CHECK OUT OUR GAMES AND ACTIVITIES INSIDE Autumn 2024, Issue 10
BIG AUSSIE ROAD TRIP!
E M O S R E V I L E D LET’S
! S E I R E C O GR
9 772744
AWESOME AUTUMN RECIPES
677008
$8.50 ISSN 2744-6778
FREE STICKERS INSIDE
CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO ALBUM!
Collectively, the LBRCA and LRTAV represent over 450 rural carriers who transport Australia’s essential agricultural products across rural New South Wales and Victoria. Our members are vital in getting Australian produce to consumers in both the domestic and international markets. Together we are working to achieve a more productive, efficient and safe industry for the future. While our members are on the road, we’re representing their interests by talking to governments and others in the supply chain to seek safer roads, better loads and less red tape.
Thanks to all the sponsors below... for assisting in getting Little Trucker Down Under copies into Australian Schools and promoting the Transport industry.
Welcome to Autumn 2024 issue 10
Hey there Little Truckers! By the time you’re reading this, summertime will be over, you will have been back at school for some time, and looking forward to the Easter holidays! Have you got anything fun planned? Whether you’re staying home or are lucky enough to go on holiday, make sure you keep this copy of Little Trucker Down Under nice and close – it is PACKED with some really cool stories and lots and lots of activities to keep you entertained. Our writers have been all around New Zealand and Australia over the past few months. We continue on with our Big Australian Road Trip series from Demi – check out part two on page 16, Jacob takes his little truck all around the place to visit different Santa parades on page 24, and Dustin travels the West Coast
in the South Island of New Zealand on page 48. Our friend Margaret gets to go on her very first truck ride (page 38), and Milly tags along with the boys from New Zealand Trucking magazine and learns all about how to craft a cover story (page 42). Milly also catches up with our mates over at Chris Angus Transport (page 36). We’ve got some yummy autumn recipes to share with you (page 20), we get to see your beautiful faces in our photo album (page 12), and we have activities galore from page 26. I hope you love this latest edition of Little Trucker Down Under, I think it’s a pretty special one!
Sh a n n o n
One of the real stars of Kenworth’s Heritage SAR series is build No32, ‘Freight Train Heart’ owned and operated by Duggan Bulk Haulage out of Emerald in Queensland. On the day Dave McCoid and his mates caught up with the truck just west of Cloncurry on the Barkly Highway, owner Robert Duggan was at the wheel and he was more than happy to pull in and have a yarn with the lads for 20 minutes. What a lovely bloke he was too. There’s so much to look at on this amazing machine, with murals on both sides of the sleeper depicting Australian rock star Jimmy Barnes. On the right side he is standing in front of a scene from his Driving Wheels video, and on the left he is in front of the famous Birdsville pub in Southwest Queensland, where he has performed a number of times at the annual Big Red Bash desert rock concert held nearby. The trailers are dedicated to Autism awareness.
2
3
36 EDITOR
Shannon Williams Ph: 021 182 4803 Email: shannon@nztrucking.co.nz Sub Editor Faye Lougher CONTRIBUTORS
Milly McCauley Rochelle Thomas Margaret Murphy PUBLISHER
6
CONTENTS
3 Welcome to Little Trucker 12 Little Trucker photo album 14 Colouring comp winners 15 Dave’s Diary 20 Yummy Recipes 26 Puzzles & Activities 40 Kenny’s Korner 44 Brisbane Truck Show Gallery
Long Haul Publications Dave McCoid Ph:+64 (0)27 492-5601 dave@nztrucking.co.nz For all advertising enquiries: Pav Warren Ph: 027 201 4001 Email: pav@nztrucking.co.nz ART DIRECTOR
Ricky Harris DIGITAL MANAGER/CONTENT
Louise Stowell OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Georgi George OFFICE
Long Haul Publications Ltd 511 Queen Street, Thames 3500 PO Box 35, Thames 3500.
Features
24
6 On the road with Milly: Feed the People 35 School Visit at Moama Grammar 36 Meet The Fleet – Chris Angus Transport 38 Margaret’s first truck ride 42 Crafting a cover story 50 A Day in the Life
Out and about with our junior reporters
16 The big road trip with Demi, Part 2 24 Christmas Parade Dress Ups with Jacob 48 Travelling the West Coast with Dustin
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 CHECK OUT
OUR GAM
ES AND ACT IVITIES INS
IDE
Autumn 2024,
BIG AUSSIE ROAD TRIP!
LET’S DELIVER SOM
E
FREE STICKERS INSIDE
AWESOME AUTUMN RECIPES
CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO ALBUM! $8.50 677008
GROCERIES!
ISSN 2744-67 78
38
Subscribe at: www.nztrucking.co.nz/shop/
9 772744
Get your copy of Little Trucker Down Under delivered straight to your letterbox.
Issue 10
On the road with Milly
Feed the people Story by Milly McCauley
Photos by Milly McCauley and David McCoid It was an early start for me these summer holidays as I headed out one morning on a trucking adventure to find out about the essential job of delivering groceries.
6
Little trucker down under
I
t was well before dawn recently when my alarm went off to wake me up for my next transport adventure. On a trip to the North Island during the summer holidays, John Baillie, an owner-operator for Foodstuffs North Island Limited, invited me to experience a day in his life behind the wheel. John operates a Volvo FM 460 tractor unit and it tows a 14.1-metre
SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES
Turn to page 9 for answer
John scans the barcodes on the pallets of food that confirm the location of where the food will be sent.
The Volvo driving through Cambridge.
The electric pallet jack makes it easy to maneuver pallets throughout the body of the trailer.
Unloading pallets via forklift. Unloading at Cambridge New World.
Fairfax refrigerated trailer fitted with a Thermo King refrigerator unit. The trailer can hold 24 standard pallets on the deck, and in some circumstances, the pallets can be doubled up (stacked on top of each other), which allows more to fit. A rear steering axle is fitted to the trailer that helps it manoeuvre
through the tight turns often encountered in supermarket car parks. John is responsible for delivering chilled and frozen food to supermarkets in the Waikato region. We arrived at the Foodstuffs distribution centre in Manukau City at 2am. This is where the truck
is based, and where we would be loading our first batch of chilled and frozen food products for the day. Upon entering the loadout area at the distribution centre the lower temperature inside was very noticeable, with it being consistently kept at +2 degrees Celsius; this is how frozen and
John opening his trailer ready to load the groceries on.
THE ORIGINS OF GROCERIES Dry goods were often bought in bulk, they were named after the French word for wholesaler, or ‘grossier’. This, in turn, is derived from the Medieval Latin term ‘grossarius’, from which the term ‘gross’ (meaning a quantity of 12 dozen, or 144) is also derived.
