Established 36 years by Brian McDonnell, McDonnell Commercials is the main dealer for Volvo trucks and buses in the northern part of the Irish Republic. As one of the county's most successful companies, 'Monaghan's Match' decided to profile the Dunraymond-based dealership.

Since 1973, truck and bus owners from all over Ireland have been doing business with McDonnell Commercials Ltd.
Based in Urblekirk, Dunraymond, McDonnell Commercials is the main Volvo truck and bus dealer for the north-east and north-west regions. The company employs 35 staff and has been providing transport solutions to its customers for over 35 years.
In this period, McDonnell Commercials has continued to invest in both its premises and staff. The existing premises were built in 1992 and further extended in 1999. The company became a Volvo parts and service dealer in 1986 and became a selling agent of Volvo trucks one year later. In 2004, the company was accredited with 1SO 9001:2000.
A key element in the company's success is its attention to detail and its commitment to providing a first-class service to all its customers. Customer satisfaction is critical to McDonnell's success, something that is strongly reflected in Volvo's annual customer satisfaction survey.
Over the past five years, McDonnell Commercials has been the highest performing dealer in the UK and Ireland as measured by Volvo's 'Second to None' customer satisfaction survey. Figures just released by Volvo for 2009 show that 99 per cent of McDonnell's customers are either satisfied or strongly satisfied with their performance in the three key areas of truck sales and delivery, servicing and parts.
One satisfied customer said: "They are very good and attentive staff with a good turnaround time. I am a small operator but feel that I am as valued as any other customer."
Every customer is a valued customer whether they are an owner-driver or a fleet operator with 100 vehicles. Each has their own requirements and each receives the same high standard of service.
Each year, Volvo runs a Franchise Excellence Award for their 90 dealers across the UK and Ireland, measuring the dealer performance in the key areas of: competence development; customer satisfaction; quality of work index and Volvo action service (breakdown service).
McDonnell Commercials are very proud of their success in these awards, having achieved first place on three occasions and second place twice in the five years of the scheme's existence.
McDonnell's service department has a fully equipped workshop with nine drive-through bays equipped with brake testing equipment, overhead gantry crane and high-tech Volvo computer-aided diagnostics, ensuring the fault is diagnosed promptly and repaired right first time, on time. The company's technicians are trained to Volvo's highest standards and go through a continuous process of updating their knowledge as technology advances.
McDonnell Commercials aim to provide a comprehensive range of services to ensure they meet the demands of customers, including the following:
- Servicing, diagnostics and repair of truck and bus
- Full range of Volvo contract maintenance (Gold, Silver and Bronze contracts)
- Tachograph calibration and repair (Analogue and Digital)
- Speedlimiter calibration
- Brake testing facility
- Trailer service and maintenance
- DOE preparation
- Diesel fuel injection services
- Accident and repairs

All this is backed up by a 24-hour callout/recovery service, with three fully equipped service vehicles for breakdown support and off-site service support.
McDonnell's experienced parts team supply customers with a wide range of Volvo genuine parts, which are backed by Volvo's 12-month warranty which is extended to 24 months when fitted in their workshop. Offering peace of mind to their customers and ensuring their Volvo truck remains a true Volvo are of paramount importance to the company.
The McDonnell parts department carries an extensive range of parts which are backed by Volvo's 96 per cent availability standard, ensuring that any non-stocked items are available the next day. The company also carries an extensive range of trailer parts covering BPW and Arvin Meritor trailer running gear and suspensions.
Volvo trucks offer outstanding performance in every respect. Take a Volvo for a test drive and you will experience excellent driveline performance and true driver comfort. Own one and you are in a strong position to succeed in your business. A Volvo truck is built to give you maximum return on your investment and is delivered tailored to the specific application and your way of working.
The Volvo family are:
Volvo FL - Developed for the fast pace of life on the city streets. It is the perfect choice for quick deliveries in and around town, refuse collection and other municipal services.
Volvo FE - A productive personality that is perfectly suited to regional transportation, refuse handling, light construction duties and refrigerated haulage.
Volvo FM - Perfect for distribution or construction, refuse collection and pure long-haul operations. The FM has a configuration for every requirement.
Volvo FH - Your truck is your office, and can be your kitchen, bedroom and workhorse too. The FH is everything you need.
Volvo FH16 - The ultimate choice for transporting heavy goods over long distances.
McDonnell Commercials founder Brian McDonnell takes a keen interest in the GAA, being a supporter of his local club Sean McDermotts and the Monaghan county team. Named after the famous Irish republican who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising, Sean McDermotts is one of Monaghan's best known and most progressive clubs, fielding football teams from under 8 upwards and being particularly strong in Scor and Scor na nOg.
The club won the Monaghan and Ulster intermediate championships in 2003, while it also claimed county junior championships in 1969, '77, '81 and '90.
After securing promotion to Division 1 of the National League in the spring, Monaghan endured a disappointing championship which saw them lose to Derry twice in the Ulster championship and the All-Ireland qualifiers. They did have the satisfaction of beating Armagh after extra-time in between, however.
Brian says: "I would like to take this opportunity to wish both Sean McDermotts and Monaghan all the best in 2010. The addition of Paul Grimley to Seamus McEnaney's management team is a big boost and playing against the best teams in Division 1 should stand the team in good stead come the championship." Tweet

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