2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van to ......
keep up to date with new systems like accessing workshop manuals on-line and
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ISSUE 04
APRIL 07
Issue 04 Still Driving Ahead!
The world’s first Freightliner Century Class 8x4 tractor units have been put to work by cement company Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd.
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The DaimlerChrysler Commercial Vehicle Dealer of the Year award was made recently, along with awards for all the group’s other top performers.
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Extreme testing – putting the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s new adapative Electronic Stability Program (ESP) through its paces on the race track. 5 Even the design of a truck’s mirrors can influence fuel economy, as a major Freightliner research project has established.
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Is this the most spectacular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter on the road? Meet the Magwarehouse mobile billboard.
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A new sales consultant at Trucks & Trailers is hoping the transport industry doesn’t go the way it has in Britain.
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Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks rarely stop moving on the Auckland to Christchurch “bullet run.”
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The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van range has collected awards at opposite ends of the world.
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A new generation is taking over at rural family firm Ellesmere Transport, but Mercedes-Benz trucks are still the mainstay.
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Long-established Parts & Services Ltd has become DaimlerChrysler brands parts and service agent for the Taupo district.
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The first lot of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances are due for replacement – but St John staff are sad to see them go.
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Check out the sharpest rigs around – DaimlerChrysler’s customers’ trucks on show.
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Ian Walker General Manager – Commercial Vehicles DaimlerChrysler New Zealand Limited
Cromwell-based Summerland Express Freight bought a new Sterling for low tare weight, but has been more impressed by its high power.
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DriveLine Contributor
DaimlerChrysler’s new Assist 24/7 programme ensures Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Sterling owners get help anywhere, any time.
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Tauranga’s Luxury Airport Shuttles sticks with Mercedes-Benz vehicles because they are what the customers demand.
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Aaran Pascoe’s first Mercedes-Benz tipper is 25-years-old – ample reason to stick with the brand for his second one.
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Welcome to the fourth issue of Driveline, our first for 2007. This year has already produced plenty of headlines for the DaimlerChrysler Group and there's sure to be plenty more to come. We're well on track to surpass last year's record worldwide sales for the group. Without doubt, the star performer in the DCNZ stable recently has been the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the delivery van that has featured in awards ceremonies everywhere - including the European and British Van of the Year titles for 2006. The in-depth article on page 5 will make you wonder how van buyers anywhere could choose anything other than the MercedesBenz Sprinter! Also covered in this issue of Driveline is the DCNZ Commercial Vehicle Dealership of the Year and profiles of the winners of our other national awards for HCV Salesman of the Year, LCV Salesman of the Year, HCV Tech of the Year and LCV Tech of the Year. Now we are in the end-of-financial-year season, there are big purchasing decisions to be made by many in the transport industry. Of course, we'd like everyone to come straight to us, but the most important thing you can do is ensure you are fully informed on all the available options before committing. Please don't hesitate to contact any of our dealerships for expert, professional information and advice. Best wishes for a safe and successful winter!
Jon Addison is one of New Zealand’s most experienced motoring, motorsport and road transport journalists, whose first vehicle test was in 1967 – in a Hillman Hunter. He was the founding editor of industryleading New Zealand Trucking magazine, a role he held for 15 years. In 2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van to a class win in the national Energywise economy rally, averaging 6.72 litres/100km (42mpg).
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World-first Freightliners For Holcim When national cement manufacturer and distributor Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd needed a version of the Freightliner Century Class that didn’t exist, the company called on Kiwi expertise to produce it. “We’d been operating both Freightliner Century Class and Columbia 6x4 tractors units and they’d proved to be very successful for us,” explains Holcim Land Distribution Manager Sean Leahy. “But in our business every additional tonne of payload improves overall fleet operating efficiency, so we made the decision to move to 8x4 tractor units pulling quad-axle semi-trailers. “I’m not particularly keen on the boxy cab-overs in front of the sphere-like cement tankers – the bonneted trucks just look better and Holcim takes a lot of pride in its truck fleet,” he adds. Sean Leahy was keen on the Century Class for its appearance, low tare weight and competitive specification, but unfortunately the truck was available only in 6x4 configuration. What followed was a round of discussions that involved, among others, Southstar Freightliner’s Trevor McCallum and Freightliner’s export manager Kim Misenar. The result was the construction of the first 8x4 Century Class tractor units in New Zealand – and almost certainly in the world, as twinsteers are almost unheard-of in most other countries.
