Llanelli firm driving up ‘top company’ charts

A LLANELLI trucking firm is driving up the Welsh top companies’ charts.

It is said if you have never seen an Owens Road Services truck, you’ve never driven along a UK motorway.

The burgeoning company has some 250 HGV and rigid distinctively emblazoned vehicles and an additional 500 trailers on the country’s roads.

They are developing a Stobart-like reputation about the highways and byways of the UK.

Owens vehicles use an astonishing £11-million pounds worth of fuel with trucks clocking up approximately 50 million miles annually.

The extraordinary successful family run business is Llanelli’s fifth biggest and in the last 12 months has jumped from 163rd to 152nd in the Wales top 300 companies’ register.

The company has its HQ at Dafen, Llanelli, with other main depots at Port Talbot, Bridgend, Newport, Droitwich and Wrexham.

Owens fleet of vehicles makes more than 2,000 journeys a week.

The company employs more than 500 – just over 400 are drivers – and has just returned a registered annual turnover of £36,713,000.

Two brothers, directors Huw and Eurof Owen, have grown the once one-lorry business inspired by their father, Mr Vernon Owen. Both were honoured when at short notice the Prime Minister David Cameron called in to their Newport Depot.

The PM was on a flying visit to Wales in November to consult them and their drivers about the need for a M4 relief road.

The company had been informed that a high level MP or Home Office representative would be visiting their site to tie in with the celebrations of Owen’s 40th anniversary and the proposal of the M4 relief road.

Much to their surprise it was the Prime Minister who turned up and he spent several hours walking around the yard, sitting in trucks and he even popped into a vehicle pit with one of the fitters who explained the maintenance regime of the trucks and trailers.

Mr Cameron also spent time with the lorry drivers – one of them Llanelli’s Carnival King, Craig Owen, from Burry Port.

Director Ian Owen said: “The M4 relief road proposal is the best news Wales has had for a very long time.

“It is good to see, too, that that the County Council is in dialogue with the Welsh Government about the long awaited Swansea-Manchester trunk road around Llandeilo. This will greatly improve traffic movement through and about Wales.”

Carmarthenshire county executive board member for transport services Cllr Colin Evans said: “In just over four decades Owens Road Services has experienced consistent and steady growth built on solid family values committed to customer satisfaction.

“Nothing broadens the smile more and gives that feeling of home pride than coming across an Owens truck when driving across the UK. They are everywhere, which is testimony to the firm’s success.

“The haulier firm’s experience and knowledge is supportive and key to the authority in its ambition to improve road infrastructure in Carmarthenshire.

County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We are mindful, too, of Owens great generosity in the community. They supply vehicles freely to many county carnivals and Llanelli’s Carnival alone this year had 15 trucks and trailers with the company and the drivers giving of their time voluntarily.”