Vanfleet Transport celebrates big win 

03/06/2026

Vanfleet Transport’s commitment to excellence was recognised when it was named National Haulier of the Year at the 2026 Fleet Transport Irish Haulier of the Year Awards. 

The Awards honour outstanding achievement and celebrate excellence, innovation and professionalism across the Irish road transport and logistics sector. With a long and proud history going back over 90 years, Vanfleet Transport was a worthy and popular recipient of the prestigious accolade. Based in Blanchardstown, Dublin 11, it is an exceptional family-run operation which provides regular and reliable delivery services to Dunnes Stores outlets nationwide. 

“We were both surprised and delighted to win the award. It means a lot and reflects well on our amazing team who continue to drive us forward. We also received a Gold Award from FTA Ireland recently, so we must be doing something right!” smiles Vanfleet’s transport manager Paul Fitzsimons. 

“We’ve been working exclusively for Dunnes Stores for the past 40 years and continue to grow with them. We’re currently delivering 1,200 pallets of textiles and homeware a day, six days a week, to 148 stores across the island. We also service Dunnes' online facility in Clonshaugh six days a week, transporting five / six trailer loads a day. We haul out of Dunnes Stores’ warehouse facility in Stadium Business Park, which is just 3km from our depot in Rosemount Business Park. 

"In addition, we look after Dunnes Stores’ recycling transportation in conjunction with Panda Waste in Cappagh and Walkinstown. It’s very efficient to have the trucks going out at 100 percent and coming back at 70 per cent capacity – there aren’t too many fleets in the country who can say that.” 

To cater for the extra workload, Vanfleet Transport has increased the number of trailers it is running to 56. These include 20 new Kassbohrer box trailers – which are used for transporting hanging garments – from TC Trailers. “We can adapt and change to Dunnes Stores’ demands and needs at any time,” Paul adds. 

In addition, Vanfleet Transport operates 36 tractor units, 12 rigids and employs 42 full-time drivers as well as five full-time shunter drivers. As part of its ongoing replenishment programme, the award-winning family business has six new Mercedes-Benz tractor units and three rigids on order from MUTEC for 2026. 

“We replaced 18 tractor units and four rigids in 2025, so we’re constantly upgrading our fleet to ensure the best possible service for our client who we’re built an excellent working relationship with over the past four decades. 

“Our trucks are a mix of Mercedes Actros, Iveco Stralis and Hino. We had dealt with Harris and the Hino brand since 1977 before they ceased importing in 2015. However, we are still running three of their rigids, including a 2016-reg 700 series which we plan to enter into truck shows in the coming year. We also have a 1988-reg fully-restored Hino SH 2800 which is just a show pony at this stage and has become a familiar sight at truck shows across Ireland.”    

Vanfleet Transport Ltd has been at the forefront of the transport industry since it was founded in the 1930s by the late John Fitzsimons as a company focused on customer service and reliability. Today, those same traits and values are at the very heart of the third-generation family business, which is now fronted by John’s grandsons Tom (managing director) and Paul (transport manager), and granddaughter Gretta Duffy (nee Fitzsimons), who is company secretary. 

“A lot of Irish businesses are family-based and go back down through the generations,” Tom notes. 

“For three family members to be still running a family business after all these years is a huge landmark and it’s something we’re very proud of. Transport is a very competitive industry and, in this day and age, you wouldn’t last anywhere near this long if you weren’t providing the right level of service.” 

Vanfleet Transport’s greatest asset is its people, and never more so than at the current time when good drivers are exceptionally hard to come by. 

“We’re very lucky with the team we have. Our drivers are the best in the business. They always deliver the goods,” Paul proudly states. 

Considering that retail tends to peak at certain times of the year, is the work seasonal at all? Tom replies: “Volume-wise, there’s not a huge difference between the first six months of the year and the second six months. However, there is a huge difference in the peaks. There are certain weeks where you’d have more peaks. In the run-up to Christmas, for example, the volume can go to 10,000 pallets in one week. 

“Even though we don’t have anything to do with delivering food, the increase in demand for food and groceries at Dunnes Stores will also lead directly to more work for us as we are drawing back all the recyclable waste.” 

In summary, Vanfleet Transport prides itself on its professional, dependable, trustworthy, value-for-money and unrivalled service, not to mention its decades of experience! The Fitzsimons family would like to take this opportunity to thank Dunnes Stores and their own suppliers for their continued support as well as their drivers for their dedication, hard work and expertise. 

Vanfleet Transport Ltd 

Unit 1B, 

Rosemount Business Park, 

Ballycoolin Road, 

Blanchardstown, 

Dublin 11. 

Telephone: 01 866 5440 

Email: [email protected] 

Web: www.vanfleettransport.net 

First published in Irish Trucker magazine May/June 2026, Vol 29-3