New CVRT centre opens at Reynolds Commercials
Prominent local business Reynolds Commercials recently opened Ireland's newest Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT) centre, testing trucks, trailers, vans and buses.
The centre, which began operations in April at Reynolds Commercials' premises in Walderstown, Athlone, is open six days a week from Monday to Saturday.
The state-of-the-art test centre for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) has been authorised by the Road Safety Authority and can test your vehicle at a time that suits you with its extended opening hours.
It was officially opened on Saturday last at a ceremony involving members of the Reynolds family, staff, invited guests, including Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke and local councillor Tom Farrell.
The text centre is a two-bay facility with one HCV bay and a double LCV bay allowing for an LCV test every 15 minutes. There is also ample parking available for all customers. It offers vehicle testing along with tachograph calibrations and weight plating. Tachograph calibration for HGVs is compulsory as it ensures the devices work properly and measure data accurately. It checks that all technical measurements recorded by the tachograph such as driving times, speed, and distance are correct.
The Director of Operations at Reynolds Commercials, Anthony Reynolds, described the service as being akin to the NCT for cars. “All of our customers are delighted that we have it,” he said. The Walderstown native added that customers now expect a a one-stop shop for all their motoring needs.
Anthony began working for the family business six years ago and noticed that they were wasting time driving vehicles to and from the CVRT test centre in Athlone, Moate and Longford.
As the business became busier, they thought it may be beneficial to open their own test centre.
“It was a huge investment. We've invested €1.5 million into it so far,” said Anthony.
He explained: “The vehicles were coming here anyway to get repairs and services done and while they were here, we realised we weren't a one -stop shop. We couldn't do everything that needed to be done when we were having to outsource some of this.”
Building work commenced on the new test centre about 18 months ago.
Anthony said that they had to keep the business running while building the new test centre which was a “big challenge”. He said the process was hugely worthwhile adding that the new centre represents a “useful add-on to the whole operation”.
“We had to invest in all of the equipment for the testing. That equipment was about a quarter of a million (euro) and so that was a huge investment. Obviously, we also invested in the redevelopment of the existing workshop and yard.”
The local man believes that the new test centre will increase Reynolds Commercials' customer base as every vehicle requires a road test.
“When people know that we're here and we are testing, they're more likely to come in.”
It also means that their mechanics will not need to travel with customers' vehicles to Athlone to have the tests done. As a result, Anthony says: “It'll increase our efficiency, obviously, and it should increase the revenue.”
Anthony also feels that customers will then be more likely to avail of other services from Reynolds Commercials, including having their vehicles serviced there or purchase a vehicle from them, as they also act as agents for Renault Trucks Ireland.
As the business has grown, Reynolds Commercials has also expanded to service large companies including fleet and courier companies, proving its excellence in providing quality services for commercial vehicles.
The CVRT test centre is located at Reynolds Commercials, Tones Road, Walderstown, Athlone, N37 EH24.
Road tests can be booked in with Reynolds Commercials online on operator.cvrt.ie.