The doctor told me I probably won’t be able to walk far after getting into an accident with a newspaper delivery truck. I was crushed by the news.
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
7
The second Foodstuffs distribution centre required manual stocktaking.
The doors on the front of the trailer allow the frozen items to be unloaded without having to move around everything inside of the refrigerated trailer body. This screen displays and controls the temperature set inside both parts of the container.
John filling out the quintessential truck driver paperwork.
You can take one if you want to.
FREE SAMPLES
refrigerated products are kept fresh before they arrive at supermarkets. The first part of the load consisted of frozen dairy products and seafood items such as prawns, along with chilled products that needed to be refrigerated such as milk, sour cream and custard. John scanned each pallet to ensure they were destined for the right place, before using an electric pallet trolley to load these goods onto the trailer, which made the loading process quick. We collected our paperwork from the office and left the chilly building before climbing into the nice warm cab of the Volvo, to first complete the quintessential truck driver task of completing the paperwork. Leaving Manukau, we headed for a second Foodstuffs distribution centre in Māngere. This time we were set to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables. While we drove, John updated me on where we would be delivering the groceries to today: New World supermarkets in both
The cashier at the grocery store asked me if I would like the milk in a bag. I said, “No, just leave it in the carton.”
Can I take two if I want three?
Matamata and Cambridge. As John loaded the fruit, he made sure to arrange the food products in the order of what would be removed first, while also factoring in the frozen aspect. Working at lightning speed, John made the puzzle of arranging the load in the correct order easy. On the way to Matamata, John told me about why the grocery runs are completed so early in the morning; it’s mainly due to the traffic
that ensues throughout the North Island motorways each day and slows everything down, but it is also about getting the groceries into the supermarkets ready for the shops to open. When we arrived at the Matamata New World, John cracked open the front doors of the trailer body to get into the front frozen section. Crisp air that had been keeping the frozen section of the trailer at -20 degrees Celsius blew out of the trailer.
The pallets of food were unloaded via forklift and then placed inside the warehouse area of the supermarket. After finishing unloading at Matamata we were back on the road, destined for our last delivery at New World in Cambridge. When we arrived, the same unloading process of last time began, but this time I jumped up in the trailer body with John and helped him move the pallets forward by using the pallet trolley, (this was harder than
it looked and I gained a new understanding of the skills required for delivery people everywhere). I enjoyed my time with John and appreciate even further how vital these refrigerated units are to our city and town infrastructure, and that they are essential to feeding our nation. Next time you go to the supermarket, spare a thought for the men and women working around the clock to keep the food on the shelves that feeds you.
SPOT 10 ANSWERS from Question on page 6
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
9
s 8 differenced There are th n a p to between ne y pictures. bottom Kenot them all? Can you sp
PH OTO A L B U M
Alex Robuck, 4,visiting Dad on wash-up day. Maisie House with
ks.
uc her Pop and his tr
Callum & Andy Be ll of Millers Flat alongside their dad’s new Kenwor th.
12
Harrison and Thomas Murray with their uncle Josh Murray. Here they are with Josh’s Kenworth truck loaded with cattle. Harrison and Thomas have trucks in their veins. Their great-grandfather, grandfather, uncles and father also drive trucks.
Little trucker down under
Marius, 5 and Adriaan, 5
18-month-old Reuben Jones, who loves reading books and now he is enjoying Little Trucker. The truck in the picture was his mother’s, which has since been painted up for Reuben to use.
Q: Why did the truck become an actor?
Ali Murphy, proudly showing off her first trucking co llage made at da ycare.
Turn to page 15 for answer
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 – AUTUMN include your name, address and phone number. Entries close 30th April 2024. The winner will win a free Little Trucker Down Under cap to be announced in the next issue of Little Trucker Down Under.
Summer 2023 truckies were hiding on pages: 9, 12, 17, 24, 39, 44, 49 and 50
Turn to page 17 for answer
What did the Truck driver say to the kangaroo?
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Page:............
Congratulations to our winner of our Summer 2024 issue, Leo Ross, Nelson NZ Autumn 2024 - issue 10
13
Colouring competition Congratulations to our winners, a prize is on its way
Harry
Thomas
Ollie, who is 8 years old, is totally Kenworth crazy and loves trucks.
Ari
Ethan
Well done kids!!!
g with a cott helpin ot. S t et J & Orlando photosho g Magazine NZ Truckin
14
Little trucker down under
• Australia is a continent and a country. ... • The Capital of Australia is Canberra. ... • Kangaroos only exist in Australia. ... • The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the biggest reef system in the world. ... • Australia is split into 8 states. ...
Dave’s Diary
LITTLE AND LARGE Welcome to a new section in Little Trucker Down Under – Dave’s Diary.
I
’m Dave McCoid, and I work at New Zealand Trucking Media with your wonderful editor Shannon Williams. I’ve been around trucks most of my life and she has asked me to write a small piece on pretty much anything I like to do with trucking. It might be a fun fact, a cool truck I’ve seen… anything. Let’s start with comparing the size of our countries so we all know what we are dealing with when we talk trucking. Australia and New Zealand – mates for life. We teach the world how to get on with your neighbour. One of our biggest differences though is our size. Australia is really big, and New Zealand moderately small. Australia is 7,692,024 square
fe i L or F s Mate
kilometres, and New Zealand is 269,000 square kilometres – so Australia is 28.5 times the size of New Zealand. Crikey! If you look at the maps, you can see I’ve marked two trips, one in each country, both the same length. In New Zealand I’ve marked Auckland to Cromwell, and in Australia, Alice Springs to Darwin. You can see what those journeys represent compared to the size of each country. In New Zealand our journey would take roughly 21 hours and in Australia about 15 hours. How can that be? Well, even if we take out the Cook Strait ferry between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, it is still two hours longer – that’s because we have more hills,
corners, and towns along the way! Here’s another interesting fact. Even though Australia has 27,010,500 people and we only have 5,200,000 people, if we spread everyone in both countries evenly across the land, there would only be 3.5 people standing in each square kilometre of Australia, and 5.3 on each square kilometre of New Zealand. That is not how it works out in real life of course. Because of the vast desert regions in the middle of Australia, most people live closer to the coast, but it does give you another example of just how huge Australia is. It is gigantic! Now, what shall I talk about next time?
