Little Trucker Down Under - 04 - Spring 2022 by NZTrucking

FREE STICKERS AND COLLECTOR CARDS INSIDE!

E L T T I L Down r e d n U R E K C U R T $8.50 | Spring 2022 | Issue 4

BUILD YOUR OWN TRUCK

MODEL!

S E IIVZ R P YS AND G EAWA INSIDE REMEMBER TO WAVE TO A TRUCKIE!

DRAW WN

YOUR O TRUCK LOGO

677008 9 772744

ISSN 2744-6778

$8.50

Eden Haulage

GETTING TO KNOW

IN MEET MY FLEET

FREE POSTER AND FUN ACTIVITIES

Looking for a truckload of fun? Scania Kids Hub is the place to go. It’s packed with fun activities for mini truckies - everything from rock art to crosswords, board games to I Spy. You can even build your very own truck! Scania Kids Hub is the perfect boredom buster for truck lovers. Scan the QR code below or visit https://bit.ly/scania-kids NAME:

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE One of these things is not like the other. A great way for kids to test their powers of observation. See if you can spot the 10 differences between the two images.

I SPY WITH MY SCANIA EYE This is a fun take on the traditional game, where kids can sharpen their searching and counting skills.

Your Scania needs to haul a container from the port to your warehouse. Navigate your way through the maze to get your load delivered. Make sure you stop for a pie and a coffee on the way and avoid the road works and traffic lights.

Safe driving! Move ahead 4 spaces.

Roll again!

START

Flat tyre! Miss a turn.

Choose your preferred route.

Stop to decide your route. Miss a turn.

Passing lane. Move ahead 1 space.

Passing lane. Move ahead 2 spaces.

Motorway is clear! Move forward 3 spaces.

Speed camera ticket. Go back 5 spaces.

Road works. Go back 3 spaces

Cattle on the road. Miss a turn.

7 4

5 6

7 7

3 6

7 10

6 9

13 7

10 9

8 6

8 9

8 7

You eat a delicious pie. Move forward 4 spaces.

ANSWERS: 1. Telegraph pole knob has moved. 2. Extra telegraph pole. 3. Missing road edge marker. 4. Truck aerial has moved. 5. Number plate number. 6. Upside-down wing mirror. 7. Missing white ticket in front window. 8. Green line on road. 9. Doggie Driver. 10. Bigfoot sighting!

8 6

Forgot your sunnies! Go back to the start.

Nice cornering! Move forward 3 spaces.

Bad weather. Move only 1 space on your next two turns.

Queue for the tunnel. Miss a turn.

Stop for an ice cream. Miss a turn.

rock Art

Clear roads ahead. Move forward 2 spaces.

(Rock Painting)

Your truck is clean. Roll again. Tail wind! Move forward 5 spaces.

V8 Boost! Move forward 4 spaces.

Wrong turn! Follow the exit to route 4.

• Rocks from the garden of any shape or size.

Flooded road. Miss 2 turns.

Toilet stop. Miss a turn.

Things you’ll need: • Something to draw/paint with (a sharpie, coloured permanent markers, metallic pens or if using paint, an acrylic paint works best and a fine paintbrush).

Accident ahead. Miss 2 turns. V8 Boost! Move forward 3 spaces.

Decorating Inspiration:

You forget to take a break. Go back 8 spaces.

Your favourite song comes on the radio. Move forward 3 spaces.

There are unlimited ways to turn a plain rock into a masterpiece. Paint patterns, a pohutukawa flower or even a cool Scania truck. Express yourself NAME: with rock painting. Here’s some ideas to get you started:

JUNIOR CROSSWORD Give way. Miss a turn.

JUNIOR CROSSWORD

FINISH

You run out of petrol. Miss 2 turns.

Sweet ride! Roll again.

1 2

Build your Scania: 1. Print out truck artwork. 2. Get creative and colour in and design your Scania truck. 3. Have an adult help you cut out the truck by cutting around the solid outer pink line. The dotted lines are folds. 4. Cut slits in the tabs on the front and back where there are thicker pinks lines. The tabs on the sides will slot into these. 5. Put your masterpiece on display.

5 6

3 7 4

8 9

13 13 14

15 15

16 16 17

17 18 18

Across 3. The measure of distance by time 4. Part of a truck where you can rest 8. Use to see behind you without turning around 12. Where most people buy groceries 14. These connect the truck to the road 15. Not rough 16. The middle of something 17. Something burned to produce heat or power 18. To pull an attached trailer

Down 1. These keep your windscreen clean and dry 2. Motor of a truck or car 5. The surroundings in which we all live 6. What do you call the person at the wheel? 7. Use these to slow down 9. To fix something 10. Which company makes the best trucks 11. The trunks of fallen trees 12. The capital of Sweden 13. An area covered with trees 16. A luxury bus

Across Down 3. On the front or back of a vehicle to reduce damage 1. Swedish for ‘Hello’ 5. A heavy thing to be carried 2. The general weather condition of an area 6. Weighs a lot! 3. NZ government building 9. Consistently good in quality 4. Eastern-most city in New Zealand 10. To be kept safe 7. These let you see where you’re driving at night 11. How far something can go 8. The healthiest thing to drink 12. The outside of something 12. Tallest mountain in the world 14. Past, present, ... ? 13. The fastest place to drive 15. Answer to a puzzle 17. Extinct New Zealand bird 16. Not weak 18. Biggest lake in New Zealand

e 4 of

u Welcome to iss

Check out our website Hey there little truckers! I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad to see the weather warming up and the skies getting blue. Soon we will start seeing flowers on the trees, baby lambs and baby cows on the farms, the trees green and all the other great stuff you get to see when on the roads during spring time. I really hope you are enjoying the Little Trucker Down Under magazine. We really enjoy putting it all together for you. We love all your feedback too - so please if you want to drop us a line, feel free to message us on Facebook or send us an email at: shannon@nztrucking.co.nz. Our Spring issue is jam-packed! We have so much to show you! We have our Aussie reporter Mike tell us all about telemetry, which is special equipment used to record what a truck is doing on the road. We have Dustin heading out in a Kenworth with Steve Martin Contracting, and Thomas shares some top tips on how to take a great truck photo. Millie talks to Andrew Geddes of Timaru Signs, and learns all about the art of sign writing. Make sure you head to our puzzle section where you can design your own trucking logo, and we’ve got a cool competition where you can create your own mini truck model! Keep on trucking!

Sh a n n o n

Here’s me visiting some baby cows on a farm in Northland last spring – they’re not very little are they!

Head on over to www.littletruckerdownunder.com for photos, puzzles, fun stories and more! The Little Trucker website is a fun place where we can all come together and share our love of trucks!

TUNE IN TO TRUCKING RADIO 24/7 NOW! Yes! We have a brand-new radio show that is 100% dedicated to trucks! We've got commentary, news and some cool music that you can listen to all day long. You can send through a voice message to us that we will play on air so your mum or dad, or whoever is out driving, can listen too! Download the Trucking Radio 24/7 app now on Google Play or the App Store.

