DUNDALK COUNTY LOUTH T he Channel Tunnel strands Irish business on
Page 32
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
the last island in the European Community—so say some Irish international operators, concerned that they are being jettisoned from a level playing field into choppy waters.
"Irish goods will be less competitive," complains Dundalk haulier Gerry Hughes, who runs hanging meat from Ireland to Northern France and believes the Channel Tunnel is certain to give British hauliers an edge. But it's not all bad news. Ferry companies are reluctant to carry hanging meat in stormy seas because of the dangers involved, so the Tunnel will come into its own on those occasions. Hughes' drivers have not experienced the antipathy UK operators carrying meat have suffered across the Channel. "The French seem to want Irish lambs," Hughes says. "There is a close relationship with the Northern French and the Irish through their Celtic roots."
Irish ferry companies B&I and Norse Irish are keen to exploit the Tunnel with "landbridge" deals, offering the journey across the Irish sea and through the Tunnel on a single price-saving ticket.
Hughes employs four reefers on international work, hauling exclusively for Honey Clover Meats in Navan. He backloads fruit and vegetables from France, Belgium and Holland. "If Honey Clover dropped us it would be a problem but it would not finish the business. One door closes, another opens," insists Hughes. He is not solely dependent on international runs as he has 20 tractors operating on domestic work. Like many Irish hauliers he likes the Scandinavian marques, with 14 Scanias and six Volvos in a fleet of 24.
The domestic work is good solid general haulage, including bluechip customers such as Lucozade, Nestle and Lever Brothers. Unaccompanied trailers from Liverpool are picked up by Hughes at Dublin. The business is, perhaps uniquely, a father and daughter partnership with daughter Jane in charge of administration. Together they plan to expand the international side, which is where Gerry Hughes' roots lie. Before setting up on his own he drove internationally for Polar Freight. "Southern Europe is the place to be," muses Hughes with a faraway look in his eyes. "The future lies in having trucks in Southern France and Italy."
7 by Patric Cunnane