“Hop on!”
from Question on page 13
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
15
Junior reporter
The big road trip W e go on up the road for about another hour before Granddad pulls into a truck bay. “What are we stopping for?” I ask. “Time to check the load and tyres,” Granddad said. He lifts me down off the
Part two We’ve got part two of Demi’s big road trip with her granddad, Ken, who likes to take the kids out in his truck in Australia. We left off in part one (Summer 2023) with Demi listening to her granddad on the radio, carefully coordinating with some other big trucks that needed to overtake them as they made their way from Perth
fuel tank under the passenger side door and we walk around the truck. He has an iron bar in his hand that he bangs the tyres with. He explained to me once that he knows whether a tyre has the right pressure in it by the sound they make when he hits them with his iron bar. As well as hitting the tyres he checks all the chains and
Q: What do you call a truck with a sense of humour? 16
Little trucker down under
straps holding the load on. He only had to retighten one chain. The rest of the load was fine, he said. “Right, let’s get going shall we, otherwise that front-end loader is going to pass us if we stay here any longer.” We get going again and drive for another two hours until we get to Wubin where
we pull into the road train assembly area. “If you want to go to the loo sweetheart, you had better go here because otherwise it’s going to be behind a bush until we get to Paynes Find, which is two and a half hours away.” “OK, thanks Granddad, I will.”
Turn to page 18 for answer
Another load of 20-metre pipe.
The office at night.
The toilet and shower block at Wubin is a unisex shower and toilet setup that Dad says is one of the better set of facilities up the Great Northern Highway, which he says is very poorly served for the number of trucks that are running up and down the highway these days. After a half-hour break at Wubin, we get going again and as we are pulling out the big loader that we passed pulled in for a break. Granddad says that the law requires all drivers to have a half-hour break every five hours. We had been going about half an hour when I
started to yawn. “Bunk time for you, wee girl,” Granddad said. So, I undid my seat belt and climbed over the fridge and into the bunk. “Pull those curtains across dear. They will block the light and a lot of the noise out so you might sleep better,” Granddad said. It was three hours later that I woke up as we were approaching Mt Magnet, which is a small mining town about 550 kilometres north of Perth. “Have a good sleep?” “Yes, thanks Granddad, I didn’t realise how tired I was,
but I went out like a light.” “Yes, I noticed and that is good because it can be a long day in the truck when you are just sitting there with nothing to do. Do you want to get my iPad out and read or play a game on it?” “No thanks Granddad, I’m a bit like you, I enjoy the quiet and there’s always the two-way going off about something or other.” “Very true dear. Do you want to dive into the fridge and grab me an apple please. Get whatever you want as well, you must be getting hungry by now.” We get through Mt Magnet
and are about halfway to a little town called Cue when a southbound pilot calls. “Two at eight metres MTA. There’s a floodway around the next bend that you will get to before they get there.” “Thanks pilot, I’ll get tucked in, I’m 3.4m.” “Thanks MTA.” We get around the next bend and half a kilometre up the road is a floodway where the road gets wider and that is where Granddad pulls into, getting as far off the road as he can when the second pilot for the eight-metre loads comes around the corner followed by the traffic warden,
“A tyre has the right pressure in it by the sound they make when you hit them with an iron bar.” Just hooked up the lead for the triple from Wubin to Mt Newman.
! t u c a s That’ A: It wanted to be in the trailer! from Question on page 13
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
17
“The law requires all drivers to have a half-hour break every five hours.”
The office.
The Argosy with a load of northbound mixed freight.
The kitchen over Demi’s bunk.
and then about a minute later two eight-metre-wide haul pack truck chassis came around the bend. When the eight-metre loads go past there is not a lot of room on the road for anyone else. As the rear pilot goes past, she calls up. “Thanks MTA, have a good day.” “You too pilot,” Granddad says as he pulls back out onto the roadway. Thirty minutes later we pull into the roadhouse parking bay at a little town called Cue. “Shower and food time dear, and then we will keep going until sunset, which will put us just north of Meekatharra,” Granddad says. We have a shower and Granddad gets us each a hamburger; they are huge but
20-metre pipe to Roy Hill Mine.
very nice, and I am not hungry by the time I am finished. Granddad told me about the burgers you can get here. He says it is the only place up this road that he buys food from. By the time we have showered and eaten we have had the 30-minute break that Granddad said he had to have, and we get going again and get to where Granddad said we would just as the sun was going down, which is a big gravel pit 10 kilometres north of the mining town of Meekatharra. We get pulled in and Granddad gets us as far away from the road as he can so that we get as little of the road noise as possible when trucks are going past, so hopefully I can sleep better. Granddad sleeps with
earplugs in at night so the noise doesn’t worry him, but I don’t like them in my ears. I suppose you get used to them if you have to. After checking the truck and the loads, Granddad pushes the fridge under the bunk and draws the curtains around the cab so it is nice and private, then he pulls out his folder and gets all his paperwork up to date. After reading for a little while we get my bag off the bunk and get my pillow off the top of the microwave. Granddad gets out of the truck to give me some privacy, telling me to get dressed for bed. In the truck I am just sleeping in shorts and a tee shirt, and he just sleeps in shorts. I get into the bunk with my head underneath the microwave shelf. Granddad sleeps with
from Question on page 16
A: Haul-arious! 18
Little trucker down under
his head up at the other end of the bunk. He said he sleeps that way because it is the quieter end of the bunk if he has the Icepack going. The Icepack is a little air conditioning unit that keeps the truck cab and sleeper cool at night in the hot weather, but it isn’t very hot tonight so Granddad said we would just sleep with the vents open and enjoy the fresh air. It’s 5:30 the next morning and Granddad’s alarm is going. He gets up and puts his shirt on. “I’m going to check everything sweetheart, so get dressed and we will get going as soon as the sun pokes its nose over the horizon.” Ten minutes later he’s back, starting the truck and folding the curtains away.
A wide one for the Argosy.
Two wide ones for Alice Springs.
“Did you sleep well?” he asks. “Yes, thanks Granddad. I only woke up a couple of times when other trucks went past and once when you stuck your foot in my face, but otherwise I slept well!” We got going as the sun was just coming over the horizon. It took us three hours to get to a roadhouse at a place called Kumarina, which is 170 kilometres south of Mt Newman and is where we are going to. We stop at the roadhouse, and I use the loo while Granddad checks the load and tyres and then we get going again.