EDITOR

Shannon Williams Ph: 021 182 4803 Email: editor@littletrucker.co.nz

6 10

CONTENTS 3 Welcome to Little Trucker Spring 2022 6 On the road with Milly: Wash Time

8 Top Truck

Contributors Craig McCauley Milly McCauley Rochelle Thomas Mike Williams PUBLISHER

Dave McCoid Ph: 027 492 5601 Email: editor@nztrucking.co.nz For all advertising enquiries: Matt Smith Ph: 021 510 701 Email: matt@nztrucking.co.nz Pav Warren Ph: 027 201 4001 Email: pav@nztrucking.co.nz ART DIRECTOR

Ricky Harris DIGITAL MANAGER/CONTENT

Louise Stowell OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

31 Puzzles

Georgi George

42 Little Trucker photo album

Long Haul Publications Ltd 511 Queen Street, Thames 3500 PO Box 35, Thames 3500.

44 Yummy Recipes

OFFICE

46 Colouring comp winners 48 Meet My Fleet – Eden Haulage 54 Jobs in Transport – Timaru Signs

On the road with our junior reporters 10 Photo tips and tricks with Thomas 14 A day out with Dad with Isabella 18 All aboard the grain train with Reid

48 The big T610 Kenworth with Dustin 59 Q&A with a truckie with Blake

Little Trucker Down Under magazine is published by Long Haul Publishing Ltd. The contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the consent of the editor. Unsolicited editorial material may be submitted, but should include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. While every care is taken, no responsibility is accepted for material submitted. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Little Trucker Down Under or Long Haul Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. This magazine is subject to the New Zealand Press Council. Complaints are to be first directed to: editor@littletrucker.co.nz with “Press Council Complaint” in the subject line. If unsatisfied, the complaint may be referred to the Press Council, PO Box 10 879, The Terrace, Wellington 6143 or by email at info@presscouncil.org.nz Further details and online complaints at www.presscouncil.org.nz FREE STICKER S AND

Get your copy of Little Trucker Down Under delivered straight to your letterbox.

| Issue 4

DS INSIDE!

BUILD YOUR OWN TRUCK

MODEL! PRIZES INSIDE

AND GIVEAWAYS

REMEMBER TO WAVE TO A TRUCKIE!

NZ $29 Austraila $45

DRAW

YOUR OWN TRUCK LOGO

677008

ISSN 2744-67 78

$8.50

Subscribe at: https://www.nztrucking.co.nz/shop/

9 772744

COLLECTOR CAR

LITTLE Down TRUCKER Under $8.50 | Spring 2022

GETTING TO KNOW

Eden Haulag

FRE E PO STE

R AN D FUN AC

IN MEET MY

TIV ITI ES

FLEET

TRG_2

Big trucks bring big fun! Have you ever wondered where all your toys, books, clothes, and even your snacks come from? They may come from a shop or the mall, but no matter what they are, trucks take them to where they’re meant to go.

TR Group has a fleet of over 7,000 trucks and trailers across Australia and New Zealand, which means your stuff will be delivered by our stuff almost every day. So no matter where you are, you’re likely to see a TR truck! Together with our customers, we’re an important piece of the puzzle that keeps everything moving.

wn der

www.trgroup.co.nz

TRG_2345_Little Truckers ad August 3.indd 1

www.trgroupau.com

10/08/22 9:32 AM

On the road with Milly

e m i T h s a W Scrubbing bin. down the

Story and Photographs by Milly McCauley With trucks all over New Zealand taking a battering from winter weather conditions, keeping your truck clean is important, not only because it looks nice and positively represents the industry, but also it can make spotting any maintenance issues easier than if it’s plastered in mud, dirt and grime.

i Little Truckers, I hope everybody is well and you are all keeping warm over winter. I have had a busy few months and there has been no opportunity to do a truck trip with Dad unfortunately. However, I jumped at the chance to head over to Sollys Richmond Depot recently to meet up with Dad and help him wash the winter’s grime off the Scania. Mum drove me across to Richmond, I caught up with Dad and after being shown the controls and what to do I was able to drive the Scania onto the wash pad.....what a thrill! We wet the truck down, then sprayed it with detergent from the

foam gun, before sponging the cab and wheels and scrubbing the rest of the unit with a soft brush. Dad and I then had ‘turn-about’ using the water blaster to clean off the loosened dirt. As we worked our way around the truck and trailer, I asked Dad if he liked washing his truck. “It’s certainly not my favourite part of the job but I like the finished result,” he said. I think he secretly hopes I will offer to clean it each week! We left the Scania to dry in the sun and headed to the smoko room where Dad said he ‘would shout me a cup of tea’ for helping with the washing. On our way across the yard, I saw Leighton using an

did the Q: What ay to broom s m? uu the vac

Spraying the bin with cleaning foam

Little trucker down under

of o tired A: “I’m s shing us u p people .” around

me Water blasting the bin

Leighton using the RimShine wheel polishing machine

interesting-looking machine to shine the alloy wheels on the trailer behind his Iveco. It’s called a Rim Shine machine and has three rotating arms with soft pads on them. They fit inside of the alloy wheel rims on a truck or trailer. After putting some polish on them, you roll the machine inside the rim and turn it on, it spins and gives them a brilliant shine, without having to do it by hand,

Washin gd the lad own der

using polishing rags. Talking of shiny things, I hope many of you Little Trucker readers get to the TMC Trucking Industry Show, being held at the Canterbury Park Showgrounds in Christchurch on 25 and 26 November. There will be hundreds of trucks to gush over and heaps of other trucking-related activities. I look forward to seeing you there!

does a Q: What o do r superhe ean? cl if they

Turn to page 9 for answer Spring - issue 4

Top Truck

The Kenworth in its workplace, backed into a loading race

A Cowbus from the Waikato The Waikato region is well known for many things including the Chiefs rugby team, huge numbers of dairy cows…and it’s home to the Little Trucker Down Under Top Truck for Spring 2022.

Story and photos by Craig McCauley

his 2018 model Kenworth K200 Aerodyne is one of two trucks operated by Herring Haulage Limited of Morrinsville, right in the heart of the Waikato, working under the stunning blue, silver and bronze Nationwide Livestock Ltd colours. Nationwide Livestock trucks are seen travelling all over New Zealand. The truck and its Jackson Enterprises five-axle trailer are fitted

A cool piece of artwork featuring famous Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly

Little trucker down under

with matching Nationwide stock crates that allow them to carry two decks of cattle or up to four decks of sheep. Depending on the size of the animals, up to 600 sheep or 50 cows can be carried in a single load! A Cummins X-15 engine produces 615 horsepower and gets the power to the rear wheels using an Eaton-Fuller transmission with 18 gears. Many custom additions have been added to the Kenworth,

ensuring it’s a real standout on the road. These include a painted diesel tank with nice line work on it, shiny stainless-steel air-intakes and a sun visor, plus a substantial polished aluminium bullbar, complete with the COWBUS personalised number plate. If you see the big blue Kenworth cruise by, give the driver a wave – chances are, some cows are on board the coolest COWBUS around!

