Sutton Coldfield-based family firm The Haulage Group has called in the administrators.

The company has appointed Edward M Avery-Gee, Daniel Richardson and Nick Brierley, of Manchester-based CG Recovery, as joint administrators

Based at Maybrook Business Park in Minworth, The Haulage Group employs around 15 staff and has operating licences for 70 trucks and 70 trailers. 

Known as the Howell Group until December 2021, the company was founded in 1960. It specialises in general and contract haulage, as well as offering automotive haulage, pallet distribution and storage services.

The administration comes one year after The Haulage Group appeared in court alongside Turners (Soham), where they were fined a combined total of £2.2m after a depot manager was struck by a reversing HGV and killed.

Neil Roberts, 60, worked for Turners (Soham) when he was hit by the truck on 30 August 2019. The incident occurred at The Haulage Group’s transport yard, when the vehicle reversed out of a parking space.

Turners (Soham) pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £1.9m and ordered to pay costs of £7,300.

The Haulage Group also pleaded guilty to breaching the same Act and was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,300.

HSE principal inspector Amy Kalay said at the time that the incident was ”completely preventable”, adding that both companies had ”failed to recognise and control the risks associated with workplace transport, and in particular the dangers of reversing vehicles and poor visibility.”

A request by MT for comment from The Haulage Group and CG Recovery on the administration has yet to receive a response. 

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