The 2022/2023 period has seen rapid growth and diversification for George’s Loader Hire (GLH), the trusted supplier of equipment for both the rail and civil sectors in South East Queensland.
Its team of professionals has continued to perform the track reconstructions, repairs and maintenance it is renowned for, while adding a brand new rail stress management service to its portfolio.
GLH managing director Kelly Cooke tells Rail Express that the company now offers a complete package of rail maintenance or construction capabilities, inclusive of specialised hi-rail plant and equipment, specialist operators and rail stress management, labour hire and welding.
“From the dig-out to the re-stress- operating from the Gold Coast to Cairns and west to Isa and St George, GLH has got you covered,” she said.
“In addition to our regular valued clientele, with the likes of Queensland Rail, CPB, Martinus, the Logan council, Ipswich City council and Remondis to name a few, GLH has gained the trust and consequent business of many new customers this past year, including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Rockhampton Council, and Aurizon.
“In a major expansion move, we opened a second depot based in Gracemere in Central Queensland.”
Cooke said the first rail stress management tasks with Queensland Rail and Aurizon were carried out with great success.
“GLH has three experienced weld crews available for small and large welding and re- stress jobs throughout Queensland,” she said.
“The re-stress teams are supported by modern, state-of-the-art rail specific excavators and clipping and de-clipping equipment with tool vehicles.”
Now with its two depots in Brisbane and Rockhampton, GLH has gained efficiencies in mobilising and demobilising equipment and crews.
Part of the investment in new equipment has included trucks and trailers, including B double and road train capabilities.
“Director Cameron Baird worked with FWR to design the new trailers specific to our needs,” Cooke said. “Our trucking fleet includes five prime movers, seven trailers and two dollies, not to mention our modern fleet of utes, flat bed trucks, tip trucks, water truck and Hydrema dump trucks. GLH covers all corners of Queensland with ease.”
Other significant purchases for GLH in 2023 include a rubber-tyre 17 tonne and 14t hi-rail Hitachi excavators, which Cooke said were perfect for reconditioning work.
“We have two CAT RMT 15F hi-rail excavators which are specifically set up for undercutting capabilities and more, and two new 4.5m trolleys with 16t capacity each, making it a perfect combo when coupled with our excavators for transporting materials to and from the specific job site, especially if the rail is the only/quickest access,” she said.
“We also have two brand new Volvo L90H’s and one L110H, including quick coupler for use with various specialist attachments. Why work harder, when you can work smarter.”
Cooke said the first job for the CAT RMT excavator was in the Cross River Rail tunnels.
“We pilot tested various methods of capturing fresh mixed concrete with the hi- rail trolley on our custom-built in-house test track, before settling on a system that allowed 13 kilometres of footpaths to be poured for our customer, Rhomberg Rail,” Cooke said.
“We pride ourselves on being innovative and providing solutions. Having our own GLH engineer that understands the rail industry is a definite advantage.”
Other projects that GLH has been involved in over the last year include rail re- conditioning projects in Mt Isa and Emerald, and undercutting in various locations throughout Queensland.
Rail services offered include re-sleepering, re-railing, hi-rail trolleys, hi-rail clippers and de-clippers, hi-rail mulchers, hi-rail ballast brooms, welding, re-stress management and labour hire.
“In order to support our existing and new customer base with all our machinery, we have doubled the staff levels this past year,” Cooke said.
“From track workers, spotters, operators, administration and management, team GLH have got you covered.
“As our allocator Mohammed Akber keeps saying: “Without great staff, we have no customers, and without customers, we have no business”.
“We also have our own workshops to undertake maintenance and repairs on our equipment, ensuring machinery and vehicles are running to their optimum, including in-house field service 24/7 capabilities also. “To round it all off, we also have two fully equipped tyre repair trucks and mobile boilermakers too. Rest assured that GLH will get back on track in no time.
“Upgrading our operating systems has also been undertaken this year, providing us more capability for efficient allocations, compliance document ease, staff capabilities, invoicing and automatic compliance indicators for both assets and staff.”
THE YEAR AHEAD
As directors, both Cooke and Baird are looking forward to another busy year, although they know it won’t be without its challenges.
“It’s interesting times for the world economy and the world political climate, and there’s not a lot of predicting the effect these things can have on your business,” Cooke said.
“Throw in a world pandemic, just to make life interesting. On top of this, businesses like ours face day-to-day challenges in maintaining consistency of work, increasing health and safety compliance, competition, increasing cost pressures together with difficulty in obtaining parts and materials.
“Cameron and I are very humbled to see that the small company that dad started over 20 years ago has developed to what it is today.
“We are fortunate to have a great team of professional staff helping us to grow and expand this Queensland-owned family company”.
GLH has plans for next year to grow even more. The business will move its headquarters to a new Brisbane location with a state-of- the-art modern facility. Architectural designs and planning are now in motion.
“Since our inception and through our growth and expansion, GLH have and always will strive to offer superior outcomes and benefits for our clients together with an unrivalled level of service, support, solutions and exceptional experience that exceeds expectations,” Cooke said.
“We are a trusted supplier to both rail and civil sectors of Queensland. Feel free to give our team a call on 07 3879 1936 or visit our website at www.loaderhire.com.au.”