Special

Hunter, Jack,

Ilya, Oliver

Hunter & Oliver

Give us a wave! Our mate Sally, who runs Tippings Transport in New South Wales, tells us all about her special campaign, Wave to a Truckie, which shines a spotlight on the amazing work our truckies do.

By Sally Tipping, director at Tippings Transport in Australia

ho doesn’t love waving at truckies going past – even better when they sound their horn! YES! Truckies love being acknowledged for the important work they do and waving is a great way to say thank you. A few years back, I founded a campaign called “Wave to a Truckie” to highlight and promote our dedicated truck drivers and the amazing work of all the people involved within the transport industry. Everything we have in our

homes, schools, hospitals – in fact everywhere – is delivered at some stage by a truckie and sometimes people take that for granted. During Covid-19 lockdowns, people started to really understand the importance of the transport industry and the key role truckies played in delivering essential items to everyone’s home and office. It takes lots of hard work and skill to become a professional truckie. It isn’t an easy job and is not suitable for everyone, however the rewards are endless.

Out on the open road, seeing the changing landscape, witnessing amazing sunrises and incredible sunsets are all so much more enticing than a small crowded office space. It really is like being your own boss. Next time you see a truckie on the road, think about what is on their load and where it is going. Are they very far from home or will they be home for dinner? Most importantly, when you can, make sure you Wave to a Truckie!

Jack

A: “They fight grime. from Question on page 7

FInd Trucky and his little friends Find Little Trucky and his 7 friends hidden in the pages of this issue. Write the page number under the correct Trucky on this coupon. Email your answers to: shannon@nztrucking.co.nz Put in the subject line: FIND TRUCKY – Spring include your name, address and phone number. Entries close 31 October 2022. The winner will win a free Little Trucker Down Under cap to be announced in the next issue of Little Trucker Down Under.

Winter 2022 truckies were h iding on pages: 9, 15, 19, 21, 31, 41, 42 and 51

Page:............

Congratulations to our winner of our Winter 2022 issue, Tilly Beban of Rotorua Spring - issue 4

Sometimes I’m lucky enough to get invited to photoshoots. This was a pretty good one. An Austin Transport K200 with a good load of reinforced steel mesh. I took this one down at Canterbury Park with Dad

Some Rigs are quite rare and you don’t see a lot of them around. This International Lonestar of Gemmells is one of those trucks

PHOTO TIPS AND TRICKS

Junior truck photographer Thomas shares some top tips on how to take a great truck photo

ain, snow or sunshine, you’ll find me out and about in all sorts of weather, snapping photos of cool rigs hauling in and around Canterbury. Here’s a few top tips I’ve learnt for a good roadshot. I make sure my camera is on the right setting for most of my photos. I use the sports mode as I find it suits the fast moving trucks the best. The best thing about roadshots is you can pick your background and find some really nice spots to take your truck photos. I also look for where the sun is and try to get the sun

Thomas behind the wheel

lot of

I shot this R560 Scania of APL Direct hauling south straight off the Picton Ferry. They mainly cart Aluminium windows

Spring - issue 4

One of my favourite times to shoot a truck is after it’s been raining because you get some awesome roadspray pictures. Here’s a Wynard’s K200 I caught heading south near Dunsandel

on the front and side of the truck. This is very important unless it’s an overcast day. On overcast days I can shoot trucks going in both directions with an even lighting. Timing is quite important as well, as cars and other traffic sometimes get in the way. Timing is everything when it comes to roadshots. Here’s a few of my favourites I’ve taken over the last year... Keep on trucking! Over and out, Thomas

Here’s one of Brett Marsh’s Kenworth T909s heading back to the North Island. I captured this one just out of Hornby, I was so surprised as Marsh Transport is based in Tauranga.

Truckers need somewhere to rest up, have a break and get something to eat. I caught these two cool stock trucks parked up at the Riverlands truck stop in Blenheim doing just that

I shot this cool old international S-Line in Mount Cook Colours at Tarras heading back home to Christchurch after the Wheels at Wanaka Show. It had a great load of old classic trucks on board

There were heaps of cool old classic trucks heading into the 2021 Wheels at Wanaka Show loaded. This old White Road boss had a great load of vintage tractors

Spring - issue 4

A day out with Dad I

Swanson Transport has lots of trucks, all different types and sizes that perform special jobs

By Isabella Sulu-Kiripati

started the morning by attempting to mirror my father’s normal daily routine. A 4am wake up call, breakfast, preparing for work and then the drive to Swanson from Mangere. My dad Kiripati is the general freight manager for Swanson Transport Ltd. General freight handles and transports a wide variety of goods that can be transported in many ways. They can either be

transported in containers, vans, trucks and trailers and sometimes even specialised vehicles. The general freight trucking industry provides a number of key services such as local pickup, local sorting, destination sorting and local delivery. Communication and planning plays a pivotal part in performing his role. The numerous emails and phone calls received can vary from internal and external

60 modern trucks = 1 truck’s emissions in the ’80s With technology evolving and our understanding of emissions increasing, it is mind blowing to hear that the emissions from 60 modern clean diesel trucks that operate today are equivalent to the emissions of just ONE truck in the 1980s.

Little trucker down under

customers, new customers requiring freight services to drivers who will require location confirmation and any special delivery or pickup instructions. Order and truck allocation is key to ensure that the right vehicle is sent to perform the right job. Certain truck operators hold different class licences, so my father needs to identify these special jobs and select the right operator to

It was cool to see Dad’s work and all his responsibilities

perform the duty. Every day is different, so planning ahead to keep on top of the ever-changing schedule is important to ensure things run smoothly for himself and his team. My dad’s role requires him to work in the office, ensuring that he is always available to tend to his customer and team needs. He is very hands-on and will happily assist if need be in the warehouse, operating the

Isabella hanging out with Dad in the office

Dad helps out, operating the forklift and loading trucks

forklift and loading trucks. Swanson Transport has their own mechanical workshop for their trucks on site, as well as their own wash bay. There are many trucks, all different types and sizes that perform special jobs. Some trucks have a fitted crane at the back, which allows them to lift extremely heavy and large loads. There are also pilot utes that guide larger trucks – they are responsible for

alerting the truck driver of any possible issues ahead and ensure other road users are aware that a large heavy load follows. Safety is taken very seriously at Swanson Transport, certain safety gear is required to move around the workplace. All visitors are required to sign in on arrival and access must be given to enter the work site. Hi-vis vests, hard hats and safety

Swanson Transport has their own mechanical workshop for their trucks on site, as well as their own wash bay

Taking a walk around the yard

boots are to be worn, most importantly being aware of your surroundings and recognising possible danger. I have enjoyed my time at Swanson Transport, witnessing first hand Dad’s work day and the pride he takes in his work. I had the privilege of meeting the owner of the business, Mr Jeff Smith, who has been part of this business for many years. I also met general manager

Mr Nick Longuet-Higgins, as well as the office staff who were all very welcoming. Now that I’ve had an insight into how the transport industry operates, next time I see a truck on the road I’ll definitely be giving it a wave! Thanks to Dad and everyone at Swanson Transport for showing me around.

