10 minute read
Little Trucker Down Under
ON A SHELF NEAR YOU…
The long wait is over! The first issue of Little Trucker Down Under is on the shelves, designed to bring Australasia’s future truckies a fix designed especially for them.
Keep your eyes peeled this summer for the very first issue of Little Trucker Down Under, an exciting new magazine dedicated to kids who love trucks.
Packed with all things trucks, Little Trucker Down Under is full to the brim with awesome activities, competitions, stories, stickers, and not to mention loads and loads of truck photos. The magazine is geared towards kids from 5-14 years of age, with stories written by kids themselves, such as ‘Wheels Wheels Wheels’ by seven-year-old Jackson; ‘Trucks, Rocks and Diggers’ with Kaitlyn; and ‘Transporting Cattle’ with Jackson. Also featured in this summer issue is ‘A Day in the Life’ with Gundy Transport and Young Trucker of the Season Max Brighouse. There’s also some great educational content, delving into trucking safety and technology.
Check out the magazine’s Facebook page
laughs Lots of Dustin and Roger with
Dustin was lucky enough to spend the day out in a truck with his mate Roger from GVT Landline, transporting fertiliser to a couple of farms.
Hi my name is Dustin Wright. I’m 12 years old and I live in Hawarden, North Canterbury.
I recently went out on a truck trip with GVT Landline, a transport operator. That spring morning, I woke up and had my breakfast - I needed to be at the end of the drive early for the day ahead.
I was picked up by Roger Marsh from GVT Landline at 7:30am, and we were going to spread some fertiliser. Roger drives a 320hp Mercedes-Benz 4x4 fert spreader.
We went down to the quarry to pick up the fertiliser. Roger got in the loader and warmed it up and then loaded up the truck as his trailer was getting fixed. After loading the truck we went to a dairy farm and put the fertiliser on the land.
After finishing at the dairy farm, we went to our next location - this time it was a sheep and beef farm. We went up quite a steep hill - even Roger didn’t like it too much! At the quarry, the loader took one and a half bucket loads to load the truck.
I really enjoyed my day, with lots of laughs along the way.
Dustin enjoyed lots of laughs with Roger Roger drives a 320hp Mercedes-Benz 4x4 fert spreader.
can you Get the gas to the gas station?
18 Little trucker down under
Dustin and Roger spent the day at a dairy farm and a beef and sheep farm The loader took one and a half bucket loads to load the truck Dustin spent the day with Roger from GVT Landline
Q: What has six wheels and flies? Turn to page 22 for answer
kids club mag pages amended PRINT.pdf 3 8/10/2021 10:23:14 AM kids club mag pages amended PRINT.pdf 3 8/10/2021 10:23:14 AM kids club mag pages amended PRINT.pdf 4 8/10/2021 10:23:19 AM kids club mag pages amended PRINT.pdf 4 8/10/2021 10:23:19 AM
10 Little trucker down under Kids Club Kids Club
COLOURINGCOLOURING COMPETITIONCOMPETITION
C C
M M
Y Y
CMCM
MYMY
CYCY
CMYCMY
K K Kids Club Puzzles Kids Club Puzzles
WESTERN STAR WESTERN STAR MERCEDES MERCEDES Match these Road Signs with What They Mean Match these Road Signs with What They Mean
SCANIA SCANIA
MANMAN DAFDAF KENWORTH KENWORTH
MACK MACK IVECO IVECO RENAULT RENAULT
ISUZU ISUZU
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI VOLVO VOLVO INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
HINOHINO
A. Slippery Surface A. Slippery Surface B. Beware of Landslides B. Beware of Landslides C. Slow Down and Give-Way C. Slow Down and Give-Way to Oncoming Traffic to Oncoming Traffic D. No U-Turn D. No U-Turn E. No Left Turn E. No Left Turn F. Stop and Then Give-Way F. Stop and Then Give-Way G. Stop for School Patrol G. Stop for School Patrol H. Merging Lanes / H. Merging Lanes / Left Lane Closed Left Lane Closed I. Narrow Road I. Narrow Road J. Pedestrian Crossing J. Pedestrian Crossing K. Beware of Hazards K. Beware of Hazards L. Roadworks Area L. Roadworks Area
Find the truck brands in the word nd Find the truck brands in the word nd Help the Safety Truck get to School Help the Safety Truck get to School
schoolschool
Summer - issue number 1 11 MEET MY FLEET
Stuart Drummond Transport
Who owns Stuart Drummond Transport? Stuart Drummond Transport is a family-owned company, founded by Brodie’s dad Stuart, and today owned by the Drummond family.
What type of loads do you cart? Stuart Drummond Transport is a solely log cartage company. They cart to sawmills, an MDF factory, and to the ports at both Nelson & Picton, where the logs are exported overseas. How long has the transport company been in business? The company has been in business for 36 years.
How many trucks are in the Stuart Drummond fleet and what brands do you have? Stuart Drummond Transport operates 55 trucks, and their fleet consists of 18 Kenworths, 11 Freightliners, 2 Western Stars, 5 Scanias, 8 Hinos and 11 DAFs.
