Lawsons Haulage was founded on the family farm by Jim and Eileen Lawson at Hundith Hill, Cockermouth. They started with a small cattle wagon used to transport livestock for local farmers to the auction marts. Eventually, the company diversified into carrying animal feeds, hay and straw and continued to expand into new markets whilst acquiring more vehicles as it did so.
Between 1966 and 1972 the Workington to Keswick railway line and the Penrith rail link were closed, the ballast, sleepers and track were removed to make way for the new A66 and Lawsons Haulage worked on both of these jobs, buying and selling sleepers for the creation of silage and slurry pits for farms. With an expanded fleet that now includes articulated, flatbed, and tipper trailers, and with British Steel’s Workington plant still operating at full capacity, the contract for transporting track products across the British Isles remained a significant aspect of the business. Even after the closure of the rail mill at Workington and the re-location of production to Scunthorpe, Lawsons proudly retained the contract and continues to this day to distribute rails, ballast and sleepers throughout Britain.
In 1971, the company moved to the historic Gote Mill site to support the growing fleet and team. By the late 1970s, the acquisition of the first mobile crane and plant machinery marked the beginning of our bustling crane hire operation. Over seven decades of providing crane hire and heavy haulage services, Lawsons Haulage has cultivated an extensive client portfolio. The company’s family-run ethos remains endearing to its clients, who have come to expect a service that consistently meets their needs and maintains a global standard.
Today, Lawsons Haulage is still very proud to be a family ran business, assisted by a professional & dedicated workforce
Over the years we have expanded the range of services we offer to prospective clients beyond haulage by adding expertise and equipment able to undertake craneage services. Available 24 hours every day and all year round we can provide for all your haulage and mobile crane requirements. Our experience allows for the transportation of specialist items and our extensive fleet, which includes over 50 trucks and over 125 trailers has been engineered to accommodate the unique requirements particularly associated with heavy haulage and the rail Industry. Working nationally and occasionally internationally, we have earnt an enviable reputation in the rail Industry and our diverse fleet capability ensures that carrying timber, building products, heavy plant and large machinery alongside bulk materials such as scrap metal, coal, stone and sand is no challenge for our vehicles. Further highlighting our ability to meet any demand, we’ve have also carried such items as caravans, boats, trains, windmills and even a giant carved stone sheep!
In 2012 we proudly transported a boat from Lake Windermere to London for the Royal Thames River Pageant!
Complementing the fleet are 12 Hiab-type truck-mounted cranes, including one of the largest in the UK, and our diverse range of trailers includes 45-foot flat beds, 130ft extendable steer-trailers, low loaders, step frames, curtain side and tipping trailers. Our Moffat-mountie and other specialised trailers are available on request.
Our mobile crane and plant hire business further diversifies our offer which has become an important part of our business. We can offer backhoe machines, 360 degrees tracked machines and tele-handlers alongside the lorry-mounted Hiab-type cranes with a capacity of 25 to 100 tonnes per metre. Significantly, as part of the company’s growth our fleet of 10 all-terrain mobile cranes compliment our haulage fleet. These cranes range from a 40 tonne to 250+ tonne capacity with larger cranes available on request. CPA and contract lifts with an Appointed Person, Lift Supervisor, Slinger and Banksmen are offered depending on the package required. We have a broad range of carefully selected lifting attachments including block grabs, concrete skips, lifting beams, spreader beams, and many more. Site visits are available on request and a full on-site consultation is offered. Moreover, all our vehicles and pieces of machinery are supported by a large, purpose-built workshop for in-house maintenance and repairs.
