Carnoustie haulage firm David Murray Transport closes after 39 years

Carnoustie haulage firm David Murray Transport has ceased trading after almost 40 years.

David Murray started the company in 1987 with a single lorry. With clients such as Strathmore Water and Mackays jam, the business grew to 25 vehicles.

In 2010, 25 staff at the business shared a £739,121 National Lottery prize after matching six numbers.

The company’s founder died in 2011 at the age of 66 after a road traffic accident. However, the business continued, led by his daughter Wendy Devlin and her husband Gary.

Mrs Devlin, 57, told The Courier that informing long-serving staff that the company was to close was “awful”. Ten members of staff have been made redundant. However, she said the Arbroath Road company had been wound up in an orderly fashion.

She said:

“We’ve had a number of challenges in the past few years, with Covid and rising fuel costs.

“We became grandparents last year, and my brother died suddenly in September. It just feels like the time is right.

“It’s been really emotional closing the business. A lot of staff have been here for 20-odd years – it’s like a family.

“The hardest part was sitting them all down and telling them we were closing.

“They were in tears, we were in tears, but they have been very understanding.

“We’ve made sure everything’s been done properly. All the staff received redundancy packages and all our suppliers have been paid.

“Our customers have also been very supportive.”

The company’s yard is now up for sale.

The most memorable moment in the company’s history was the 2010 lottery win. The 25 members of staff who were part of the syndicate scooped more than £29,500 each. All continued to work in the business.

Mrs Devlin recalled:

“We had a syndicate and Gary phoned me in the morning, asking ‘where are the tickets?’ I said they were in the locked drawer.

“By the time I got to the office to open the drawer, they’d crowbarred it open!

“One of the drivers had checked the tickets and was shouting ‘we’ve won the lottery.’

“It was an amazing moment. The television cameras were here – they had us all in the back of the lorry holding Yorkie bars. There was a wee pipe band and we were drinking Champagne.

“It was great, a lovely amount – but the guys still turned up for work on the Sunday.”

Another highlight was the business winning an award for best transport fleet in 2001 at Truckfest, Europe’s largest truck show.

The owners said they are looking forward to spending more time with their grandson Aidan, and they have another grandchild on the way.

“My time here’s done now. I’m ready to take on granny duties,” Mrs Devlin added.

This article appeared in the Courier on 9 July 2026