Jobs drive at haulage company

A TOTAL of 30 new jobs have been created, with more to come this year, by a West Yorkshire haulage and distribution business which is investing in its expansion.

Fifteen new vehicles, including articulated tractor units, rigid-box vehicles and trailers, have been acquired by R McDowell Haulage and Distribution, Keighley, with support from Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre as part of its Investing for Growth initiative.

The investments, which totalled £750,000 in 2010, have created jobs for drivers and associated office staff and also include the acquisition of the latest logistics and distribution software for its Keighley warehouse.

The business, which was founded with a single vehicle in 1976 by managing director Roger McDowell to serve the West Yorkshire textile industry, is also planning a major expansion of its warehousing facility which opened in Glasgow last autumn to meet demand and aims to launch a southern depot, which will create more jobs, this spring.

McDowells, which has 135 staff, expects to achieve a £12m turnover in its current trading year.