GALT TRANSPORT)
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ritish manufacturing is not dead just yet. True, many of the big names may have slipped away, or been sold into foreign hands. But the fact remains that the UK is still a major player in the world of specialist, heavy-duty engineering. When CM continues its Scottish tour in Dumbarton, British know-how is there in tangible form: a large generator sitting atop a Galt Transport flatbed. The good news is that it's a British-made generator, built by Aggreko of Glasgow.
"The firm approached us in 1974 to carry their generators," says Allan Galt, managing director of Galt Transport. And so they did. When a sound company offers work, the wise haulier takes it. But you won't keep it unless you do the job properly.
Galt Transport has been carrying these generators for 26 years, so Galt is obviously doing something right. But the company history goes back further than the 1970s. Galt Transport was founded in 1947, by Gait's father, Daniel. Back then the fleet included two trucks and a horse and cart, used for local general
haulage. Gradual expansion followed; Allan Galt joined in 1968.
There's nothing mysterious about his winning formula: invest in the best equipment and employ the right people. The company's marketing brochure hints at the nature of the fleet and the skills necessary to get the job done. Construction, ADR, timber and international transport are all grist to the firm's mill, the brochure states. Work is undertaken in the UK as well as mainland Europe. Silhouettes on the paper indicate the nature of the fleet: everything from a van to lorry-mounted cranes.
The 35-strong fleet includes three 7.5-tonne vans, 24 tractive units (mainly Scanias) and eight rigids. Lorry-mounted cranes feature prominently, and the firm operates a 54t/m giant.
Add to the traction power a pool of 48 trailers, and you have a potent package to get customers' consignments from A to B. Trailers include skeletals, low-loaders, curtainsiders and extendibles.
The ability to lift and haul can pay dividends, and the work can be varied. Galt explains: "We carry a lot of timber. Much of it is shipped from South America; we collect it from Avonmouth and Grangemouth." Three Galt trucks are subcontracted out to a timber merchant; the vehicles are driven by Galt drivers but carry the timber merchant's livery. "However, we can top this number up with more trucks from the general fleet to take the timber from the ports," says Galt. His fleet moves timber to the merchant's mill, then distributes across the UK, often down to southern England for use in coastal defences.
Defence is a relevant word—and it means that Galt Transport trucks carry loads a bit more varied than wood: "Because of the proximity of the Faslane submarine base we have been involved in a lot of defencerelated work," says Galt. He declines to go into detail; suffice to say that some of these consignments are, well, a bit out of the ordinary.
But everything is catered for, including Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor provi sion. The firm has a DGSA-qualified employee and also uses a DGSA consultant. Galt Transport is also a Section 5 qualified haulier, entitling it to transport munitions. Accordingly, many of the Galt Transport trailers are ADR Ex III standard, allowing it to carry explosives.
On a more mundane level, Galt remarks: "We do a lot of lowloader work for the construction industry. Other British-made products include propellers, which are made on the Clyde and taken down to Plymouth.
"We also bring lift equipment in from the Continent, then distribute it across Scotland and the north of England using the lorrymounted cranes," he adds.
Given the expensive and often delicate nature of the loads, Galt will employ only experienced drivers. You can see his point. Offering a keen rookie driver the opportunity to get on may sound benevolent, but when you're hauling for the MoD you want to be extremely sure that the load is going to get to its destination in one piece. Twenty of his drivers have ADR qualifications.
Picking up and depositing a load safely is what haulage is all about. If you prove that you are up to the job the spin-offs are there for the taking, Galt believes. For example, the firm's expertise in carrying generators has been recognised. Various generator manufacturers have approached Galt to transport their goods because of his sterling service for Aggreko.
It all demands the right equipment and the right people. As long as Galt has these two strengths his turnover will continue as it is: in healthy shape.