General freight handles and transports a wide variety of goods that can be transported in many ways

Competition

CREATE A TRUCK ENTER OUR MINI BIG RIGS COMPETITION!

By Carl Kirkbeck

Calling all budding model truck builders! Do you think you have what it takes to build your very own mini truck model, using household items? Enter the competition below and you could win some very cool prizes!

Do you think you could create your own truck model? Have a go at creating your very own truck model and you’ll go in the draw to win some very cool prizes! Use any household items you can find, like cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, wood, containers, duct tape...

anything you can think of! It can be built in any scale, and also be completely imaginary with regard to axle/wheel combinations, so let your mind loose! There will also be extra points for the livery design and colour scheme you choose to adorn your rig with. Our friends at Italeri have very kindly provided three prizes for three separate age

groups. The competition closes at midday on Monday 7 November, so you have heaps of time to get creating! The competition will be run in three categories - up to the age of 7 years, 7 to 14 years, and 14 years and over. The prizes for each of the three age groups will consist of an Italeri kitset model truck and either a New Zealand Trucking or Little Trucker

New Zealand’s largest stockist of quality models and vintage toys

Little trucker down under

LAYBY NOW FOR

Down Under cap. Pretty cool prizes to work for and plenty of time to get building, so do not hold back and get into it now! Send photos of your build and builder information to carl@nztrucking.co.nz before the competition cutoff to validate your entry… Happy building, we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

KEEPING TRUCKS MOVING

GeAR UP for father’s day WITH 50 YEARS of MACK! Key Ring

Mack 50yr Key Ring

DRINK BOTTLE

ZTS903

Mack 50yr Chill Hydro 550ml Bottle

$11.30

ZTS900

Beanie

Mack 50yr UFlex Beanie with logo ZTSC901

Bottle Opener

$40.00

Mack 50yr Bottle Opener ZTS901

$12.50

$40.30

Chilly Bin

Mack 50yr Retro Chilly Bin

Cap

Mack 50yr UFlex Cap with logo

ZTS906

ZTSC902

$183.60

$38.10

*All prices include GST.

Head into your nearest Truckstops branch to get your hands on this new Mack gear!

truckstops.co.nz

The big bag inside the truck Reid in the driver’s seat

All aboard the grain train!

A handful of grain

Reid heads out in a Scania with our friends at Owens Transport, carting grain to Auckland to make beer!

i there Little Truckers, my name is Reid and recently I had my second adventure in a big rig truck. This time I was in a V8 R620 Scania with Shaun and Ben from Owens Transport. As Shaun pulled up, I felt amazed and shocked at the same time because of how big the Scania was and that

Grain is the seeds of some special kinds of grass. The main types of grain crops are cereals. People grow different kinds of grain as food. Some kinds of grain are: barley, corn, millet, oats, rice and wheat.

Little trucker down under

it was a curtain sider. Today’s job is to cart grain to an Auckland brewery to make Heineken beer. Shaun drove into the Tatuanui weighbridge to pick me up. The Scania is a truck and trailer that holds a big bag inside filled with grain. It was weird because there is not normally a big bag inside a curtain sider. Big

Owens Transport’s Scania R620 v8, ‘H0spwr’

tanks store all the grain before loading the trucks. It gets loaded up the top. There’s a remote that tips the deck up and down when the truck is unloading the grain. When the truck’s deck tips, the grain goes out the little doors at the back. I am really grateful to Shaun and Ben who took time out of their day to take me for a ride and for answering my questions! What an epic day riding in the big gear!

Reid up front

The Scania is huge

Spring - issue 4

Aussie Aussie Aussie

Smart trucking

Smart trucking Story and photos by Mike Williams

Our on-the-ground reporter in Australia Mike Williams tells us all about telemetry – which is special equipment used to record what a truck is doing on the road.

I passed a tow truck and the poor driver was crying his eyes out – I thought, “he’s headed for a breakdown.” 20

Little trucker down under

’day there Little Truckers. There are a lot of interesting characters in trucking in New Zealand. We have a few in Australia as well. My friend Rod Hannifey is one of those. He works for Rod Pilon Transport in Dubbo in New South Wales. Rod is a long time road safety advocate with probably the smartest truck in Australia. I don’t mean smartest as in best looking either, although it does look good, I mean the smartest as in it has lots of hi tech

ou call y o d t Q: Wha ng that a r e m o o ab e back? m o c t ’ n wo

Turn to page 22 for answer

Spit and polish

Creative art

The long haul

Safer roads

Lights, camera, action

equipment to record what the truck is doing on the road. This is called telemetry. You normally see that on race cars. Rod records all the data from the road and the truck and shares that to help make our roads safer. He’s driven all over the place and carried all sorts of

freight. When I last saw him he had a “B Triple” hooked up heading for far North Queensland. Let’s have a look at the Transport Industry Vehicle that Rod drives to promote road safety and collect the telemetry data he shares.

Kangaroos only exist in Australia Spring - issue 4

A day in the life

Safety first

We spend a day at the Compliance and Safety Centre with Senior Constable Ian Deane and the team at Ohakea.

eeping our trucks and drivers safe is a very important part of our job, says Senior Constable Ian Deane. Ian used to drive trucks but decided in 1997 to join the New Zealand Police Force and has been attached to the Commercial Vehicle Inspection team for the last 14 years. He joined to help people, and enjoys the flexibility of the job and the

relationships he has built with truck drivers over the years. This shows as I see them go through smiling, waving, and some even stopping to chat. One of Ian’s teammates, Constable Barry Vinten, was already at the office when I arrived and the “All Trucks Stop“ sign was on letting truck drivers know to pull in on their way past for a quick weigh check to ensure they are travelling safe and within

the requirements of the law. If all is well, it is a very fast process where they drive up to the red light by the office where the scales are and drive over. The weight is logged on the computer inside so the constables can check details. If everything looks good then the driver gets a thumbs up, the light turns green, and the driver carries on with his day. If there is an issue, the

Story and photos by Rochelle Thomas

Ohakea Compliance & Safety Centre

What happens at a weigh bridge?

A A stick from Question on page 20

Little trucker down under

At the weighbridge the truck follows the queue to wait for its turn to be weighed by the weighing bridge officials. When the truck’s turn arrives, the driver rolls up the truck onto the weighing bridge for weighing.

