Yuill and Dodds beats the odds

Scottish haulier Yuill and Dodds overcame a financial hurdle in the year 2012/13, achieving a jump in profit despite the collapse of a major client.

The family-run firm was owed £250,000 by the Scottish Coal Company when it collapsed in May 2013.

However, after extending its financial year – the company recorded its finances from August 2012 to the end of November 2013 -– the firm was able to cover its losses, and increase its pre-tax profit by 88% to £70,500. Turnover also increased, by 55% to £16.3m.

In 2010, the company recorded a pre-tax loss of £1.1m, and suffered a temporary curtailment to its O-licence relating to maintenance issues, but bounced back in 2012 with a pre-tax profit of £37,442.

Karen Kerr, daughter of the late founder James Yuill, said of the results: “The company has been working hard since 2011
to implement a strategic efficiency plan into our business. This plan included the replacement of older vehicles with more fuel-efficient and cost-effective trucks, as well as focusing on the utilisation of these assets in our operating sector.”

She added that the Scottish Referendum – which sees voters going to the polls tomorrow (18 September) to vote yes or no – had, as a business, generated short-term uncertainty.

Kerr explained: “We don’t know if we need an international O-licence to trade in England”.

“A lot of our work is in England, and the customers we work for might see a different view of trading out of England,” said Kerr, who is nevertheless confident the haulier is well placed to meet the challenges of the future.

By Emma Shone