In our regular Meet My Fleet feature, Milly McCauley catches up with a transport operator to learn about their company and fleet of trucks. This month, she met up with Brodie Drummond of Stuart Drummond Transport from Richmond, near Nelson. How many people does the company employ? Stuart Drummond employs 70 people over their management, administration, workshop and driving fields. Did you always think you would work in transport? Brodie says growing up around his dad and trucks meant he always knew where he wanted to be. With his childhood involved in transport, it was an easy choice to make. Story By Milly McCauley Photographs From the McCauley Family Archive A Kenworth T659 loaded with export logs at Port Nelson
40 Little trucker down under
This Scania R730 is one of the newest trucks on the fleet
Where are the main areas you operate in around New
Zealand? Stuart Drummond Transport operates all over the top half of the South Island. What is your title at Stuart Drummond Transport? Brodie is the general manager of Stuart Drummond Transport.
How long have you been involved with the business? Brodie has been involved with the company for 14 years. He started in 2007 and has worked his way up to general manager.
What’s your favourite thing about working in the
industry? The best thing would be meeting all different kinds of people.
What things would you like to see change for the transport industry over
time? Brodie says he would like to see more young people getting into the industry. He says succession within the industry is important, with many older, experienced drivers reaching retirement age in the next few years.
Do you have a favourite truck in your fleet? The company’s Kenworth
T900.
What would be some advice you would give to any young people who want to start a career in
transport? Start early with getting your licences, get the ball rolling. The transport industry is a great opportunity for young people to get ahead, as long as you are prepared to do the work.
Can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about Stuart Drummond
Transport? The company is on track to travel 4.4 million km this year and cart more than a million tonnes of logs.
Are all your trucks based in Richmond or are there
other locations? Stuart Drummond Transport has trucks based throughout the top of the South Island as well as on the West Coast and in Marlborough. Their main yard, workshop and headquarters are in
Richmond.
Western Star 4884F on the road towards Picton Hino FY climbing the Spooners Ranges with a healthy load on-board
Yee-Ha
Why doesn't Texas have U-Haul trucks? Because they have Yee-Haw trucks instead.
I can cut a log in half just by looking at it, It's not impossible, I saw it with my own two eyes. Jobs In
Transport
Braking news!
A Q&A with a specialist brake From trucks to trailers, brake specialist Kaidan Clarke talks to us about his job at Transpecs, how he trained, and what his favourite type of truck is!
LTDU: What do you do for a living?
Kaidan: I travel around the country certifying trucks and trailers to make sure that they are safe to go on the road and that they meet New Zealand law. My job is to programme the truck and trailer braking systems to ‘talk’ to each other and set them up for the exact load weight and function of the truck. It’s all about keeping truck drivers and other road users safe.
LTDU: Why did you choose your job?
Kaidan: My dad is a brake certifier and I used to help him out at weekends. I loved the fact that braking systems are right at the forefront of technology. Everything is done through computers. It’s getting more interesting as our knowledge and equipment advances.
LTDU: What do you like about your job?
Kaidan: It’s never boring! Brake systems are getting more and more sophisticated. For example, we can programme tipping trailers to sound a horn when they get to a certain angle. This warns the driver and stops the trailer tipping over. We set up truck and trailer reversing sensors so that brake systems are automatically triggered if someone walks behind them, or the back of the trailer gets too close to the loading dock. I also like helping customers to identify problems with their braking systems. We work with mechanics to fix the problem and get the unit back on the road as soon as possible.
LTDU: When did you start work?
Kaidan: I started work with Transpecs seven years ago, but I had my own business installing brake systems on trucks and trailers before that. Transpecs trained me up as a brake engineer and gave me some great opportunities to progress in my career. It took four years to train as a brake engineer.
LTDU: How can I become a brake engineer?
Kaidan: Most people start out as mechanics or auto electricians and then do some specialist training.
LTDU: What is your favourite thing about your job?
Kaidan: Travelling and meeting people all round the country. I’ve worked at Transpecs for seven years and I’ve probably been to every town in the South Island! It feels really good to be able to help solve people’s problems.
LTDU: What is your favourite type of truck?
Kaidan: I’d have to say Volvo trucks. They are highly spec’d and have a lot of very cool technology in them. They are one of the safest trucks in the world.
LTDU: What are your hobbies outside of work?
Kaidan: I play rugby for a local Ashburton team, and have three children aged one, three and six years old. The kids take up most of my spare time!
answers to 7 spot the differences
from page 46
No side air vent, missing wheel nut, missing steps, no light, bottom ladder step is missing, missing mirror, no rear light.
A CROSS SECTION OF A Truck wheel hub with drum brake pads.
48 Little trucker down under
Q: WHEN WAS THE FIRST BRAKING SYSTEM INVENTED?
1902 – Considered to be the foundation of the modern braking system, the mechanical drum brake was developed in 1902 by French manufacturer Louis Renault, but had been invented earlier by Gottlieb Daimler.
Air tank reservoir for truck brake system.
Q: HOW ARE TRUCK BRAKES DIFFERENT FROM CAR BRAKES?
Car brakes are a hydraulic system, which relies on brake fluid that flows through the system to work properly. On the other hand, truck brakes depend on compressed air. Trains and buses also use this type of brake system. The air brake system is very reliable.
