Wheels at Wanaka
Leah headed to the Wheels at Wanaka show earlier this year, and after a little road trip seeing all the stunning sites, she checked out what was on display at the amazing event.
After arriving in Dunedin, we met with my sister who studies at the University of Otago. She picked us up and we headed to Wanaka, making a few stops at Milton, Alexandra and Clyde. On the first full day in Wanaka, we had lots of fun seeing the amazing scenery as well as driving an hour out to The Blue Pools and seeing the clear, blue, cold water glisten as the sun bounced off it.
On the second day in Wanaka, Saturday, we got our tickets out and ready for Wheels at Wanaka. We arrived at 9:30am and were greeted by the friendly staff. As soon as you walk in on your right there’s a bunch of classic trucks – we’re talking Macks, Internationals, Kenworths, ERFs and more. After window shopping the trucks, we left Dad to go to the motorcross area, where we watched the dirt bikes practising for the Sunday competition of semifinals and finals. We watched a dirt biker jump over eight cones as well as two people! After checking that out we made our way to the parade ground whilst walking past the steam engines and steel wheel tractors. At the parade ground we watched the last bits of the 100 Years of Kenworths and the whole of the 50 Years of Mack truck parade.
We headed to the food trucks for lunch – I got pork dumplings! As we ate our lunch, we watched the scrapers parade. Next, we watched Haydon Paddon drive the PRG Hyundai Kona EV car around the parade ground and make a few donuts on the grass. On our way to the earthmoving pit my sister bought me a snow cone. At the earthmoving pit we watched the 1960-1980 classic earthmovers. Next, we checked out the vintage cars, some looked like they were old, like 1900s old! Next to us we had the modern tractors, classic muscle tractors and tractor pull modified show, so we watched that. Whilst my dad and sister went to the Mack pop up shop, Mum and I went to a shuttle stop near the earthmoving pit. On the way to it I was shocked by the size of the CAT 789 dump truck. Mum and I hopped on the trailer of a tractor for a free ride that took us back to the entrance as a fun way to end the day.
I loved it and will definitely come back again in two years!
After fun at Wanaka, we travelled to Te Anau to have a day trip at Milford Sound, Bluff at the bottom of New Zealand (it was very cold!), Invercargill to see the world’s fastest Indian, the highly modified 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle made by Burt Munro, and back to Dunedin to stay at my sister’s flat for the night! I had the best trip ever!
Top 5 highlights of the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show
Hey, Little Truckers! I was lucky enough to head across the Tasman to Brisbane with the New Zealand Trucking team, to attend the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show. The event was held at the Brisbane Convention Centre and covered two separate floors, where over 40,000 people of all ages attended. Many major truck brands including Kenworth, Volvo, Iveco and Daimler (who represent Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz) had exhibits with their best-looking trucks on show. Not only did they have these trucks on display, but there was the opportunity to get inside trucks and have a good look around at the inside of the cabs. While there were SO many amazing things at the show, here are my top 5 highlights!
1 Family-Friendly
One of the biggest highlights of the show was seeing all the families with young people just like you walking around, looking at the exhibits and spending time together. Little Trucker Down Under had a photo booth – where kids had the option to get dressed up and get a photo taken behind a mock- magazine background that made them look like they were on the cover! How cool. It is always so great to see how many young people have an interest in the transport industry.
2 Favourite Truck
My favourite truck of the show would have to be the Lawrence Transport Kenworth Legend Series SAR. With hand-painted details, it was one of the most stunning trucks I had ever seen. It was parked on South Bank (a popular shopping and eating district in Brisbane), where it attracted plenty of attention as many stopped by to take pictures. I was lucky enough to get a picture beside it in the evening where the city lights made it look even more impressive.
3 Lego Truck
The best feature of the truck show in my opinion would have to be the Lego Truck. To celebrate Mack’s 60th anniversary, they commissioned a brick builder to build an entire life-sized Mack Anthem out of Lego! The truck took eight weeks to complete, and the model is made with more than 800,000 Lego bricks – wow! Mack is hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the largest truck model made out of Lego bricks. The Lego Mack was incredibly detailed – equipped with all of the usual truck parts such as a fuel tank, detailed mud flaps and steering wheel, sleeper cab as well as fully working doors.
4 Different Exhibitions
The exhibits themselves were incredible. It was a very cool experience to walk around the two separate floors and view all of the stands, whether it be the largest exhibitions for popular truck manufacturers, or equipment and products equally important to the trucking industry such as trailers, workshop equipment or even essentials such as oil or workshop supplies. There were also exhibitions specifically catered for little truckers like the BP and Castrol stand that offered a turn at changing a car tyre with virtual reality. There was always something new at every turn, however, most noticeable would be the range of stunning trucks that were showcased all over the show, in all different colours, shapes and sizes.