A bit over two hours later Granddad is on the phone talking to the manager in Newman and he said we have a quick turnaround. There are two trailers at the hook-up, which is the road train assembly area. All we have to do is unhook the two trailers that we have brought up and put a dolly under one of the ones we are taking home. The lead trailer then gets backed onto the dolly that we put under the front of the other one, which becomes the dog trailer. “What’s on the trailers we are taking home, Granddad?” I ask. “Just a couple of 2.7m wide huts Demi, nice easy freight and they are only 2.7m so we can run in the dark with those. We will be back in Perth by mid-
I had a nightmare I was stuck inside a truck’s muffler. I woke up exhausted.
afternoon tomorrow.” By the time we had dropped the two trailers that we brought, fuelled up, gone around to the Newman yard for a shower, hooked up to our southbound trailers and put the flags and banners on again it was half past four in the afternoon. “That’s pretty good, dear. We will get to Meekatharra again tonight, which will get us in to Perth about three tomorrow afternoon and home for tea.” “Why are we allowed to travel in the dark with this oversized load Granddad, when we weren’t allowed to coming up?” I ask. “That’s because the load coming up was 3.4m wide and the one going home is 2.7m. Up to 2.7m you can run in the dark, but anything
wider than that must be daylight hours only.” We get going and stop at Kumarina, where Granddad gets me a small bag of hot chips. He didn’t want any. It is almost boring what he eats when he is out on the road. Almost no fried food at all and no lollies or biscuits; he eats a lot of fruit and nuts as well as raw vegetables, but as he says, he is in pretty good shape. It’s just on 9:30pm when we get to the gravel pit at Meekatharra at the end of a 15-hour day. I am very tired, but Granddad seems fine. As he said, “I am used to it dear, you aren’t”. Granddad gets the truck parked, pushes the fridge under the bunk and draws the curtains and goes for a walk around the truck while I get into my shorts and tee shirt for bed. I lay down on the bunk and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up the next morning.
Check out our next issue of Little Trucker for part 3 of this story. Autumn 2024 - issue 10
19
Recipes
A is for autumn With the summer months coming to an end, it’s a great time to try out some new recipes! We’ve got a couple of fun, easy treats for you to try out – with the main ingredient starting with the letter A!
Ingredients
Method
• 1 ¼ cup selfraising flour • 2/3 cup applesauce • Canola or vegetable oil for frying • If you want to enhance the apple flavour, you can add some chopped apple pieces into the batter.
1) Combine flour and applesauce into a large bowl. Mix with a spoon until applesauce is completely incorporated into the flour and forms a sticky dough. 2) Add a couple of centimetres worth of oil to a medium saucepan. Bring to medium heat. 3) Scoop about half a tablespoon of dough and form into a ball before dropping into the hot oil. 4) Fry the donuts until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip them and fry a few more minutes until the other side is also golden brown. 5) Remove donuts from oil and place onto a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up excess oil and cool. 6) If using an air fryer, cook the donuts for about six minutes or until cooked through. 7) When donuts are cooled, coat them with your favourite topping, such as two tablespoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Apple donuts The donut dough takes about two minutes to mix together and then the dough is ready to be cooked. These donuts are best fried. When fried, the donuts come out very light and fluffy. If you do not wish to fry the donuts, the next best method is cooking them in the air fryer. If you don’t own an air fryer, you can try baking them. Make sure you get an adult to help you with the cooking. Makes approximately 16 donuts.
20
Little trucker down under
Ambrosia
This pink delight is a family favourite and takes just 10 minutes to make – but remember to leave a few hours for it to set so the marshmallows are perfectly soft.
Ingredients • 1 kg strawberry yoghurt • 500 ml cream • 1 packet marshmallows • 1 punnet strawberries
Method 1) Slice strawberries and cut marshmallows in half. 2) W hip cream until you get soft peaks, then add the yoghurt and mix until it’s well combined. 3) A dd marshmallows and fruit, and then spoon into either a large glass bowl or individual serving bowls or glasses. 4) L eave in fridge to set for a minimum of four to five hours (best overnight). Serve and enjoy.
Ants on a Log Ants on a Log are a fun, healthy snack the whole family can enjoy. The traditional way to make Ants on a Log is to fill celery stalks with peanut butter and add raisins. However, there are heaps of different versions you can make, depending on what you have at home and what you like!
Ingredients • 3 celery sticks • ¼ cup peanut butter • About 30 raisins
Method 1) Wash the celery sticks and cut each stick in half lengthwise. 2) Add peanut butter into the hollow part of each celery stick and spread.
3) Push raisins into the peanut butter to represent the ants. 4) Alternatives – try cream cheese or yoghurt instead of peanut butter. If you
don’t like celery, you can use a sliced banana. And if you don’t have raisins available, try chocolate chips, nuts or other dried fruit.
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
21
Drinks
p u k n i Dr
re me, here a e th A r u o n! on with t this autum u o y Continuing tr to s y drink some yumm
Apple sparkle
ch A fruity pun picnic. a r fo perfect
Ingredientsjuice
le • 1 litre app rdial – try co f o l m 5 • 7 ple , raspberry ap er, or w flo er d and el passionfruit opped • 1 cup of ch apple, as ch fruit, su d pineapple an strawberries ater, soda parkling w •S e or lemonad
Method
g, combine In a large ju juice and your apple the chopped cordial with p with your fruit, and to r ater, soda o sparkling w of ty n le p d d lemonade. A it cool. Serve ice to keep . immediately
Autumn Sunrise
Not only does this easy sunrise recipe taste great, it also looks incredible!
Ingredients
• Orange juice • Soda water, sparkling lemonade or ginger ale • Grenadine syrup (Grenadine is a sweet syrup made from pomegranate juice) •O range slices for garnish
Method
1) Fill each glass about a third of the way up with orange juice. 2) A dd lemonade to fill the glass, leaving a small gap for the grenadine. 3) V ery slowly and carefully pour a small amount of grenadine into each glass (ask an adult to help you). The grenadine should sink to the bottom to
form a pretty red layer. Grenadine is very sweet, so you don’t need much at all. 4) Add a slice of orange to the side of each glass and finish off with a straw. 5) S erve immediately and enjoy.
How do aliens pay for coffee? 22
Turn to page 25 for answer
Little trucker down under
OUR CONNECTED FUTURE
The future people of our New Zealand transport industry will transform how teams work by bringing technology, visibility and information to the workplace. Scan to find out more about the future of technology and trucking.
0800 447 735 TeletracNavman.co.nz
Junior reporter
s a m t s i Chr s p u s s dre s-up designs s re d l o o c is h ll a Jacob shares parades ta n a S e m o s t a k with his trucStory and photos by Rochelle Thomas
In the Masterton Santa Parade, we dressed my truck up like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. We even used real deer antlers. I got second place in the best dressed competition and won $250.
What are the smartest animals? My truck made it into the Wairarapa Times-Age on the front page. This was the Greytown Santa Parade. I was so happy I made it into the paper. I loved seeing people having a great time.
Turn to page 35 for answer
This is the way my dad transports my truck. It looks so little on the back of the transporter compared with all the big machinery he transports.
In the Petone Santa Parade, this is my truck dressed up as an elf. The elf is my favourite one out of all my designs. I won best dressed and got $100. In the Masterton Santa Parade, we dressed my truck up as a big candy cane and I won $500 for best dressed.