Barry inputting data

All trucks stop sign

driver is asked to pull over and the constable will look further into the matter and if needed fill out a commercial vehicle inspection report. Senior Constable Deane turns up with cookies and milk! We have a cuppa and talk about some of the things they do. Weighing the trucks is important as there are limits to how much they can carry safely. Without going into

too much detail, they have a list of different axle sets and lengths of vehicles that determine how much each vehicle can carry. For example: an 8 axle truck could carry 46 tonne gross weight, or a 9 axle truck could carry 50 tonne gross weight (with a permit it could carry up to 58 tonne). But there is more to a Commercial Vehicle Safety inspector than just weighing

Snr Constable Ian Deane & myself

Snr Constable Deane helping a driver with axle and weight queries

Mack on the weigh bridge

Q: Where the you find a of weight whale?

Turn to page 24 for answer

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Theodore. Theodore who? Theodore wasn’t open so I knocked.

Spring - issue 4

Logbo

the trucks. They also check for vehicle defects, things that may be broken or need replacing. The safety of the vehicle can include things like tyres, lights and suspension. Then there is vehicle fitness, they check to see that they are up to date with registration and road user fees and that it has a current COF (certificate of fitness) – this is a safety check done every six months to ensure everything on the truck is working

from Question on page 19

properly. Dangerous goods are another thing that may need checking. Making sure the load is secured/loaded properly. And logbooks, these are a documentation of the hours a driver works with compulsory break and stop times to ensure they get rest and don’t work too long and get too tired. A truck driver can legally drive up to 70 hours in one week. That’s a lot of time trucking! They can work no more than 14 hours in one day including two half

A At a whaleweigh station

Little trucker down under

hour breaks where they can eat a meal, stretch their legs and have a breather. They must then have at least a 10 hour rest/sleep period. Once 70 hours is worked, they are required to have a minimum of 24 hours off work. Truck drivers have huge responsibilities, and it is the duty of our Commercial Vehicle Inspection Officers to ensure they are doing their job safely, securely and legally. They are also there to help. Because they are

Porter Haulage Peterbilt

very knowledgeable in their area of expertise drivers, truck owners/operators etc can call on them to answer any questions or enquiries regarding the legal aspects of their work. There are around 12 Compliance and Safety Centres around New Zealand, and multiple more weigh pits where the officers use portable scales. All weigh bridges are calibrated 12 monthly. This means they are carefully assessed, set

Logbook example

Snr Constable Ian Deane & Snr Compliance Officer Kate

and/or adjusted. This is to make sure they are accurate and give correct readings. Located across from the weigh bridge office are the Highway Patrol (Road Police) and administration offices. Today I saw two of these police officers called away because a truck had veered off the road. Their job is to assess the scene/ area and see what factors may have contributed to this happening and write up a report.

Allied Bulk driver Nicky Seymour

Nicky in her Mack pulling into the weigh station

Hog haulage k200

Kope King Hogs Haulage

Why does it take pirates a long time to learn the alphabet? Because they can spend years at C!

Spring - issue 4

Future of Transport

SMARTER TRUCKING:

WHAT IS FLEET MANAGEMENT? BROUGHT TO YOU BY KEITH ANDREWS When a company has more than one vehicle, it is important to keep track of all their movements and activities, and make sure all the vehicles are in good, working order. This is called fleet management. Many companies use software that helps them with their fleet management, using technologies such as GPS and analytics.

aving good fleet management processes in place helps a vehicle stay on the road for longer. Here are some of the benefits of fleet management: • Identifies any potential issues • Increases a vehicle’s productivity and efficiency • Reduces fuel costs and saves money • Helps reduce negative impacts on the environment • Locates and tracks vehicles while on the road • Improves driver safety

Smart roads use technology to keep transport moving safely. Sensors in smart roads can instantly communicate with smart vehicles about how to avoid bad road conditions or hazards.

Little trucker down under

A smart DAF CF530 from the Southern Transport fleet passes McNab on SH1 heading towards Gore

kids club mag pages SEPTEMBER.pdf 2 16/08/2022 10:37:49 am

WHAT’S HAPPENING FOR KIDS? ENTRY IS

FREE FOR KIDS UNDER 18 AND ALL KIDS ACTIVITIES ARE FREE!

9-HOLE TRUCKING MINI GOLF COURSE

RADIO

CMY

S ND PIT ASURE A S E G 2 HU IDDEN TRE WITH H

CONTR

OL TRU

CMY

CKS

vote for your favourite show & shine truck!

2 GIANT BOUNCY TRUCKS CK FETY TRrU m ROAD SA g a me eality pro

+ Virtual

truck ty

tent activitcioemspetition

colouring E! APS MOR ...AND HE AY! D STAY ALL PLAN TO

ROAD SAFETY SCOOTER TRACK

obstacle

course

Cut out this Kids VIP Ticket and bring it to the Show Shop for a free prize!

KIDS VIP TICKET

Saturday 26th November 2022 www.truckingindustryshow.co.nz

0800 338 338

Canterbury Agricultural Park, Christchurch

kids club mag pages SEPTEMBER.pdf 1 16/08/2022 10:37:44 am

! C

CMY

CKS

Spring - issue 4

Warren Oley ran this immaculate Kenworth C509 triple unit contracted to Mittiebah Station in the Northern Territory. Seen here just outside Camooweal, Warren has replaced the 509 with another since this photo was taken

Spring - issue 4

Send us a photo of your colouring in page to shannon@nztrucking.co.nz and go into the draw to win a cool Little Trucker Down Under cap. Get your entries in by 31 October 2022.

Turn to page 36 for answer

Spring - issue 4

Design your own trucking logo

Send us a photo of your truck logo to shannon@nztrucking.co.nz and go into the draw to win a cool Little Trucker Down Under cap. Get your entries in by 31 October 2022.

Spring - issue 4

Little trucker down under

Spring - issue 4

Copy the truck by matching the grid

Little trucker down under

A Toll Group 2011 T909 Series Kenworth motors along National Route 83 between Boulia and Mt Isa. The single bitumen strip, known as a Beef road, allows solitary vehicles a safer passage. Little always gives way to large, and when size is the same, passing traffic each drops a wheel off the left

kids club mag pages SEPTEMBER.pdf 4 16/08/2022 10:37:50 am

A-MAZE-ING TRANSPORT CAN YOU FIND A WAY THROUGH THE VEHICLES?

TRUCK MAZE

FIRE TRUCK MAZE

TRAIN MAZE

CMY

MY NAME IS:

COLOURING IN POLISH THIS TRUCK WITH COLOUR

kids club mag pages SEPTEMBER.pdf 3 16/08/2022 10:37:49 am

Washer Transport from Hawera in Taranaki runs this immaculate Volvo FH16 chiller unit seen here south bound, climbing up and away from the Mangaotaki River Crossing in the King Country

DRIVEN FOR YOU. JOIN OUR TEAM. “I love working at Keith Andrews! We’re a friendly team that’s proud to work with some of the most advanced trucks in the world.”

