RHA member Daz Tran: Flexibility and adaptability is the key to success

RHA Area Manager Graham Pask visits a member to find out how they have successfully run their business for more than three decades.

I visited Kent-based RHA members Daz Tran in mid-April. It is a family-run firm, owned by Darren and Lisa Brooker for more than 30 years, and now with their sons Tommy and Alfie also part of the business.

Their depot is in Lympne, Kent right in the middle of the M20 delay zone which is causing so many Kent operators difficulties in moving around locally.

“Lip service”

Darren told me that despite the plaudits given to the haulage industry during the Covid period, when the industry was hailed as heroes, it appears to have been just lip service, as now the worst of Covid appears to be over the self-same issues are being faced by operators once again, with all those trucks just being a nuisance to Kent.

Getting the right rate for the job has always had its challenges, but with the new wave of work being placed on ‘internet bidding’ sites it seems to be driving another race to the bottom for many operators, one that Darren does not wish to be part of.

He stated that he would rather leave the truck in the yard than work at a loss just to keep the wheels moving.

Keeping costs down

Daz Tran is doing all that it can to keep costs to a minimum, with a well-equipped workshop to carry out a majority of maintenance in-house.

Darren is often asked why he spends more money on topof- the-range trucks, but as he points out, getting good drivers is challenging. So, when he can offer the right pay and conditions along with a truck that the driver is proud to drive, he is able to attract and keep good drivers that are an asset to the company. If the driver looks after the truck, the savings on damage and repairs outweigh the cost of the more expensive vehicle.

The company has a varied customer base and carries out some interesting ‘special movement’ work for local company Nusteel. It manufactures products such as bridge sections which require specialist trailers and vehicle escorts.

Daz Tran also moves refrigerated loads and ambient general haulage. So being able to be flexible and adaptable has made this business successful, but making a profit is still a bit of a juggling act in today’s market.