A With starbucks from Question on page 22
What do you think I should dress up as next year? A snowman, gingerbread man, the Grinch? A big thank you to all the people who have helped me with my trucking dreams! Keep on trucking everyone!
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
25
Check out the advanced colouring in picture on p34
Name
Date
BEFORE AND AFTER
VEHICLES
Write the numbers that come before and after.
1
2
4 5 2 3 8 9 2
6
3
4
7 4
5 6 6 5 6
8
WORD SEARCH
Find the words listed below and mark them with correct colours.
A
C
E
B
I
D
O
F
G
C
A
R
H
I
J
K
B
T
R
A
M
L
M
N
R
M
O
T
O
R
B
I
K
E
O
P
T
S
U
V
A
W
I
R
Y
Z
V
Q
R
A
B
D
T
C
K
P
D
F
A
G
U
H
K
O
L
M
E
L
N
T
N
U
C
V
B
Y
Z
T
R
A
I
N
X
W
K
S
U
B
W
A
Y
N
T
O
C
B
Q
G
S
C
O
O
T
E
R
F
A
W
BIKE
BOAT
CAR
AIRPLANE
MOTORBIKE
SUBWAY
TRAM
TRAIN
BUS
VAN
TRUCK
SCOOTER
ColourBy By Alphabet Color Alphabet
Use theUse colour keykey to to reveal vehicles! the color revealthe the construction construction vehicles!
T
T
T A
T
A W
W Z
T
Y
U
T
Z Y
Y X Y T
X Y T
T T
T W
T T
T
Y T
T
S
W Y X Y
W
W
A
T
W
V
A
W
X
X
X
S - Brown T - Blue U - Green
Y
T
S
W W
X
T
T
Y
W Y
X
T
S
T
V - Red W - Yellow X - Black
T
Y - Grey Z - Orange A - White Autumn 2024 - issue 10
27
NUMBER MAZE Help the truck find its way to the garage by colouring numbers 0-20 in the maze:
3 72 2 0 4 5 1 44 3 6 42 7 32 9 10 8 72 53 5 71 11 6 52 12 12 20 19 26 13 15 17 16 18 14 Hey kids, check out the Iveco S-Way colouring in comp, send your entries to shannon@nztrucking.co.nz
28
Little trucker down under
Truck dot to dot activity Join the dots to reveal the full picture!
Truck dot to dot activity Join the dots to reveal the full picture! 2
1
4
3
5
2
1
6
4
3
7
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12
13 14 8 9
10 11 12
13 14
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
31
Wha
ok t I lo
like:
I
ood g m a
at:
ite plac r u o v a f y M
e:
e food: t i r u o v My fa
gs Thin
All About Me
My best friend:
My favourite hobby:
e ourit v a f My e: gam
My age:
visit twinkl.com
My name:
3
3
1
3
1
ours to the numbers 1 5
Blue
Green 4 2 3
Blue
Green
2 5 3 3 6 5 5
1
3 3 3
3
5
5
1
6 5
6
5
3
1
3 6 5
1
5
5
53 3 3 3
5
1
Truck and Trailer Colour by Number 1 5
3
Match the colours to the numbers 2 - 1 Light Blue - 2 Light Green
2
2
3
3
3
3
5 3
5
3 6 5
53 3 3 3 5
6 5
5
6 5
3
3
1
6 5
2
6 6 Colour by5 numbers 5
4
4 - 3 Dark Blue 4 4 olour the inside rim trailer’s4 wheels in black 3 1of 3the6 truck’s and 2 6 - 4 Dark Green
- 5 Grey - 6 Black
3 3 5 6 5 5
2
3 5
6 5
1
5
5
4
4
4
6 6
2
5
2
visit twinkl.com
4
5
The Artisan Life® - natashalh.com
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
33
Advanced level
School Visit
Truck visit at Moama Anglican Grammar Our friends at Moama Anglican Grammar in Victoria, Australia had the chance to get up close with a great big truck and ask questions about rural transport.
L
ivestock & Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) and the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) are big supporters of Little Trucker Down Under, with members and their families providing some great feedback about why they love this great magazine! Both LRTAV and LBRCA have been very busy sharing their generous subscriptions around to primary schools and members. Just before school broke up last December, the LRTAV
went to Moama Anglican Grammar to showcase Little Trucker. Grade 3 was selected to come out and explore the truck and ask questions about rural transport. The morning was a great success, with lots of upcoming industry members in the making. Shout out to Graham Thomson Motors Shepparton for supplying a Kenny for the kids to explore. Libby was the Grade 3 representative who thanked Gerard Michel, general manager of Graham Thomson Motors.
The great Kenworth parked up outside the school.
The kids of Moama Anglican Grammar got the chance to explore the truck. Everyone loves Little Trucker Down Under!
Libby with Gerard Michel from Graham Thomson Motors.
from Question on page 19
A Fish because they stay in schools
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
35
MEET MY FLEET
CHRIS ANGUS TRANSPORT LTD (CAT LTD)
Jimmy’s Scania R620 in the rain.
Story by Milly McCauley
Photos by Jodi and Chris Angus
Little Trucker Down Under’s Milly McCauley sat down with Jodi and Chris Angus, owners of CAT LTD in Mataoki, where she found out all about their log cartage operation. Who owns CAT Limited? Myself (Chris) and my wife Jods own the business. How long has CAT been in business? Almost 16 years, since 2008. Where do you have trucks based? We have trucks based in Matatoki, Paeroa, Waihi,
Mount Maunganui and Whangamata. How many trucks does CAT operate? We operate eight. How many people does CAT employ? We have a team of 13 including ourselves and are proud to say our first, second
and third employees – Foxy, Mel and our operations manager Jumbo – are still with us today! Our awesome team consists of the ones mentioned above as well as Kaleb, Andrew, Evan, Glenn, Jimmy, Albert, Phil and Christine, who are behind the success of our business. What makes of trucks do you have and how many of each? We have got five Scanias, two Kenworths and one Freightliner.
CAT Transport fleet in the depot.
36
Little trucker down under
What type of loads do you cart? Logs, logs and more logs. Where are the main areas you operate in around New Zealand? We service the centre of the North Island, mainly Maramarua and around Whangamata on the Coromandel Peninsula. What is your title at CAT and what are your responsibilities? I (Jodi) work in the office and Chris works on the tools,
Cartoon Graphic behind CAT LTD logo.
Do you have a favourite truck in your fleet? I (Jodi) used to before it was sold and that was the company’s very first Hino. I (Chris) don’t have a favourite, but the European trucks are very comfortable and the American trucks with manual gearboxes are still cool to drive.
