Coille Haulage Liquidation: 24 Jobs Lost & A Guide for Employees and Creditors
The Scottish haulage sector has been dealt another blow with the sudden closure of the Argyll-based firm, Coille Haulage Ltd. The Lochgilphead company ceased trading and entered liquidation in August 2025, resulting in the immediate redundancy of all 24 employees.
This article provides a complete breakdown of the liquidation, an expert analysis of the financial pressures that led to it, and a crucial guide for former employees and creditors on what to do next.
The Coille Haulage Liquidation: Key Facts
24 Immediate Redundancies at Lochgilphead Firm
The closure of the business resulted in all 24 staff members being made redundant with immediate effect. This is a significant loss for the local Lochgilphead community, where the company was a well-known employer.
FRP Advisory Appointed as Joint Liquidators
Business advisory firm FRP Advisory has been appointed to handle the liquidation. Partners Michelle Elliot and Callum Carmichael are now the joint liquidators and will manage the process of winding up the company’s affairs.
Who Was Coille Haulage Ltd? A Company Profile
This section fills a gap often missed by brief news reports. Understanding who the company was provides important context for its closure.
Coille Haulage Ltd was a specialist road transport company, primarily focused on the timber haulage industry. According to its file at Companies House, the company was a long-standing fixture in the Argyll and Bute region. Companies House official file. It provided essential logistics services, connecting the area’s forestry operations to wider markets.
Expert Analysis: Why Did Coille Haulage Fail?
The Official Reason: Unsustainable Cash Flow Problems
In a statement, the joint liquidators confirmed that the company had faced “unsustainable cash flow problems.” These financial difficulties, coupled with challenging trading conditions, forced the director’s difficult decision to cease trading and appoint liquidators.
But what does “cash flow problems” really mean? This is rarely an isolated event.
Expert Insight: The 3 Pressures Crushing Scottish Haulage Companies
The collapse of Coille Haulage is a stark example of a ‘perfect storm’ of financial pressures in the UK logistics sector. Our analysis shows that many firms, especially small and medium-sized hauliers, are struggling with:
- Soaring Operating Costs: Diesel prices, HGV acquisition, and maintenance costs have eroded already thin profit margins.
- Labour Shortages: The persistent HGV driver shortage forces wage increases to retain staff, creating operational bottlenecks and increasing overhead.
- Economic Slowdown: Reduced consumer spending and a dip in construction activity mean fewer goods to move. This intensifies competition for a smaller pool of contracts, driving prices down.
This combination of rising costs and falling revenue is the root cause behind the “cash flow problems” that led to the Coille Haulage liquidation.
A Practical Guide for Those Affected
This is the most critical information for those impacted by the closure. When a company enters liquidation, it’s vital to know the correct steps to take.
For Former Employees: How to Claim Redundancy and Other Entitlements
If you were an employee of Coille Haulage, you are entitled to claim redundancy and other statutory pay. Here is the process you must follow.
- Contact the Liquidator: The joint liquidators (FRP Advisory) will provide you with a case reference number (often called a ‘CN’ number). This number is essential for your claim.
- Claim from the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS): You do not claim redundancy directly from Coille Haulage or the liquidator. You must file a claim online with the government’s Insolvency Service.
- Go to the Official Website: Your claim for redundancy pay, unpaid wages, and holiday pay must be submitted on the [official GOV.UK Redundancy Payments Service website].
- What You Can Claim: The RPS will process your claim for statutory entitlements, including:
- Statutory redundancy pay
- Unpaid wages
- Holiday pay (accrued but not taken)
- Statutory notice pay
The liquidators and agencies like Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) will also be available to provide support and guidance.
For Creditors and Suppliers: How to Register Your Claim
If you are a creditor or supplier owed money by Coille Haulage Ltd, you must formally register your claim with the liquidators.
You should contact FRP Advisory to receive a “proof of debt” form. This form allows you to state the amount you are owed. This ensures you are formally registered as a creditor, which is necessary to be included in any potential, albeit unlikely, distribution of the company’s assets.
The liquidation of Coille Haulage is a significant loss for the Lochgilphead community and a stark warning about the fragile state of the UK haulage industry. For those affected, understanding and navigating the formal insolvency process is the first and most critical step toward financial recovery.
If your own business is facing similar cash flow pressures or signs of financial distress, it is vital to seek professional insolvency advice as early as possible. Contact us for confidential business advice.
FAQs
What happened to Coille Haulage Ltd?
Coille Haulage Ltd entered liquidation in August 2025. The company has ceased all trading, and all 24 staff were made redundant.
How many jobs were lost at the Lochgilphead firm?
All 24 employees of Coille Haulage were made redundant with immediate effect upon the company’s liquidation.
Who are the liquidators for Coille Haulage?
Michelle Elliot and Callum Carmichael of the business advisory firm FRP Advisory have been appointed as joint liquidators.
Why did Coille Haulage go into liquidation?
The liquidators stated the company failed due to “unsustainable cash flow problems” and difficult trading conditions. This is linked to wider industry pressures like high fuel costs and economic slowdown.
What happens to employees when a company is liquidated?
Employees are made redundant. They must file a claim with the government’s Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) to receive statutory redundancy pay, unpaid wages, and holiday pay.
How do I claim redundancy pay from the liquidator?
You don’t claim directly from the liquidator. The liquidator (FRP Advisory) will provide you with a case reference number. You then use this number to make your claim online at the official GOV.UK Redundancy Payments Service website.
What is the difference between liquidation and administration?
Liquidation (or “winding up”) is the process of closing a company permanently and selling its assets to pay creditors. Administration is a formal procedure where an administrator is appointed to try and rescue the company (e.g., by finding a buyer).
Why are so many Scottish haulage companies failing?
Many haulage firms are facing a combination of intense financial pressures, including high diesel and energy costs, HGV driver shortages, and increased competition for a reduced number of contracts due to a slower economy.
About the Author