WORK WITH THE WORLD’S LEADING BRANDS Keith Andrews is proud to represent Daimler Trucks – the world’s largest truck family dedicated to:

Developing new technology

Battling climate change

VISIT OUR CAREERS PAGE ONLINE www.keithandrews.recruitmenthub.co.nz

Improving safety

Korner NY HERE GIDDAY KIDS, KENOF LITTLE TRUCKER Down

THE SPRING ISSUE HER CHECKING IN FOR L THIS COLD WEAT HAPPIER WHEN AL CH MU SO TO BE VE LL HA under. I WI HE WON’T WILL MY DRIVER, AS SO D AN ES th SS PA AND RAIN addition to e D MEET our new AN ME CO . CH MU ANY DAY NOW! CLEAN ME AS IS DUE TO JOIN US HE – 20 K2 W NE UR PICS TO family, THE FEATURED SEND YO BE TO NT WA U YO REMEMBER, IF UC KI NG .C O. NZ SH AN NO N@ NZ TR E ON SEE YOU OUT THER BYE FOR NOW AND BARP BARP THE BLACK STUFF!!

Kenny

NEW K220 JOINS THE KENWORTH FAMILY How awesome is this, I have a new addition to the family, isn’t he cool? The long-awaited successor to the popular K200, the K220. The new model will begin to arrive in New Zealand later in 2022.

Shop Kenworth 20% OFF

Any online merchandise orders with coupon code truckerkids20, valid until 30 November 2022

$18.50

$29.90

$4.50

$28

VIEW MORE PRODUCT ON LINE 44

Little trucker down under

$18

$25

going Jordie loves k uc tr out in the d Da s hi with

since he was ved trucks Flynn has lo most 3, he al at d and 10 months ol changing gns of that shows no si

Connor and Emmerson love getting in the truck with dad any chance they get

50,000+ Kenworths have been working in Australia and New Zealand since 1971, with more than 70% remaining registered and in active service. Many with millions of kilometres on the clock…and counting.

Pacific with one of Kasia James ons ti di ad t es w haulage’s ne s Dad’s 659

Levi loves hi

, his dad’s KW William with s ve Lo c. pi is th he was 6 in hen he can going in it w

Little Elora heel Taking The W

$25

Visit: www.spt.co.nz/shop Spring 2022 - issue 4

photo album

Rylee and Jack with Dad Sebastian with Dad Wayne

Room 14 from Auckland’s Summerland Primary enjoying Little Truck Down Under magazine

Aneya

Mikaeel

Do you have a photo of your classroom reading the magazine? Send it to us at shannon@nztrucking.co.nz Are you or your business keen to sponsor a school? Get in touch with us at matt@nztrucking.com

Olivia

Harley

James

Parker with Dad Dylan

Mayson with her uncle’s dog Harley

Willow Ryder

12 Name: Dustin Age: ury n, North Canterb de ar aw H : m fro ils Ha T610 Kenworth Can be found in: A

The neon lights are one of the coolest things about the truck

One of the lesser known neon facts is that there is only one colour for neon. When you fill a clear tube with pure neon gas, it lights up a reddish-orange colour and it is that warm glow that is often thought of when neon is mentioned.

Truck driver Matt

Matt working on the truck

s Why doe ? ow neon gl

Because it it didn’t, we’d had to call it neoff.

Matt and Dustin carried 30 tonnes of flour on their trip

The big T610 Kenworth

ne rainy afternoon I jumped in the big T610 Kenworth with truck driver Matt from Steve Martin Contracting, and I was on my way to Nelson. As we pulled away I could hardly tell that we had a load on – the truck boasted 600hp and we were carrying 30 tonnes of flour. As we were leaving Christchurch, we didn’t know if we were going up the coastline or up the Lewis Pass, because the road could have been closed because of snow. But Matt made the call and we went up the Lewis Pass – the road hadn’t shut so that was good news!

The lights make the truck really stand out

It was my first time in a T610 Kenworth. The truck does about 5500 kilometres a week. Steve Martin Contracting has four trucks. Matt said he has been truck driving for 22 years. It takes about one hour to unload and about 45 minutes to load the T610. Matt likes the truck’s power and it is a manual gearbox. Matt says he prefers black mud flaps over white mud flaps. My favourite thing about the truck was the cool green LED lights, which looked awesome at night. Thanks Matt for taking me along for the ride, and to Steve Martin, his wife Robyn and the entire crew at Steve Martin Contracting.

The lights look really cool at night

Spring - issue 4

Truck Show

Lots of Macks for the crowd to admire

Trucks on display Story by Craig Andrews

ore in Southland is famous for its brown trout fishing – it’s a fact that Gore is the brown trout fishing capital of the world. But every Queen’s Birthday Weekend, the town’s next

most famous thing comes to town – The Gore Truck Show. This year saw the show swamped with around 130 trucks from as far afield as Christchurch. With 50 years of Mack Trucks being built in New Zealand, there were 38

Photos by Ken Bell

of them on display and it was fitting that a Mack took out best in show with Nick Young from Southern Transport taking home the trophy with his very sharp Mack Anthem. The show has been running since the late 1970s

and has a very busy and committed committee with Rhonda Wilson at the helm running it, which ensures us that it will be around for a long time to come.

I was lucky enough to go up in the cage of a Mack snorkel fire engine. Nigel Hope who owns the truck sent me up so I could get pics from way up high

Cool W belong turne

Left to right. Luke Dunlea, Jake Pascoe, Cohen Dunlea, Lachie Dunlea and Rhyley Briggs all from Gore enjoying the day Mack Super-liner flanked by two new Scanias

Paige Nicol, Meila, Stella and Maddi Reid watch on as trucks are photographed at the photo shoot after the parade

FM Volvos from Freight Haulage limited in Invercargill Cool White Road Boss belonging to Peter Turner turned plenty of heads.

Local lads discussing the detail of Craig Andrews’ wooden models This 1/25th scale model from one Keegan Hewlett was a stand out

Nigel Hope with New Zealand’s coolest fire truck

Tidy Nissan Diesel from the popular Protranz fleet in Christchurch

Lots and lots of DAFs on the road down south. Sharp CF from Ryal Bush Transport

Spring - issue 4

Recipes

Yummy Snacks Phew, looking at all these trucks sure works up an appetite! We’ve got some easy, healthy recipes for you and your family to try out.

Yummy breakfast muffins Nothing like a quick brekkie on the go when you need to jump in the truck and hit the road. Have a go at making a batch of these delicious banana muffins.

Ingredients • 2 apples (grated, peeled) • 150 grams butter • 2 ripe bananas • 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour • 2 eggs • 2 teaspoons baking powder

Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180°C (or 160°C fan-forced). Line a muffin tray with paper cases. 2) Put the grated apple and butter in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes until nice and soft. 3) Peel the bananas, and mash them in a bowl. Put the cooked apple mixture in with the bananas, and then mix that with the flour, eggs and baking powder. 4) Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake for 20 minutes. 5) Allow to cool before serving.