Jumbo’s Angus Family in front of f’. Chie hau Moe ‘the ck tru
er King of the horsepow 770 y’s Fox is at CAT LTD horsepower Scania.
driving or directing, whatever needs to be done really! Did you always think you would work in transport? (Chris) My father always worked in log truck driving, so I was always destined to work in the industry, however, I didn’t actually start driving until I was 30 when I bought my very first truck, a Hino, and started the business in 2008. I then met Jods in 2009 and we progressed together. I (Jodi) always seemed to end up amongst trucks, previously working at Provincial Freightlines in Thames, however my dad
drove the Tip Top truck for many years when I was growing up and I would always go with him to help deliver the ice cream around the Coromandel Peninsula. What’s your favourite thing about working in the industry? Our favourite thing is the people we work with and that every day is different, and being a logging truck company the challenge of negotiating off-highway roads to get the logs shifted. What would you like to see change for the transport industry over time?
In America, truckers who retire late and drive for small to medium-scaled businesses drive more than 115,000 average miles per year. That sums up to nearly whooping three million miles throughout their lifetime.
Chris and Jodi.
We would both like to see the health and safety regulations surrounding children and logging be changed. Currently children under the age of 16 are not allowed to come for trips in logging trucks both to the forest and to the sawmill/port due to health and safety reasons. When you have kids interested in trucks at a young age, not being able to take them out and show them what we really do, and what is involved in the industry, is difficult. In order to continue to encourage and foster interest, trips out to do practical work are important.
What would be some advice you would give to any young people who want to start a career in transport? We would both say listen to the older people in the industry who have experience and knowledge, listen and take it all in. Can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about CAT? CAT LTD Stands for Chris Angus Transport Ltd and the logo came from Jumbo’s Black Freightliner that we purchased in 2014, which had artwork on the side of it – an Angus Bull pulling logs – which made a cool connection with our surname Angus. Hence why next to the CAT LTD title there is a cartoon bull.
Is there a three milly mile club?
Million Mile Club Autumn 2024 - issue 10
37
Special
Passing under the mighty Makatote Viaduct in the National Park. Can you see me in the passenger seat?
My very first
truck ride Ever wondered what it’s like to go for a ride in a truck? Well our friend Margaret Murphy wondered this too, and she tells us all about her very first truck ride.
I
had been looking forward to this trip for months. A road trip with my work colleagues Dave and Gavin from NZ Trucking Media and Guy Knowles driving his Kenworth K220 truck and trailer unit from Papakura to Palmerston North. Talk about a dream come true!
38
We started off with a hearty breakfast at the BP Truck Stop at Papakura then hit the road, saying goodbye to the Auckland traffic, destination Palmerston North. Over the Bombay Hills we travelled along State Highway 1 before turning off just north of Hamilton, heading south
Little trucker down under
down to Te Kuiti where it was time to refuel. Next stop National Park for refreshments and a wee stop. As we travelled through the King Country, I couldn’t help but think how scenic the countryside was, still nice and green after some recent rain. At National Park, Dave asked if I would like to join Guy in his truck for the next stage of our journey. Of course, I would, but politely asked Guy if it was all right, at the same time quietly jumping
for joy at the opportunity. I first had to be shown how to climb into the truck, and tentatively trying not to slip and lose my dignity, I climbed up. I was in, relieved I hadn’t embarrassed myself, belted up and was ready to go. Off we headed, next stop Mangaweka for a photo opportunity of Guy and his K220 truck in front of the long ago closed Mangaweka Garage for a feature article in New Zealand Trucking magazine. Getting out of the
Guy at the wheel. It was a thrill to tag along and watch a top notch truck driver at work.
Home sweet home.
cab was my next challenge. I opened the door and looked down. Oh help, it’s a long way down. Wisely Guy did warn me not to try to jump out, maybe he saw the ‘how the heck’ look on my face. I did make it safely down. Photos taken, back into the truck again, next stop Hunterville. Guy and I chatted along the way while I quietly noted how smoothly he moved through the gears and how quiet and comfortable the ride was. The twists and turns of the road, corners, and bridges were effortlessly navigated as we made our way south. I suspect that had something to do with Guy’s skilful driving. It’s a big rig but you would never have thought so. My ride ended at Hunterville. Gavin took over the passenger seat until we reached our final destination, Guy and Helen Knowles’ truck depot in Palmerston
Guy stopped for a photo outside the old Mangaweka Service Station. It’s a neat spot for a truck photo.
Here we are on a famous part of State Highway 1 in the North Island. Do you know where it is? Maybe a friendly truck driver will help you if you show him the picture. If you find out, let Shannon know at shannon@nztrucking.co.nz.
North. What an awesome day. Yes, I was tired but I had a great day. I won’t ever forget this day. Thank you to Guy and Helen Knowles for their hospitality and for giving me the opportunity to have my very first truck ride. I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and family all about my truck adventures when I got home.
The tow truck driver loved telling jokes – he always had a “tow-riffic” sense of humour.
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
39
Korner
s! Hey guy t was my now i ently! k u o y d Di rec ARS OLD! That’s hotwionosld y a d h t r bi RED YE elebra NE HUND thday c your
O ir e ld I am? had the best b party! When ar ties? I s how o s ar ! ig p e is b u y d g y a , n m d p Yu birth from th bra r s r u o o t o w y o n h f e p o e the tos e th m. the K out all ool pho uld love to se c k y c e n h a c e , too, gh, I wo you hav th page m throu ys? Do Kenwor now, r u r o o birthda u do, send the f n e z. By ured o .n t a o e If yo .c f g e b ztruckin ant to tuff!! If you w to shannon@n n the black s o s e ic ur p ther send yo d see you out nny RP Ke an P BAR BA
KENWORTH CELEBRATED 100 YEARS WITH A HUGE EVENT ON WAITANGI WEEKEND IN NEW ZEALAND.
M
ore than 756 Kenworth trucks came down to Mystery Creek in Hamilton for the two day celebration. A huge range of trucks were put on display and many of them were put up for prizes! With a fantastic range of prizes and an incredibly high standard of truck presentation, the judging panel for KW100 certainly had their work cut out for them. There were heaps to see at the show, and some trucks received a special 100-year commemorative pack. Take a look at all the great photos from the event! Which is your favourite?
Shop Kenworth
$32
$22
$30.60
$21
$11.70 $4.50
40
Little trucker down under
Kenworth black/red beanie
$20.90
$25.50 $30.60
VIEW MORE PRODUCT ON LINE VISIT: www.spt.co.nz/shop
Seven answer
FIND THE HIDDEN KENNYS
Dave capturing a picture of the Iveco as it leaves with a full load of scrap metal.
