffett Mounty deliveries been part of their everyday job.”
Indeed, SGL Logistics operates with a team of highly qualified and experienced personnel to ensure goods are collected and delivered on time, in a safe manner, to the highest of standards.
Looking at the months ahead for the company, Patrick says they are keen to keep on growing at SGL Logistics via continuing to keep on delivering excellent service to clients.
“The plan is to continue the growth that we've had over the last few years,” he stated.
“We’ve had phenomenal growth since we started, but, again, it's built on strong relationships with customers and the level of service that we provide. We'd like to hope that it will go on in the future and probably just keep afloat the same as every other man as no one knows what’s around the corner for them.
“Hopefully, we don't have any more COVID’s/ Brexit’s or Holyhead disruptions or anything else to fight off in the near future.”
Hear, hear.
SGL Logistics
An Rioga
Bridge Street
Boyle
F52 NX73
Co Roscommon.
Dublin base
College Road,
Greenogue Business Park,
Rathcoole,
Co. Dublin
Web: sgllogistics.ie
First published in Irish Trucker magazine November/December 2025, Vol 28-6