Did you try any of these recipes? We’d love to see a photo of you making your food! Share with us on our Facebook page: facebook.com/LittleTruckerDownUnder

Which friends should you always take out to dinner? Your taste buds.

Little trucker down under

Popcorn cauliflower

A different take on popcorn chicken – this one uses yummy cauliflower, and is still crunchy and delicious!

Ingredients • 1 cauliflower, cut into small florets • 1 egg, lightly whisked • 1 cup breadcrumbs • 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan (optional) • 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Method

Chocolate peanut butter smoothie

1) Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. 2) Cook the cauliflower in a large saucepan of boiling water for 5 mins or until just tender. Drain well. 3) Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the egg. 4) Combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan, and paprika in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower mixture and toss to combine. 5) Arrange the mixture in a single layer over the lined tray. Spray some oil (such as olive oil) over the cauliflower. Season with salt and pepper. Bake, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is golden brown and crisp.

The recipe said “chill in the fridge for twenty minutes”. There’s no way I’ll fit in my fridge.

Smoothies are the perfect breakfast on the go or a yummy snack. Pour it into a drink bottle and it’s a great treat for the driver’s cab!

Ingredients • 4 bananas • 1/4 cup peanut butter • 2 cups milk • 2 teaspoons cacao powder or cocoa powder • 1 cup ice • 1 tablespoon honey

Method 1) Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. 2) Serve immediately.

Tried to follow a recipe, it said for a bigger portion just double everything, but my oven doesn’t go up to 600 degrees.

RIDDLE What has four wheels and flies? Turn to page 56 for answer

Spring - issue 4

e h t d n A ! ! ! s i winner e our Blake who ar d n a y e s n a C ions to s! We have a r e n in w n Congratulat io it t ing in compe cap heading r e d n U lucky colour n w o D tle Trucker awesome Lit your way!

Henry

Lucas

Mason

Casey

Riley-Ray

Xavier

Jet

drawings! We loved them! Thank you to everyone who sent through your on page 31 for more Make sure you head over to our puzzles section colouring and activities. 54

Little trucker down under

Jack

Alonso

Bayden Jack

Rylee

Olivia

Kyran

Leyton

Ruby

Nikau

Parker

Blake

Jaxon

Spring 2022 - issue 4

MEET MY FLEET

u g p n i w h c i t t h a

Story By Milly McCauley The gold Eden Haulage trucks from Invercargill in the deep south with their bright graphics will be familiar to many Little Trucker Down Under readers. Milly McCauley catches up with owner Phil Collinson to find out more.

Who owns Eden Haulage? Phil: Eden Haulage is owned by me, Phil Collinson and my family. How long has Eden Haulage been in business? Phil: Eden Haulage commenced in 2005 with one truck, it then expanded in 2008 into four trucks. The company progressively got

ANSWER A garbage truck!

from Question on page 53

Images by Craig McCauley

Little trucker down under

bigger from 2012, by adding a truck each year. Where do you have trucks based? Phil: 12 of the 13 trucks run by Eden Haulage are based at the Invercargill depot, and one truck is based in Canterbury. How many trucks does Eden Haulage operate?

Phil: Eden Haulage operates 13 trucks. Of those, 12 work every day and one older truck helps do any local jobs. Two trucks in the fleet are double shifted (when two drivers share one truck at different times of the day, allowing it to run for up to 24 hours a day). What makes of trucks do you have and how many of each? Phil: Eden Haulage has two Internationals, two DAFs, two Freightliner Argosys, six Kenworths and one small Nissan Diesel delivery truck. How many people does Eden Haulage employ? Phil: The company has 16 staff all together. What type of loads do you cart? Phil: A large part of the company’s work is fresh

RIDDLE Why did the kid throw his clock out the window?

produce (vegetables and fruit). The remainder is cardboard packaging, seafood, groceries, timber and some general freight. Where are the main areas you operate in around New Zealand? Phil: Eden Haulage trucks operate mainly between Invercargill, Central Otago and Christchurch, however some of our trucks travel each week to Nelson, Blenheim, Tauranga and Auckland. What is your title at Eden Haulage and what are your responsibilities? Phil: I am the director of Eden Haulage; I do everything from relief driving to dispatching. I try to do everything I can to support the business, from something as little as changing a light bulb, to meeting with customers to find out how we can assist them better.

A pair of Kenworth Aerodynes travelling through Central Otago

do Q: What hen w you get ss a you cro th a wi Potato r? race ca

do Q: What a l you cal ? ud lazy sp

Turn to page 58 for answers

Spring - issue 4

This International Eagle was Eden Haulage’s first truck

Phil and Darryl Millar closing a curtain

Did you always think you would work in transport? Phil: I always knew I would work in transport, all I dreamed of when I was young was to work for the rural transport company I happened to live next door to. The idea of a career in transport just made sense for me. What’s your favourite thing about working in the industry? Phil: The great people I meet. What things would you like to see change for the transport industry over time?

Phil: I would like to see the industry be able to produce better money and better conditions to pass onto the people who drive the trucks. Do you have a favourite truck in your fleet? Phil: My favourite truck would be the C16 Caterpillarpowered Freightliner Argosy we bought secondhand in 2013. I thought it was a cool truck when its previous owners put it on the road. What are the various positions in Eden Haulage? Phil: We have an operations dispatcher, administration staff, metro deliverers/ loaders, relief drivers and a team of linehaul drivers. What would be some advice you would give to any young people who want to start a career in transport? Phil: I would advise anyone to listen to others, be a diligent worker and try to absorb all the information you can from people within the industry. Can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about Eden Haulage? Phil: Many of the trucks in the Eden Haulage fleet carry a Mr Potato Head picture and name on them, this theme is because of the large number of potatoes Eden Haulage carries.

ANSWER

A A couch potato from Question on page 57

Little trucker down under

Because he wanted to see time fly! A A crashed potato from Question on page 56

from Question on page 57

Q&A with a truckie

Blake puts on his interviewer hat and gets to know his truck driving Pop, Mark Close.

By Blake Heath Q: What age did you start driving trucks? A: 17, I’ve been driving for 39 years. Q: What truck do you currently drive? A: Freightliner Argosy. Q: What do you currently cart? A: Anything that goes in tipper trailers but mainly grain and fertilser. Q: What’s the worst load you’ve ever carted? A: A load of wood without tipper trailers. It had to be

hand loaded and unloaded. Q: What type of trailers have you pulled? A: Everything but livestock. Over the years I’ve pulled tippers, tankers, car carriers, flat tops and tautliners. Q: Whats the best thing about being a truck driver? A: Beating Kenworths with my Freightliner (he wishes, he knows I’m a Kenworth fan so he is just stirring me up!). Q: What is the best thing you have carted? A: Potatoes in the tipper

because its a quick and easy load. Q: What kind of training did you have to do to get your licence? A: I had to go for a drive around town with a police officer. The day I got my licence I went on my first interstate trip. Q: What’s the hardest thing about being a truck driver? A: Having to anticipate what other drivers are going to do and dealing with caravans.