Crafting a cover story Story and Photos by Milly McCauley
I recently learnt all about the fast-paced world of trucking journalism on a trip to Auckland.
O
n a trip to Thames at the end of last year I was lucky enough to head out with the New Zealand
Trucking magazine’s Gavin Myers and Dave McCoid who were working on a cover story. The cover story is an article that focuses on the truck on the cover of the magazine each month. Gavin and Dave will head out with a driver and an exceptional truck, travelling one of its usual routes, where they find
What’s a journalist’s to page 48 favourite exercise? Turn for answer 42
out facts about the truck, how it performs, its usual jobs, information about the company it is attached to, as well as the driver’s background in the industry. These noteworthy stories consist of an article and pictures from throughout the journey. They contain many technical details that are particularly interesting
to truck enthusiasts. When I was offered the opportunity to accompany these truck journalists ‘on the job’ and learn from the best, I couldn’t say no! I quickly found out there is plenty of planning behind a cover story before it can happen: contacting the company and asking for permission to head away with the driver, then arranging dates and times for the actual journey and for an interview with the company’s owner. The cover story job I was invited to join was on an Iveco T-Way from Metal Solutions in Kawerau. Gavin, Dave, and I arrived at the Whakatane Transfer Station where we met up with
What do you call a photo taken by a cat? Turn to page 48 for answer
Little trucker down under
Gav taking specs of the Iveco’s lever, which hooks onto detachable bins that are used to store the scrap metal.
Dave and Gav getting content rain or shine.
driver Shannon de Vos, who had a load of scrap steel and aluminium that was destined for the Metal Solutions yard in Kawerau. After introducing ourselves to Shannon he set off, while we jumped in the car and raced ahead, in order to pull over on the side of the road and get pictures and videos of the truck in its natural habitat. This is an important practise on road tests to get content that illustrates the truck in action. After we arrived at the scrap metal yard, while Shannon unloaded, Gavin, Dave and I met with the owner of Metal Solutions, Dave Fretwell. Meeting with the company
owners is another central part of crafting the cover story’s content as it gives Gavin and Dave background on the company, its history and current achievements. We found out that Metal Solutions deals in scrap metal within the central North Island region, buying all types of scrap metal and selling it on for export and recycling. When we finished the meeting, we headed back to the Iveco to record the specifications of the truck. This involves using a series of cameras and videoing equipment to gather content that shows the truck up close; this will not only be put in the magazine article
A truck carrying ten thousand copies of a thesaurus crashed on the motorway. Onlookers are said to be stunned, bewildered, dumbfounded, astonished, startled, speechless, and amazed.
but also will be compiled in a video that accompanies the magazine article and is posted online. It often takes two to three days to gather all the information, photographs and footage needed, so we were up the next morning ready to follow the Iveco to Auckland where it was delivering a load of aluminium chip sheets to Metal Man. Gavin went in the cab with Shannon to gather a driver profile on him that is also used in the article. Dave and I took over the photography and raced ahead to get some action shots on the top of the Kaimais. We then worked on getting some tracking shots on the highway that turned
out to be epic once we reviewed them. As we arrived in Auckland, we discovered that unfortunately Gavin was not able to go into the Metal Man yard due to safety rules, so we said our goodbyes to Shannon and headed back to Thames. Over the next month, Gavin crafted the story into an article that would spread over several pages for the magazine, which would describe the journey we went on and include the relevant and interesting information researched about the truck, and the company associated with it. As well as this, he chose and organised the pictures that would be used in the article, while the various video clips were sent away to an expert to be edited into a video that also shows the truck in action. It was an awesome and insightful trip to go on and I was able to get some insider information on what it is like to be a full-time truck journalist.
Where do cows go on Friday nights?
Turn to page 49 for answer
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
43
PHOTO BOOTH
NE A B S I R B 3 2 20 CK SHOW TRU
44
Little trucker down under
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
45
46
Little trucker down under
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
47
Junior reporter
Travelling the West Coast Dustin gets the opportunity to explore the West Coast in the passenger seat of a K200 with the amazing team at Trans West.
H
ey little truckers! How are the holidays going? I hope you got some good presents at Christmas time and the new year is going well. While I was on holiday on the West Coast (in New Zealand’s South Island), I thought it might be good to do a transport trip on the
The K200 is all ready for the west coast.
48
Little trucker down under
other side of the Southern Alps, so we called in and asked Trans West (who are based just out of Greymouth). Luckily enough, Dylan and Kate let me do an article. Mum got the call on Tuesday to say I was going in a Kenworth K200 – SWEET!! On Wednesday morning I got up and made breakfast then I got ready to go. Dad
and I jumped in the car and went to the yard and met the driver, Graham (Hutch) Hutchison. For our first load we left the yard and went to Ikamatua, a small town on the way to Reefton and dropped off some bulls at a farm. As we made our way to the second job I asked Hutch why he liked transporting stock and what got him
A: A paw-trait. from Question on page 42
into trucking. Like many people who drive trucks, he remembers riding around in trucks with his granddad and dad, and along with the stock he just enjoys seeing rural New Zealand through the windscreen and going to many different new places; no day is the same. The rest of the afternoon we moved cattle between farms in the Grey Valley, making our way back to Stillwater where Dad met me on the side of the road. Another question I asked Hutch was what was his favourite truck and favourite piece of road to drive. His reply was one we can’t disagree with – driving the Devil’s Staircase near Queenstown or the Lewis Pass in his old Kenworth K108, how cool. Thank you very much to the Trans West team, you were awesome for getting me into this truck, I really enjoyed my day on the West Coast.
ts the The K200 ge om me. fr up thumbs
The view is looking pretty good.
Can you moo-ve please I can’t see
A: The “press” up!
A: To the Moo-vies
from Question on page 42
from Question on page 43
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
49
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TRUCKER
Riding shotgun
aaron
with
Story and photos by Rochelle Thomas
Rochelle spends a day in the life of a log truck driver
50
I
t’s 2am when my alarm goes off. At 4am I meet Aaron De Silva at the Riversdale Beach turnoff, just south of Masterton, an hour’s drive from my house. When I arrive Aaron is doing a check on his truck ensuring everything is in order. He lives in Palmerston North and started work at 1.30am! Aaron drives a Kenworth K200
for HP Transport, owned by Joe Potter from Trentham. He has been working here for nearly three years but has a driving career of 30! Once the check is complete, we head off to Blairlogie Forest. We are doing local runs delivering logs to either rail or Kiwi Lumber. This has been Aaron’s daily run for the past two months. It keeps
him away from home Monday to Friday, returning home to his family on the weekends. When I ask Aaron what he loves most about his job, he tells me it’s the scenery. Doing this kind of work takes him to some remote places around the country and he gets to see some beautiful sunrises and views. Unfortunately, it was overcast, and I was not lucky enough to see the sun come up. When we arrive at the forest to be loaded, we have to pull over up the hill a bit and wait because there are a few trucks ahead of us and it’s a very narrow drive down. We aren’t waiting too long before Aaron gets a call saying another driver is stuck, struggling to get up the hill loaded on the loose gravel. Aaron, being very good at
Aaron and his truck loaded out of Blairlogie Forest.