5 Favourite Event
As well as attending the truck show I also had an opportunity to meet some very cool people within the transport industry. I got to sit down and have dinner with Charlene Clarke, who is the editorial director of Focus Transport Magazine from South Africa, and Martin Dammann, who is the customer success manager for TruckScience, a truck software company. It was a privilege to be able to meet both Charleen and Martin and hear all about their work in the sector. It was eye-opening to meet these people involved with transport, and it reminded me just how many diverse options for work there are within this industry.
Container Cartin
Motueka has been called “The Fruit Garden of New Zealand” due to the expanse of orchards filled with apples, kiwifruit and hops. I spent some time with Min Wells, who carts containers of fruit from where it is grown and packed to the port at Nelson.
I met Min at a local packhouse in my hometown of Motueka. She drives a Kenworth T410, which tows a Fruehauf quad (four) axle skeletal trailer for AC Palmer & Sons Limited. Some of you guys may remember Min’s truck being on the cover of Little Trucker Down Under’s first issue back in 2021.
We climbed in the Kenworth, which had a 40-foot container on the trailer loaded with cartons of locally grown apples destined for a country on the other side of the world.
As we made our way along State Highway 60 past the Motueka estuary and up onto the Ruby Bay bypass, Min told me that both fruit and wine is being exported to far flung places by ship; this is the main cargo she carts.
We chatted away as we drove through Richmond and around Rocks Road to Port Nelson and I thought the 12-speed AMT transmission made the stop-start motoring through Nelson’s traffic very easy.
I have been to Port Nelson a few times with Dad, and because you must be over 16 years of age to enter the site, I waited outside the gate and watched the endless stream of trucks coming to the port with containers, timber, and logs.
Fortunately, Min explained exactly what went on inside the Port.
After entering the port and driving through to the transfer area, the full container is lifted off Min’s trailer by a large Hyster (container lifter) which has an attachment that hooks into the top of the container.
It is then stacked in a row with other containers waiting to go on the ship, and if required, hooked up to electricity, which is to power the refrigeration equipment responsible for keeping the fruit fresh inside the container.
An empty container is put back on the trailer and secured to it by ISO twist locks, or container locks as they are sometimes called, basically very strong metal pins which have a handle you turn to lock them in place. It means the container is not able to move off the trailer. With an empty container secure on the trailer behind us, we retraced our earlier steps back to Motueka where Min reversed into a specially constructed pit in the ground called a dock.
Once the container’s rear doors had been opened, a steel ramp was put in the gap between it and the floor of the packhouse so the forklifts could bring the pallets of fruit from inside the cool rooms straight into the container.
It took very little time for two forklifts working together to fill the container with pallets neatly stacked with cartons of apples. Once the container doors had been closed, a steel locking tag was put through the door handle to secure it which is equipped with an identification number used by the importers receiving the container.
We hopped back in the Kenworth and travelled the 45-minute trip back to Port Nelson. I said farewell to Min, who headed through the port gates to repeat the unloading process.
I’ve seen so many trucks around the Nelson area carrying containers and it was great to see what they do first-hand. Thank you to Min and AC Palmer & Sons Ltd for having me along.
Outlaw Series Mack Super-Liners
We talk to our mate John Saint of transport dealership J.T.Fossey in Tamworth, NSW. John, who joined the company in heavy truck sales and is now its dealer principal, recently led the charge of a project that saw the creation of a new line of limited edition ‘Outlaw Series’ Mack Super-Liners, which have been custom-made with new colours and more accessories.
J.T.Fossey currently employs 28 people ranging from spare parts interpreters, store people, technicians and customer consultants. John’s main role is selling Volvo, Mack, UD and Fuso truck brands.
“Over the years I would have sold over 3500 trucks!” John says.
John says his idea behind the new Outlaw trucks was that he wanted to build a truck that was special, one no one else had done.
The idea was to take a top-of-the-line specced Mack Super-Liner and get some help from the best in the business to customise it.
John’s original plan was to build five Mack Outlaw Super-Liners. All five would be specced-up the same, with the same luxuries and personalised Outlaw branding. The only difference was they would be different colours.
The first truck, Outlaw 1 is red, Outlaw 2 is black, Outlaw 3 is blue, and Outlaw 4 is green. The colour of Outlaw 5 is top secret until it’s finished being built.
