6 minute read
Just Truckin’ Around
Devin Murcott
Devin Murcott was in Mount Maunganui, busy tarping a load of fertiliser before heading off to Waipukurau, when Alison and Mike Verran stopped to have a chat. With eight years’ driving experience behind him, Devin is currently behind the wheel of Twist Trucking’s International 9870 with a 458kW (615hp) Cummins engine and 18-speed Roadranger gearbox. He carts both bulk and flat deck products anywhere from Hawke’s Bay to Whangarei.
“I’ve always had a passion for trucks,” says Devin. “I went for rides with the old man, all around New Zealand. I think I had my first truck ride when I was two years old. My grandfather was a truck driver for the Thames Valley Dairy Company. My uncle (Darrin Murcott) drives trucks. It’s a family thing.”
Devin’s passion for trucking means he can spend his days chilling out listening to sounds while travelling the highways.
Glen Ireland
While on his way to the Port of Tauranga with a load of logs, Glen Ireland stopped at the Caltex Truck Stop on Hull Road for a quick catch up with Alison and Mike Verran. Glen drives for Rossiter Log Haulage in an impressive and well-presented Western Star 4884 with a 525 Detroit under the hood. Every working day is spent carting logs around the central North Island. After unloading at the port, Glen was heading off to Acacia Bay near Taupo for his next load.
Glen was brought up around trucks. “My old man was a truck driver. I went for rides all of the time.” Glen completed his diesel mechanic apprenticeship after leaving school. A recession at the time forced the decision to go truck driving instead. Glen now has 14 years of experience behind the wheel.
He enjoys the freedom of being out on the road. “You don’t have to sit inside all day, and you get the best view in the world.” He notes one of the biggest He also enjoys meeting new people each day.
He has noticed there is a lack of the traditional trucking camaraderie these days. “If a driver is stuck somewhere, not everyone stops to help.”
When asked the vexing question if he favoured lawns or concrete, Devin says he doesn’t mind mowing lawns at all. “It’s all about the lawn porn.”
disadvantages of trucking these days is not being able to take young ones with you out on the job.
Pie or quiche was the vexing question of the day. Glen had no hesitation in expressing his love for pies. “I make my own pies every night. Today, I’ve got a cheeseburger pie, as well as a potato, gravy and popcorn chicken pie.”
Overseas
Andrew Hickey
Howard Shanks joined Andrew Hickey on a run to collect four decks of cattle from a station east of Croydon, Victoria, near the head of the Gilbert River. Andrew was to truck them to the port at Karumba in Queensland.
After changing a flat tyre on his rear trailer, Andrew was tightening the wheel nuts when Howard snapped this picture.
Up the front of the road train is a first-generation T950 powered by a Cat C15 that punches out a healthy 410kW (550hp). The Cat is coupled to an Eaton RTLO22918B transmission with Dana D52-190 rear axles.
Back on the black top and the big Cat under the hood purred effortlessly northward. Meantime, Andrew added that he reckons his original T950 is one of the best models that Kenworth ever made. “That’s not merely due their reliability, but the simplicity of their design makes them easier for outback operators like me to maintain,” he said.
PREMIUM
WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT
MAHA New Zealand Toll Free: 0800 624 269 Email - Admin@Maha.co.nz BDM: Bruce Hundley Mob: 021 344 351 MD: Mick Lauster Mob: +61 419 587 210
www.maha.co.nz
FLAWLESS IN PELORUS
Like much of New Zealand, the Nelson/Marlborough area is home to many established family-owned businesses with long-standing supplier relationships. Mike Edridge Contracting is one such company and it has a history of commissioning unique and head-turning Scanias in heavyhaulage roles. The latest addition to the fleet ticks that box once again.
Story and photos by Craig McCauley
Located between Havelock and Rai Valley in Marlborough is the poplar camping spot of Pelorus Bridge, also the home base of Mike Edridge Contracting (Edridge Contracting), known locally for its fastidiously presented fleet of Scania trucks and Caterpillar machinery.
Established by Mike Edridge in 1987 with a small excavator and Bedford truck, the business is a major player in the top of the south, supplying earthworks, roading, drainage, quarrying and heavy-haulage services to the civil and forestry sectors.
Today, Mike’s son Malcolm is managing director, and Edridge Contracting has a staff of 80. It operates more than 50 major items of plant from bases at Kaituna (near Blenheim), Pelorus Bridge, and Nelson.
Since the beginning, trucks have been an integral part of the operation and the current heavy-truck fleet numbers nine – three Mercedes-Benz and six Scanias.
This month’s New Zealand Trucking magazine Top Truck is a Scania R730 A6X4HB 6x4 tractor unit put to work by Edridge’s, predominately on heavy-haulage work. Behind the prime mover is a TRT 3x8 Swing Wing Widening low-loader trailer, with a TRT 2x8 widening load divider able to be added, giving the combination the ability to carry a payload of about 64 tonnes under permit conditions.
Motivation is provided by an all proprietary drivetrain. The Scania 545kW (730hp) DC16 108L01 engine produces a peak of 3500Nm (2581lb/ft) of torque, while an Opticruise-equipped GRSO926R transmission with standard, power and off-road performance modes turns horsepower into tractive
Two marques that are proven winners in building the Edridge business – Scania and Caterpillar.
1 2 3
1) REM Ltd in Rai Valley repurposed a surplus fuel tank into a handy toolbox and access step. How cool is that? 2) A farm electric-fence connector mounted under the cab allows Hud’s gloves to dry in the draft from the engine. 3) Antony Huddleston ‘Hud’, has clocked up 18 years in Scanias with Edridge’s.
effort via a pair of 4.21:1 ratio RBP835 hub-reduction rear axles riding on air suspension. Hold-back is provided by Scania’s proven R4100D retarder.
Antony ‘Hud’ Huddleston drives the R730. He’s passionate about the Scania product, having clocked up 18 years in Scanias with Edridge’s.
A low-roof CR20 sleeper cab was specified for extra clearance when manoeuvring around obstacles, particularly in the forest. Inside, ‘Hud’ has all the usual Scania in-cab comforts, including leather seats.
The R730 left Scania’s Zwolle assembly plant in the Netherlands painted in the yellow and green fleet livery, and Power Signs of Nelson added the company’s eye-catching graphics.
Edridge Contracting maintenance manager Ben Todd managed the local portion of the Scania’s set-up with REM Ltd of Rai Valley fitting the fifth wheel, fabricating a cab-protecting headboard and turning a surplus Scania fuel tank into an extremely tidy combination toolbox/ step arrangement. Bigfoot central tyre inflation was also fitted to aid traction and tyre wear.
The R730 is one of two heavy-haulage units Edridge Contracting operates, shifting the company’s own equipment plus that of outside clients predominately around Nelson and Marlborough.
When questioned ‘Why Scania?’ Malcolm replied, “Hud likes Scania – they’re a driver’s truck”, and it’s about looking after good drivers.
Good staff and good equipment are modern business benchmarks. If you’re in the Nelson Marlborough region, keep a lookout for the Mike Edridge Contracting Scania R730. You won’t be disappointed.