Little trucker down under
View from up the bank of Aaron getting loaded.
Waiting to be unloaded. Chains are off.
Getting unloaded at Kiwi Lumber. James lifts the trailer off with his loader.
Aaron behind
the wheel.
his job, shows off his driving skills by doing a three-point turn on this narrow road and reversing down the winding track in the dark. He makes it look easy but I’m not going to lie, it got my heart racing a little! Once down they hook the other truck up to Aaron’s and he tows him up the hill. The first thing the loader driver does is lift the trailer off the truck. Log trucks carry their trailers on top of the truck when empty. By 5.30am we are loaded with 6.1m logs that will be used for export timber and
head off to Kiwi Lumber in Masterton. Aaron has a forestry app called WSX where he enters where he’s been, where he’s going and what he’s got on. The information is emailed to dispatch. Aaron’s truck has a 48-tonne permit and scales on the trailer that weigh his load to ensure he carries the correct amount of wood. He puts 25 tonne on the truck and 22 tonne on the trailer. The logs can be loaded no higher than the bolsters that support them. The loader driver, James, is an expert
and gets the loads bang on! Slow and steady is the drive out of the forest, because the gravel is so loose on the rough road and we don’t want to end up stuck like the truck before us. Aaron also explains to me how easy it is for the trailer to kick out, slide and flip. Before we unload, we stop at Waingawa weighbridge to record the gross weight (loaded), and then once unloaded we go back to record the tare weight (empty). Here we also pull into the gantry, where a huge
Getting loaded at the Blairlogie Forest.
Autumn 2024 - issue 10
51
Aaron towing the other driver up the hill.
Aaron tightening the chains on his load.
Getting loaded in the dark.
Loaded before dawn.
hook and chain is used to lift the trailer onto the back of the truck. At Kiwi Lumber, we must wait our turn to be unloaded. Aaron pulls over and uses this time to undo the chains, catch up with other drivers who are also waiting, and
52
Lights up!
update his logbook. When the loader driver is ready, he calls us in and we park safely in the unloading zone. At this point we are not allowed to leave the vehicle, but they make an exception for me to get photos from a safe distance wearing the safety
Little trucker down under
gear I have been given, a hard hat and hi-vis vest so I can be seen. Each round trip, loading and unloading, takes about three hours and Aaron does three or four of these each day. I stay on for one more circuit, then Aaron drops
me off at my ute and I head home and let him carry on with his day. Driving a log truck takes some skill! Gorgeous scenery and some big challenges are all in a day’s work. Thanks a heap for letting me tag along Aaron, I had a great time!
Salter Cartage based in Auckland transport a lot of industrial liquid waste products. Here one of the company’s immaculate Scania tanker combinations crests the Bombay Hills Northbound on the way home from a delivery run. You can see the back axles of the tractor and semi lifted, indicating the unit is empty. If you look really closely at the tank, you might just make out the ‘Corrosive’ and ‘Toxic’ signs. They are there to tell everyone the product carted is hazardous and has to be handled extremely carefully. The driver will have undertaken a lot of training, and possess a high level of skill to know just how to deal with this type of liquid cargo and keep everyone around them safe.
New Zealand’s leader in heavy transport products Specialist transport trailers and equipment manufacturers. Trusted since 1972.
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.
54
Little trucker down under
Auckland Truck Alignment are specialists in heavy vehicle wheel alignments, from trucks, trailers and campers to LWB and heavy vans.
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
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.
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.
Autumn 2024 issue 10
55
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.
Proudly the leading provider of log transport solutions in the Nelson and Marlborough regions, with our fleet of trucks traveling over 5,000,000kms per year.
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.
A motivated and high performing Team that thrives on continuous improvement and honing our skill sets. At Symons Group we are more than just transport.
The vision at Sollys is to enable the success of others by connecting people and products. Within our core values we believe it is the small gestures that make the difference.
Our three interlocking guiding principles at Waimea Contract Carriers are Safety, Service & Sustainability. The entire team here at Waimea are proud to be the log transport company of choice with a reputation based on service and professionalism.
Nelson
Family owned and operated, with a fleet of 35 plus trucks. Delivering superior transport solutions to the most challenging of destinations throughout New Zealand.
quotes@austintransport.co.nz
Proudly supplying the aggregates to build the stepping stones of our children’s futures. Mike Johnson: 027 878 4370 ohauquarries@icloud.com
We are a 100% family owned business, that prides itself on providing the highest level of service and support to our community and clients.
NZ’s leading industry association for road transport operators. Join us for free business support + savings on fuel, tyres and more. natroad.co.nz
B. Lum Transport Ltd
B. Lum Transport Ltd operates one truck and trailer. Specialising in transporting fresh vegetables for local growers.
COMPETITIONS, PUZZLES, STICKE
RS, BOOKMARKS, CUTOUTS INS
IDE!
Winter, Issue 7
SURPRISE
SCHOOL VISIT! DRIVING ACROSS
AUSTRALIA
TRUCK LIFE IN
QUEENSLAND
677008 9 772744
ISSN 2744-6778
$8.50
STICKERS
MY YUMOLATE CHOCCIPES RE SIDE IN
Little Trucker Down Under is a truck magazine for Kiwi and Aussie kids. It’s full of pictures, short stories, competitions, puzzles and colouring pages, collector cards, activities and loads of fun.
Get your subscription at www.nztrucking.co.nz/shop/
Do you love trucks? Well so
do we!.
To build your first TR truck just cut this one out, fold all the white tabs over and then stick them together with glue or double sided tape.
Message us a pic of your finished paper model truck to our Facebook page facebook.com/trgroupnz and you will go in the draw to WIN 1 of 5 TR Group Gift Packs. *Competition closes Sunday 31st March 2024 and winners will be notified through social media.
To learn all about who we are, what we do and what career opportunities we have available, visit us online at trgroup.co.nz
Looking for a truckload of fun? Scania Kids Hub is just the place you’re looking for. With loads of activities ranging from word searches to spot the difference, colouring sheets to scavenger hunts, and even a Scania board game, Scania Kids Hub is the perfect place for truck lovers to bust boredom! Scan the QR code below or visit https://bit.ly/scania-kids