John says now there may be a total of 10 Outlaws created.
The trucks have had interior makeovers, including custom shelving with extras like a fridge, microwave, TV and DVD player. John says he gets a total thrill when he sees the trucks out and about.
“I’m so extremely proud of the trucks when they hit the road. It’s been a really amazing experience seeing them come to life.”
Show and Shine!
Rochelle headed along to the Tui Truck Show and Shine at Mangatainoka in New Zealand in March, her favourite event of the year!
I absolutely love the Tui Truck Show and Shine and attend it every year! This year, I set up a display of my paintings and my family came along. We had an awe- some day looking at all the different trucks, catching up with friends, meeting new people, listening to live music and enjoying the overall relaxed, fun atmosphere. The day started off a bit wet but cleared up eventually. The rain didn’t deter people from coming to see the trucks and drivers/owners coming from as far as Taupō to show off their pride and joy. It was a great turn out and I am already looking forward to next year!
PRIZE CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
| Best Classic Truck | Graeme Skou (GK Skou Transport) Kenworth W924 |
| Best Daf | Darren McDermott (Shannon Bulk Haulage) DAF CF |
| Best Hino | Campbell Murdoch (Murdoch Transport) Hino 700 series |
| Best Kenworth | Callum Tews (Hog Haulage) K200 |
| Best Mack | Rikki Wilson (Clive Taylor) Mack Trident |
| Best International | Todd Stephenson (Stephenson Transport) 2022 International RH |
| Best Scania | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) and Greg Cox (Cox Heavy Salvage) |
| Best Sterling | Cameron Kelly (Central House Movers) Sterling AT9500 |
| Best Tip Truck | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) Scania |
| Best Other Truck | Shane Brownell with his CAT Truck |
| Best Vintage | Justin Mill |
| Best Volvo | Sky McCausland-Horn (Booths Transport) |
| Best Western Star | Steve Beale (Beales Trucking) |
| Furthest Travelled | Sean Hulena and Tony Burling (Taupō) |
| Best Local Truck | Jorja Bourke (Bourke Haulage) Kenworth K200 |
| Most Original | Bryan Lowry International C1300 |
| Best Fleet | Beale Trucking Ltd |
| People’s Choice | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) Scania 6205 |
| Shine on Award | Dion Kilmister |
| Star of the Show | Graeme Skou 1977 Kenworth W924 |
Home is where the truck is
Have you ever seen a big truck on the road and wondered what it’s like to live in one?
Life on the road can be pretty tough – long hours away from home, long stretches of road ahead, and changing weather…Did you know truck drivers often sleep in their trucks overnight and to have rests?
Luckily, there are people out there who want to make it easier for truckies, and their names are Tim and Tom from TTSC.
These two guys are experts at making a truck feel like a home away from home. They can fit all sorts of things inside a truck, from microwave to cookers, and even a shower! They can even install a special air- conditioning system called the Icepack to keep drivers cool when they’re sleeping in their truck.
Having this type of stuff inside a truck means that drivers can cook their own meals, stay cool in the hot weather, and take a shower after a long day of driving.
But that’s not all. The TTSC team has lots of other skilled people who can help make trucks even better. They can make custom racks and toolboxes, install spotlights and radios, and even take care of a truck’s hydraulic system. And if a truck needs to stay greased up and running smoothly, they’ve got that covered too with their automatic greasers.
Truck drivers also want their trucks to look good. TTSC has professional painters who can give trucks a fresh coat of paint.
The TTSC team takes pride in being a one-stop- shop for truck fit-outs, which means they can pretty much do anything a driver needs to make their truck more comfortable and efficient. Thanks Tim and Tom at TTSC for making truck life that bit easier!
Multiquip
We get to know the team at MultiQuip, a company that is dedicated to servicing the poultry and aggregate industries in Australia. Transport manager Lyndon Jay tells us all about it.
When was MultiQuip established and who by?
The first company in the Multiquip Group was established in 1984 by Steve and Lucy Mikosic, who owned a chicken farm at the time.
What does MultiQuip specialise in?
The Multiquip group has:
- A large presence in the poultry industry (from picking up fertilised eggs for hatching in our own hatchery at Maldon near Picton, NSW – over two million birds per week) delivering those “day old” birds to farms throughout Australia. We then run a fleet of trucks around Australia that deliver chicken feed to those farms, and a very large fleet of trucks that go into these farms (mostly at night) to collect the fully grown birds for delivery to processing plants throughout the country.
