The Challenge

Migdale Transport Ltd of northern Scotland plays an important role in the supply and transport of live fish around the UK, including wrasse (cleaner fish), live lump fish, trout and salmon smoults. The firm’s customers in the aquaculture, food and other sectors typically take delivery of young cleaner fish from specialised hatcheries in the south of England and North Wales, along with Migdale’s own salmon stocks and young fish from other fish farmers. They then remove sea lice from the Atlantic salmon in their cages in an environmentally friendly way.

Although the majority of products that Tiger manufactures comprise curtainsiders, box vans and double deck trailers, its specialist design and engineering team always rises to the challenge when it comes to niche vehicles, and has a strong history in delivering bespoke solutions spanning coil-carriers, FLT carriers, hospitality trailers and chipliners, for customers of all sizes including names such as Calor Gas and Toyota.

Designing and manufacturing a specialist dropside flatbed trailer for transporting live lump fish and wrasse from UK-wide hatcheries to salmon farmer end customers in Scotland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands was a technical challenge relished by Tiger’s highly-experienced design engineers and specialist product division.

The Solution

Entering service on Migdale Transport’s fleet is a Tiger Trailers-built tri-axle dropside flatbed trailer with a fully galvanised chassis to stand up to the sometimes harsh coastal and rural environments in which the firm operates.

“Migdale Transport Ltd are very happy that we could find a bespoke solution with Tiger Trailers in the design and construction of this new concept, and we are satisfied with the good co-operation and the finished quality of the delivered trailer. We look forward to using this new trailer which will increase numbers of fish loaded and be more economic for our customers going forward. It is good to have Tiger Trailers based in the UK, providing solutions for our developing Aquaculture Industry and we look forward to continued co-operation in the future.” – Hugh G Murray, Managing Director of Migdale Transport Ltd

Up to sixteen tanks of live fish can be carried on the flatbed, with guides incorporated in the chassis, flanked by four flaps on either side, a steel chequer plate overlay floor for durability and safe grip, and a central tunnel for the routing of cables and pipes.

Finished in Gentian Blue, matching Migdale’s livery, the specialist trailer delivered by Tiger has been put to work alongside the customer’s existing niche trailers and nine trucks including DAF units and a Scania R-Series.

“It was fantastic to have the opportunity to work alongside Migdale Transport in collaboratively designing a specialist trailer solution for such a niche and interesting operation that necessitates key strength and durability requirements. We are proud to have delivered a Tiger trailer for Migdale’s fleet and look forward to continuing to support them as a customer.” – Thomas Stott, Technical Sales Manager, Tiger Trailers