400 Machines Strong: Celebrating R & L Miller’s Milestone with Scot JCB

Robert & Lorna Miller, owners of R & L Miller Ltd celebrated their 400^th new machine from Scot JCB, a JCB 540-200 Telescopic Handler at ScotPlant 2024. We caught up with Robert recently to find out more about his business and how working with Scot JCB has helped his business grow.

A Legacy Forged in Machinery

Founded in 1982, R & L Miller has grown from a solo venture into a thriving family-owned business renowned for its commitment to quality and service hiring machinery across the central belt of Scotland and beyond. “It started with myself and then we grew, bringing on key people who are still with us today. People like Bret, my right-hand man, and Gavin, who looks after our hire equipment, Jon our Plant Manager and Davie in Stores,” Robert shares with pride.

R & L Miller started hiring and servicing agricultural machinery, Robert himself served his time as a tractor mechanic, however, they soon diversified into plant in the 90s and have been working with Scot JCB since 2002.

Core Values at the Heart

At the core of R & L Miller's operations are values deeply rooted in reliability and service. “Our motto, ‘small enough to care, big enough to serve,’ really guides us,” Robert explains. This philosophy has steered the company to focus on maintaining high service standards, ensuring they can always deliver on promises made to customers by only hiring to areas that they know they can service easily if there are any issues with machines. “If customers are going further afield, we will work with Scot JCB as they cover the whole of Scotland to make sure there is backup there if the customer needs it.”

Diversity in Service

Diversification has been key to the company's success, with services expanding well beyond their initial agricultural focus. Today, R & L Miller caters to various sectors, including construction, waste management, and even special projects overseas. “We’ve had customers hire machines from us to take to Germany and Norway before!” added Robert.

Faultless Back-Up from Scot JCB

“The backup we get from Scots is excellent, we really can’t fault it. Scot JCB is local and it’s national and that’s the way we must operate now, as I mentioned before our customers are taking our machines further and we know with Scot JCB, whether we’ve got a machine in the North of Scotland or down as far as Carlisle we know if there is any issue you will have us covered.” Robert went onto say that his team has a great relationship with Scot JCB too “Bret can just pick up the phone and the problem is usually solved, at R & L Miller the customer is King and Scot JCB always treats us like that. There is a respect for each other, and we keep going back because of that.”

JCB Finance Make it Easy

Robert also said working with JCB Finance makes purchasing new machines hassle-free. “My wife, Lorna, would probably say that JCB Finance make buying new machines too easy, but working with David Dodds is great. David will give you the figures and the terms of the deal and if you’re in agreement then a few clicks and you’re done!” He went onto say that JCB Finance documents are really simple to understand too.

JCB LiveLink – A Phenomenal Tool

Technology plays a pivotal role in maintaining R & L Miller’s business. The adoption of JCB’s Livelink system allows them to monitor and manage machine operations with unprecedented precision. “Livelink is a phenomenal tool. It ensures that we can track, manage, and maintain our machines no matter where they are. “JCB Livelink was particularly helpful when one of his rollers was stolen from a site, using LiveLink they were able to track it to a lockup where Police were able to recover the missing machine.

Community and Beyond

Community involvement is another pillar of R & L Miller’s business. The company actively supports local causes and charities, a practice that became even more significant during the pandemic. “Instead of our usual giveaways, we directed our funds to support local hospices and community sports teams, reinforcing our commitment to the community,” Robert reflects on the shift in their approach during challenging times.

Looking Ahead

As for the future, Robert Miller sees continued growth and adaptation. “The landscape of our industry is ever-changing, and with every machine we purchase, every new technology we adopt, we're preparing to meet the future head-on, we’ve got great managers and staff and I have no intention of retiring any time soon!” he states confidently. The purchase of their 400th machine from Scot JCB is not just a testament to a long-standing relationship but a stepping stone to future achievements working together.”

About R & L Miller

R & L Miller Ltd is a family run business focused on giving a quality service and satisfying customers, as we have been doing for over 40 years. They provide a friendly and professional service to a diverse customer base, including agriculture, construction, forestry, engineering, landscaping, gardening, and Local Authority. Specialising in agricultural and construction plant hire, lorry mounted crane hire and specialised haulage.