- A fleet of trucks that operate out of our quarry near Goulburn that deliver sand and aggregate material to concrete plants and other aggregate users around NSW.
- A fleet of refrigerated vans operating out of chicken plants around Australia.
- A large diesel servicing business operating throughout the country.
- A manufacturing business in Austral, Sydney that manufactures highly specialised metal products.
- An engineering firm that carries out specialised engineering/ machining for particular clients.
How many vehicles have you got in your fleet?
300+ prime movers, 500+ trailers, 120 heavy rigids (including truck and dogs), 120+ forklifts, 100+ light vehicles (mostly utes), 150 pieces of earth moving equipment, etc. Where does Multiquip operate? Nationally – we have approximately 16 depots around Australia.
What other types of machinery does Multiquip use?
Automated chicken catching machines (yes – that is a thing).
And how many staff members do you have?
There are approximately 1200 employees throughout the company around Australia.
Can you tell us about the different types of trucks you have and what they are used for?
We use many HPVs (high productivity vehicles) to perform the various functions throughout the company, including 28 different PBS designs. Using PBS allows us to increase the gross mass that we can carry and operate under very specific laws and rules.
What’s the best thing about working with trucks and transport in Australia?
The diversity of our operation and the level of safety that our company demands from all employees. We train our drivers very intensely and continuously.
Austin Transport Services Ltd
The white and red predominantly Kenworth fleet of Nelson-based Austin Transport Services Ltd are regular visitors to many parts of New Zealand. Milly McCauley sat down with administrator Sheryl Holt, at the company’s Nelson headquarters to learn more.
Who owns Austin Transport?
The company is owned by Brian and Lisa Austin. Brian also drives one of the company’s trucks, while Lisa is the health and safety coordinator and looks after the human resources side of the business. Lisa and Brian also take an active role in their community by sponsoring many events such as the Pork Pie Run, which is a car run open to any Mini owners. The event is a fundraiser for KidsCan.
How long has Austin Transport been in business?
Lisa and Brian began Austin Transport Services in 2007 and have continued to build the company into what it is today for the past 16 years.
Where do you have trucks based?
The main depot is in Richmond, near Nelson. We have a Christchurch depot and a depot in Auckland which is shared with another company.
How many trucks does Austin Transport operate?
The company operates 32 trucks.
What makes of trucks do you have and how many of each?
Kenworths are owner Brian’s favourite make of truck, so most of the fleet is made up of Kenworths. There is also a Hino, one Scania and a couple of Freightliners.
How many people do Austin Transport employ?
There are 32 employees at Austin Transport.
What type of loads do you cart?
The company carts all sorts of general freight, timber, containers, and machinery. Our tip trucks mainly haul gravel and roading material.
Where are the main areas you operate in around New Zealand?
The company operates New Zealand-wide.
What is your title at Austin Transport and what are your responsibilities?
I am the administrator and work mainly in finance for the company.
Did you always think you would work in transport?
I never thought I would work in transport.
How long have you been involved with the business?
I have worked for Austin Transport for 10 years.
What’s your favourite thing about working in the industry?
My favourite part of working in the industry would be working alongside the team of drivers at Austin Transport.
What things would you like to see change for the transport industry over time?
To see the roads around New Zealand improved.
Do you have a favourite truck in your fleet?
It would have to be one of the fleet’s Kenworths.
What would be some advice you would give to any young people who want to start a career in transport?
l would advise anyone to just get involved, to get to know the industry, and work up from the bottom to the top.
Can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about Austin Transport?
A number of the fleet’s trucks are named after trucking songs by famous Australian entertainer Slim Dusty. This comes from when Brian spent time driving long-haul across Australia and would pass the time by listening to Slim Dusty songs.
From the driver's seat
Our Aussie mate Mike gives us a first-hand look of what he sees from behind the wheel.
I’ve driven some of the biggest and coolest trucks in Australia. From east to west and north to south, I reckon I’ve seen most of my great country in the wind- screen from the driver’s seat. Nothing like picking a rest area and watching the sun go down while munching on a sandwich and having a soft drink or flying down the highway with the roar of that big diesel and a great song on the radio.
I’ve always loved trucks. So I thought I’d go through and find some pictures of things I’ve seen from the driver’s seat. I picked three trucks I’ve driven, and some shots are of the trucks and others are from the dash camera as we rolled down the road.
I came over to New Zealand and went to the TMC show in Christchurch a while back. I was lucky enough to meet Mr Ed Solly. He introduced me to a really cool old W model KW called “Rocky”. I even got to have a drive in New Zealand! You’ve just got to love where trucking can take you.
