Scottish haulage company collapses with all jobs lost

Michael Reid of MHA has been appointed liquidator. <i>(Image: Rory Raitt/ MHA)</i>
Michael Reid of MHA has been appointed liquidator. (Image: Rory Raitt/ MHA)
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A Scottish haulage company has collapsed into liquidation with all jobs lost.

The liquidator highlighted “significant pressures” on the haulage business, which was established in 1968.

Michael Reid, head of insolvency services in Scotland for MHA, has been appointed liquidator of VG Mathers Limited, based at Kintore in Aberdeenshire.

VG Mathers' fall into liquidation has resulted in the loss of all seven jobs.

Colin Mathers, director of VG Mathers Limited, said: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our business. For years, our team has poured everything into keeping our wheels turning, but we have ultimately been overwhelmed by a relentless series of challenges.

"In this industry, we are used to navigating tough times, but recently it has felt like one thing after another. We are far from alone in this struggle: with around 400 UK road haulage and freight companies closing in 2025 alone, our demise is a symptom of a much larger crisis hitting our sector. We have faced an unprecedented squeeze from every angle - skyrocketing fuel costs, soaring insurance premiums, mounting compliance burdens and the rising costs involved in vehicle maintenance.”


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He added: “We fought hard to absorb these costs, but the compounding pressure severely choked our cash flow. Without the financial cushion to withstand any payment issues or fluctuating customer demand, we reached a point where continuing to trade became impossible.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to our loyal staff, our dedicated drivers and our wonderful clients who stood by us. This is a very difficult outcome for us and our team, but the economic reality left us with no other choice."

The firm, which also offered inspections and repair work, was established in 1968 by Colin Mathers’ dad, Vic.

Michael Reid, who is based at MHA’s office in Aberdeen, said: “VG Mathers is a further example of a business facing significant pressures, unfortunately resulting in job losses. Our priority is to work with stakeholders to manage the process as smoothly as possible.”

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