Hireco places £13.5 million order with SDC Trailers

Local truck and trailer rental firm Hireco, which is based in Belfast’s Harbour Estate has placed a huge order worth £13.5 million with Toomebridge based trailer manufacturer SDC Trailers. The Hireco group, which has a fleet of more than 5000 trailers, and a turnover in excess of £25 million has undergone a rapid growth in recent years, led by an ambitious growth strategy coupled with substantial investment in its fleet and a hi-tech customer management IT system.

Under the same roof, sister company Serviceco contributes £5.5 million worth of that turnover, and provides service, repair and emergency assistance to a wide range of customers in the haulage and logistics industries throughout Northern Ireland & the UK. The contract with SDC will see the Toomebridge based manufacturer supply Hireco with 750 new trailers, the first of which will arrive at the end of February

Speaking as the company announced the new contract with long time supplier SDC Trailers, Hireco Director Ricky Graham said the company is going from strength to strength,

“These are very positive times for the management and staff at Hireco, and our sister company Serviceco. Over the past few years we have invested tens of millions into our business, to ensure that our fleet of trucks and trailers is up to date and in immaculate condition. We have ensured, through ambitious and strategically managed investment in IT and our fleet that we are far and away the best in our field, ensuring that our growing retinue of clients across the UK are well served.”

He added,

“The key to our success is providing flexibility, offering the highest quality service possible, and ensuring that a range of different options is available to our customers, once they decide that contract hire is the best route forward for them. For example, we can buy a customer’s fleet and lease it back to them inclusive of maintenance. That’s one solution that has worked for a lot of companies locally & in the UK. Our customers find that it frees up finance, it’s extremely tax efficient, and it takes away a lot of everyday worries and concerns thus providing peace of mind.”

SDC Managing Director Mark Cuskeran said that the latest order is a continuation of an outstanding relationship with Hireco,

“We’ve been working with Hireco for almost twenty years now and are delighted to share in this announcement. We’ve watched and hopefully helped contribute to the success and growth of this outstanding company and we wish them every success as they continue their impressive growth.”

Hireco was established in 1971, and was then bought by Pat Carson & George Boyd in 1991 when they acquired the trailer rental business based in Belfast and owned by the O’Rourke coal distribution business. Back then, the fleet size was 65 units and turnover £400,000.

The company plans further growth, both within the Hireco and Serviceco brands. Recently Serviceco invested an estimated £750,000 in installing and adapting IT systems to help it provide a speedy and cost efficient response to enquiries. Its main ‘Certus’ IT system monitors breakdown callouts and jobs all over the British Isles, with suppliers on the ground able to use mobile technology and barcodes on trailer units to link into the live system.

Serviceco customers with problems ranging from major trailer malfunctions through to everyday punctures contact the Belfast control centre, Serviceco personnel identify and alert the closest of some 250 different repair, maintenance and tyre suppliers dotted all over the UK, the repairs are carried out at the roadside or wherever the stricken vehicles might be, and the vehicle is attended to all within a target time of 60-90 minutes.

Credit: http://www.sdctrailers.com/sdc-news/Hireco_places_13.5_million_order_with_SDC_Trailers