Lawsons Haulage Ltd was started in 1952 By Jim and Eileen Lawson at the family farm located at Hundith Hill, Cockermouth with a small cattle wagon used to transport livestock for local farmers to the auction marts.
The company then diversified into carrying animal feedstuffs such as hay and straw, acquiring more vehicles as it did so, but the main work was the movement of animals from the auctions to the abattoirs for local dealers.
When the Workington to Keswick and the Penrith rail link was closed, the ballast and sleepers were moved to make way for the new A66 and Lawsons Haulage worked on both these jobs, buying and selling sleepers for the creation of silage and slurry pits for farms.
The expanded fleet of vehicles were now articulated flat and tipper trailers and with British Steel in Workington still in full production, the contract to transport track products across the British Isles was an important part of the business. Even when the rail mill at the Workington plant closed and production moved to Scunthorpe, Lawsons retained the contract and still transport their goods around Britain.
In 1971 the company relocated to the Gote Mill site to accommodate the expanded fleet and staff, and in the late 1970s the first mobile crane and plant machinery were acquired.
Today Lawsons employ over 50 staff and the immaculate fleet of around 50 vehicles and over 100 trailers are seen the length and breadth of the country, with a wide variety of cargoes. Some of the less common items they have been requested to carry have ranged from caravans, boats and trains to windmills and even a giant carved stone sheep!
The company specialises in specialist and general haulage, all terrain mobile crane services and plant hire equipment, with the full consultation and qualified supervisory services to accompany all jobs. It is still managed by Jim and Eileen Lawson, ably assisted by son Raymond, daughter Pauline, and until recently by son Colin, who sadly passed away after a brave battle with cancer. Raymond also manages the plant and crane hire side of the business.
The company offers a full 24-hour, 7 day per week service nationwide and all of their work and operatives are fully CITB approved.
For further information tel: 01900 823061, or visit their website: www.lawsonshaulage.co.uk.
