Transway Fleet Solutions celebrates 40 years in business
Transway Fleet Solutions is celebrating 40 years in business this year. The company can trace its roots back to a small workshop in Ballyfermot, Dublin, where founder Brian Balfe set up a trailer repair business in 1984. It has been onwards and upwards ever since, John Loughran reports.
Intarepairs, as it was known back then, started out as a trailer repair business where the emphasis was on carrying out high quality repairs, in a timely manner, at competitive prices.
Back in the early 1980s, 40-foot tandem axle trailers with mechanical suspensions were the backbone of the Irish fleet and accounted for many of the repairs that passed through the workshop.
Over the years the profile of the trailers passing through the workshop changed to 45-foot, tri-axle trailers with air suspensions, and so too did the services being offered by the company.
Brian recalled: “We started out repairing trailers and then we focused on maintenance programmes, before eventually moving to maintenance contracts.”
Down through the years Transway has developed a reputation of delivering high levels of service in every aspect of the business. “Service has always been a cornerstone of the business. Solving problems for our customers, and giving them solutions,” Brian reflected.
That ethos is reflected in the latter day name of the company: Transway Fleet Solutions, where the emphasis remains on offering solutions to the customer.
Having achieved 40 years of success, Brian is now looking to the next 40 years and what that will look like for Transway. An organisation does not achieve longevity in its field without some key ingredients, for example partnership and trust, and that is what Transway has with it’s loyal customer base.
The company’s vision is “to be recognised as the trusted partner of transport companies in Ireland for the procurement, contract maintenance and compliance management of their vehicles.
The word “partner” is embedded in the day to day operations of the company. The people at Transway Fleet Solutions are motivated by one common denominator: the next 40 years. “We believe that we have the right people, abilities and offering to create value for our customers that has not previously existed in the Irish transport industry,” noted a member of the management team.
Spare Parts
Within a few years, the company out grew its premises in Ballyfermot, which necessitated a move to a larger premises in Cherry Orchard, Dublin in 1987, before eventually moving to its current location in Clondalkin circa 2,000.
With each move, new complementary services were added to the business. “When we moved to Cherry Orchard, we set up Transway Spares. We needed access to parts [at the right price] for our own workshop, and we achieved that through the establishment of Transway Spares.”
Transway Spares has been recognised as a leading supplier of spare parts for all aspects of articulated trailers since 2000 and continues to carry all of the major brands today
This success has been achieved by never losing sight of the company’s ethos of keeping the customer at the centre of all decisions.
The company’s range of quality parts is backed up by a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable staff that are on hand to help the customer find the most efficient and cost effective solution to your requirements.
Ideally located in West Dublin, Transway Spares operates from a modern 3,000 sq feet warehouse situated close to the M50, N4 and N7.
Using an extensive network of couriers, Transway Spares offers a nationwide overnight delivery service with next day delivery available to all its customers within the Greater Dublin area.
So whether you’re an Owner-Operator, a large Fleet Manager or a Body builder, Transway Spares has the solution for you.
Contract Maintenance
The company took another leap forward when it began offering contract maintenance programmes to the Irish transport industry. This enabled customers to control and manage their fleets, maintain their budgets and keep their fleets fully road complaint with none of the burden on their own resources.
This marked a move away from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance, which brought certainty to the company’s burgeoning customer base.
Brian elaborated: “We were one of the front runners in contract maintenance. Our customers needed certainty in their figures and certainty in their services. We were able to offer them both through contract maintenance.”
He continued: “Contract Maintenance is our main service offering now as we aim to create value for our customers and clients that did not exist previously.
Refrigerated Repair
In 2008 Transway added a refrigerated body repair centre to its portfolio. The company’s fully trained body repair technicians are able to make damaged vehicles look like new again while maintaining the integrity of the body.
All technicians have received training from the likes of Schmitz-Cargobull and Krone to ensure repairs are carried out to manufacturers’ specifications.
To facilitate speedy repairs Transway has fast access to a complete range of Schmitz and Krone parts as they are appointed spare parts agents for these manufacturers.
The refrigerated repair facility features a three bay workshop dedicated to body crash damage repairs for all makes of trailer, including one spray booth, allowing for efficient turn around times.
“We were one of the first in Ireland to specialise in refrigerated trailer body repairs,” Brian enthused.
CVRT Centre
In keeping with the Transway’s mission to become a “one-stop-shop” for commercial vehicle operators, it added a Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test centre at its premises in Clondalkin, Dublin
The centre is fully regulated by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and features a licenced HCV and LCV lane for Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing.
It is also geared up to do voluntary rolling road brake inspections, tachograph calibrations, speed limiter checks and late night and weekend testing available on request. The CVRT centre is also a NSAI appointed plating centre.
“The addition of the CVRT centre, stems from the level of service we want to be able to offer our customers, and to do it all on the one site,” Brian confirmed.
Trailer Sales
Transway also specialises in trailer sales and hire, and are appointed sales agents for Schmitz-Cargobull, Krone, Legras, Benalu, Mega and SOR.
The company carries a wide range of new and second hand trailers. All trailers come with 12 months CVRT and full registration.
Many models are available including fridges, curtains, box bodies, flats, step decks and walking floors. Finance packages are available and trade-ins are accepted. Short-term hire options available on request.
“The company’s entry in to trailer sales and hire was driven by the desire to give the customer a solution for their procurement requirements,” Brian confirmed.
“We can offer our customers a complete package from purchasing their trailer, right through its journey to its final disposal,” Brian added.
A cursary tour of the Clondalkin facility, confirms that this is a top-class operation, built up over a 40 year period, with the potential to deliver high levels of customer service for many years to come.
In every aspect of the business, it is apparent that the team benefits from continuous training and is operating to industry standards and beyond.
Customers can rest assured that all repairs and maintenance are carried out to the highest standards, by highly qualified technicians using state-of-the-art equipment.
“We have a qualified, certified and committed team here that has the support of all the major trailer manufacturers. All our staff are trained to the highest levels and that sets us apart [from the competition].
Brian is fulsome in his praise of the team, which he says are the backbone of the business. Many of the team have between 13 and 20 years service with the company.
Innovation
Transway prides itself on being at the cutting edge of the trailer industry. Its partnership with Legras walking floor trailers is a case in point. “Walking floor trailers are one of our more recent specialities, and we are at the forefront of this through our partnership with Legras.”
With an eye to the future, Transway is constantly looking at new initiatives, aimed at improving the customer experience. With that goal, the company has set itself a target of turning round Rolling Road 13 Week Inspections in just 20 minutes.
If a substantial issue, such as a damaged brake caliper is unearthed during the inspection, the trailer is then diverted to the
“Pitlane” where a “Pitstop” repair is carried out in less than one hour. Without question Transway Fleet Solutions is a one-stop-shop in the trailer market, with few peers. It sells new and quality used trailers and trailer parts from a host of leading suppliers.
Through Transway Spares, it sells a wide range of quality trailer parts and accessories from a host of household names.
It has a CVRT centre and Refrigerated Body Repair centre on site, as well as a curtain manufacturing facility.
Transway Fleet Solutions is steadfast in its vision to be “the trusted partner of transport companies in Ireland.” Transway isn’t content to rest on its laurels, and is looking enthusiastically at the next 40 years in business.