Q: What’s something most people don’t know about trucks? A: It’s not like driving a car, they take a really long time to build up speed and a long time to stop. Q: What is your favourite truck? A: I had a 4800 series Western Star. That would have to be my favourite truck.

Spring - issue 4

Truck Safety

THE IMPORTANCE OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE brought to you by Fuso

Making sure a truck is fit for the road is an important part of being a truck owner. Keeping up with vehicle maintenance is an important job for truck drivers and truck owners, and trucks are regularly put through inspections to make sure they are safe. Keeping drivers and other people on the road safe is an important part of owning any vehicle - including heavy vehicles like trucks. Keeping a truck in good condition reduces the likelihood of accidents and keeps drivers safe. Safety inspections on trucks are carried out regularly and can include checks of:

• Airbags • Tyres and wheel alignments • Seatbelts • Trailers • Windscreens • Headlights • Brakes • Fuel tanks • Battery • Exhaust • Suspension • Indicators

o to five mechanic tw a ke ta n ca It ion and n the educat years to gai ess. ary for succ skills necess

Little trucker down under

What is the most important event for a mechanic? Their 10-gear anniversary.

Popped into the local garage, and the mechanic was drinking a cup of tea. I think he was on a brake.

FIGHTER is This mid-sized truck y, fet sa a champion for t helping drivers detec e it. sid ng cyclists riding alo

SHOGUN CANTER

e first FUSO character was th This plucky little to help ed safety features truck with advanc road. e th on ts and injuries prevent acciden

a real hero This giant of the FUSO range is if it looks ers driv to ’ on the road. It can ‘talk ing. driv le whi py like they are getting slee

advanced Another first from FUSO – andard safety features are now st in all of these trucks!

Jobs In Transport

A sign for all time Story by Milly McCauley

Images by Andrew Geddes

Many of the great-looking trucks we see on the road owe their good looks to the creative efforts of signwriters. Milly McCauley catches up with Andrew Geddes of Timaru Signs to find out all about it. What do you do for a living? I trained as a sign writer, but the job is now called a sign maker. What are the jobs and responsibilities that come with your line of work? Talking and meeting with clients to gain and develop an idea of what they want. I then work to make a layout of the design before applying, mainly vinyl stripes, names and pictures to the truck. What made you interested in becoming a sign writer? I remember when I was a teenager and my mother used to get the New Zealand Women’s Weekly magazine, there was an article on a young woman from the Wellington area that had a picture of one of Clive Taylor’s Macks trucks she had sign written. That initially sparked my interest as it was not only a job I was interested in, but a job to do with trucks, which I had always liked.

What kind of training did you do? All the training I did was during an apprenticeship, which took four and a half years until I was qualified. Part of this was threeweek courses, each year, at Wellington Polytechnic where we did classroom work that couldn’t be taught on the job. Today, most of the skills required are learnt and taught on the job. How long have you worked in the industry? Almost 40 years! What was the first truck you ever worked on? The first truck I remember doing some work on was Willetts Freight Isuzu from Waimate. What has been your favourite truck you have worked on? One of my favourite trucks I have sign-written on was the Anderson’s Brothers R-model Mack. I have sign-written this truck twice, the

first time when it was brand new in 1989, and then again in 2013 after they had restored it What advice would you give to anyone wishing to get involved with the industry? Although the industry has changed a lot since I entered it, you still need to have an eye for detail, being creative and being able to listen to, and work with, your clients. A large amount of work to do with sign writing now is tech-based, so knowing your way around computers would also be useful. What is your favourite type of truck? While I have no true favourites, I am a fan of American-style trucks, but these days, with the popularity of European brands and their clean looks, I usually base my favourites on the completed job and the finished look.

Why was the artist arrested for painting in the police station?

What is Salvador Dali’s favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Because he had an unfortunate brush with the law.

A bowl of surreal.

Spring 2022 - issue 4

Kraft Engineering designs and manufactures trailer units to meet individual specifications for a range of manufacturing clients. In operation for more than three decades, Kraft Engineering’s commitment to innovative engineering solutions means the team stands by their craft.

Thank you to all our sponsors

Volvo sets the standard in safety, productivity and fuel-efficiency. Complemented by a team of kiwi engineers who modify each Volvo Truck for a unique customer solution.

Hino pride themselves on supplying a better class of truck that is reliable, comfortable, safe, and most importantly – makes your working life easier.

An American icon. Supremely powerful, with a technically advanced powertrain and high driving comfort, you can count on Mack to get the job done.

Transpecs sells the parts that make top trucks and trailers run like a dream. Supporting little truckers to build the future for New Zealand transport.

Palfinger New Zealand makes Aotearoa’s coolest truck-mounted cranes, and we’re proudly committed to raising the next generation of little crane operators.

Smart and modern, UD Trucks strikes the optimum balance between features, cost, and efficiency.

Little trucker down under

Keith Andrews represents FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner trucks, buses and vans and is New Zealand’s largest commercial vehicle dealership with locations across the North Island. We’re always looking for talented people to join our team!

Paving the way for the next generation of truckers

We would like to thank our sponsors who have contributed to put copies of Little Trucker Down Under into local schools throughout NZ and Australia.

NZT Group are the trusted experts in second-hand truck sales across New Zealand. Our team has decades of experience that will see you getting the best service and value for money. Whether you are buying or selling, contact the NZT team today!

S LIC AU R D HY

FUSO developed the world’s first series-produced electric light truck and is the number-one selling truck brand in NZ, with advanced safety systems and fuel efficiency at the forefront of its range.

Crushing & Aggregate Supply Specialists.

2006 FVR900 Isuzu Chiller Truck, complete with tail lift and 7.78 Curtainsider.

GA ON T RO RA

We’ve been helping clients grow since 1970.

We like to say that we brighten Kiwi homes.

Putting our experience to work for you.

Spring 2022 - issue 4

Thank you to all our sponsors

The RFH Group is an integrated transport & logistics business servicing a range of customers across the forestry, wood processing, and agriculture sectors.

R oadmaster

Market leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of trailers and truck bodies. Roadmaster Limited products are manufactured and guaranteed by warranty to the highest quality and are proven in the toughest applications.

Moving and contouring earth and supplying aggregates throughout the Rodney district is our specialty. On your next project give us a call for all your earthwork solutions.

At Swanson Transport we have a great team and a diverse range of trucks that enable us to nurture and support the development of young people looking for a career within the transport industry.

If you are interested in sponsoring the next generation of truckers please contact Matt on 021 510 701 or email matt@nztrucking.co.nz and enquire about our different sponsorship packages.

Paving the way for the next generation of truckers

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FLEET Futureproof your fleet with electrification

No matter what type of operation you run – we will help you electrify your transports. Read more about our new electric range at scania.com/electrification

MADE FOR NEW ZEALAND

scania.co.nz