Over the past 30 years and counting, T McBrearty Livestock Haulage has provided exceptional services to farmers across the Donegal region. We caught up with the eponymous founder and owner Tony McBrearty – who does some farming himself – to get an update on day-to-day activities.
As a fully-subscribed member of the farming community, Tony McBrearty understands all too well what the needs and expectations of farmers are when it comes to haulage – be that livestock, straw, slurry or machinery. With a flexible fleet of livestock trailers, low loaders and tankers at his disposal, the personable Donegal man provides a range of unrivalled solutions to local animal and land owners.
No stone is left unturned in ensuring an efficient, prompt, safe and dependable service at all times. To this end, with a keen emphasis on Health & Safety and punctuality, Tony and his trusty team of drivers make sure that every consignment arrives on time and in perfect condition so that the hard-pressed farmer can focus on his own daily activities without any unnecessary complications.
Running two stunning Scania trucks, T McBrearty Livestock Haulage have been in business for three decades, benefiting from a large volume of repeat business, which of course goes hand in hand with meeting customer demands and doing so at a fair and reasonable rate.
The first truck Tony operated was a small rigid Scania with 22-foot body. Today, he runs the aforementioned pair of Scanias, having stuck predominantly with the renowned Swedish manufacturer down through the years. He has also owned a couple of Volvos along the way.
The current fleet comprises a striking R500 and a fantastic R480, both of which were purchased second-hand from Michael McNally of A&M Commercials in County Monaghan.
The lorries look and perform brilliantly, with the services of Cawley Commercials in Sligo and Pat McGowan Transport in Ballybofey availed of to ensure that they remain in optimal running order around the clock.
As the name suggests, livestock haulage is Tony’s bread and butter. To this end, he uses superb professional double-decker livestock transporters from Houghton Trailers, whose transporters are synonymous with durability and enjoy excellent resale values.
For the past five or six years, Tony has been working as an agent for Dawn Meats, transporting cattle from farms across Donegal to their factory on Clare Road, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.
Animals are also transported in and out of Donegal Mart and Raphoe Mart.
The Donegal man appreciates fully what the expectations and requirements of farmers are when it comes to the transportation of their animals – or other products.
Fully licensed, ensured, registered and compliant with all the latest Irish and EU legislation, T McBrearty Livestock Haulage also provides keen straw and hay transport services to local farmers as well as drawing pig slurry.
Meanwhile, to keep the wheels of the two Scanias turning, other work carried out includes transporting animal feeds for Kiernan Milling and coal for Coyle Fuels in Buncrana.
Between all the various strands of the business, Tony is keeping two men in full-time employment and he is pleased to report that business is brisk at present: “We’re fairly busy and we can’t complain,” he states.
As for the secret of T McBrearty Livestock Haulage’s continued success and enduring popularity, he admits it’s not rocket science really – just a matter of looking after customers and their goods. “It’s all about providing a quality service at the end of the day. We’ve been at this for a long time and we like to think we know what we are doing at this stage. When you tell a farmer or other customer that you are going to turn up with a truck and trailer at a particular time, then you simply have to do that. You have to give an outstanding service all the time because you are completely depending on your good reputation. When you look after people and treat them with the respect they deserve, they will come back and do business with you again.”
Down through the years and decades, Tony has had a long-lasting relationship with Scania. When he decides to replenish or expand his fleet, chances are he’ll opts for Scania again. What is it about the highly-regarded marque that appeals to him?
“They’re a very reliable truck and they won’t let you down. That’s all you can ask for. Once we have reliable trucks, then we can provide our customers with the best possible service.”
As for a business plan going forward, the modest and affable Donegal man will continue to concentrate on what he does best: “We’ll keep doing what we are doing – providing a reliable service and making sure our customers are happy,” he concludes.
T McBrearty Livestock Haulage,
Aughavoy,
Ballybofey,
County Donegal.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 087-1449310
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 7 No 2, April/May 2019