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Says Trevor McCallum: “We probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve it without Kim Misenar’s input. In the end he shipped over the two 6x4 tractor units with kits of the twin-steer components from the Argosy. The extra axles and wheels were sent separately on pallets. “The actual conversions were carried out by Truck City, with the certification done by Freightliner in the US,” he adds. The twin-steer Century Class tractor units have proved to be more successful than anyone expected – quite apart from the increase in payload from 27 to 29 tonne. Sean Leahy says driver feedback has been excellent: “With two steer axles on the tractor unit and two self-steer axles on the quad trailer, the rig actually handles better than a 6x4 tractor pulling a tri-axle semi, where there’s just the one axle doing the steering.” One of the drivers, Murray Edgeler says many other drivers have asked him about the twin-steer’s ride, particularly when it’s empty. “But it rides very smoothly and it’s just the same empty or loaded,” he says.
This is probably because the driver sits slightly behind, rather than directly above the second steer axle, as is the case in most 8x4s. The steer axles are closer together than usual to preserve good access to the cab. Murray Edgeler adds that the new truck’s turning circle is smaller than that of his old 6x4 tractor unit and tri-axle semi, the steering is more positive and overall handling is better. Tare weight of the Freightliner tractor units remains competitive at 8600kg, which includes the guards and turntable as well as the compressor, which provides the pneumatic flow for unloading the cement from the tank. The tare weight could have been pared further by specifying a lighterduty engine than the big C15 Caterpillar Holcim ordered. “We did consider that, but we’ve found that the C15 offers very good fuel efficiency,” explains Sean Leahy. “The other factor was that, looking towards the future, the bigger engine gives us the capability to operate at 50 tonne gross if the regulations are changed.”
new Freightliners, are double-shifted and run six days a week, covering up to 250,000km a year. The company manufactures cement in Westport and uses two vessels to ship the product to terminals at Onehunga (Auckland), Wellington, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Nelson and New Plymouth. From these terminals it’s either trucked to ready-mixed plants or bagged for delivery to building supply yards. Holcim began a replacement programme for the company fleet in 2003, starting with Mack Visions. A few problems with them saw a switch to Century Class Freightliners a year later and they have “worked out really well – the drivers appreciate them, they are light and fuel-efficient, particularly while loafing along homewards when empty, and there have been very few maintenance issues.” Four Freightliner Columbias joined the fleet in 2005 and they have been followed by the spectacular new 8x4 Century Class tractor units.
Transmitting the 475hp and 1650ft/lb produced by the C15 Cats are 18-speed RTLO 16918AS2 Autoshift gearboxes, which run through Meritor RT40-145 diffs carried on 40,000lb Airliner rear suspensions. The quad-axle semi-trailers are two of seven that Holcim had built in Germany. The company has had steel cement tankers built in New Zealand, but had to go to Germany for the large aluminium quads. Based at Holcim’s Dunedin depot, the two new Century Class rigs deliver cement to ready-mixed concrete plants throughout Otago and Southland, west to Queenstown and Te Anau and north as far as Oamaru. Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd operates a fleet of 27 cement tankers, some contracted by third-party operators with the majority towed by company-owned vehicles. Most of the trucks, including the two
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Dealer of the Year Awards The DaimlerChrysler Commercial Vehicles Dealer of the Year for 2006 is Giltrap North Shore. Dealer principal of Giltrap North Shore, Quentin DeGroot, was handed his prize – a shield and a trip for two to Europe – by the President of DaimlerChrysler Australia Pacific, Wolfgang Schremp, at a function in Auckland in February. The awards ceremony at the Langham Hotel was held to mark achievements across the DaimlerChrysler New Zealand group, including Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler-Jeep passenger car, Commercial Vehicles and after-sales groups. General Manager – Commercial Vehicles Ian Walker says the major award was won by Giltrap North Shore after an exhaustive selection process. “The volume of sales is one factor,” he explains. “But the dealerships are also assessed on how they performed against the Momentum of Excellence standard, which covers all aspects of their operation. “Then there’s the Customer Satisfaction Index, which is the result of feedback from all the dealership’s customers during the year. “And, finally, we sent in mystery shoppers to test the dealership responses,” Ian Walker adds. “I believe we are the only organization in the country using mystery shoppers to evaluate commercial vehicle dealerships.” Both commercial vehicle salesmen of the year were repeat winners, each collecting a trip to New Caledonia as well as their trophies. Heavy Commercial Vehicle Salesman of the Year went to Trevor McCallum of Southstar Freightliner in Christchurch. He also won the title four years ago. Trucks & Trailers Palmerston North sales consultant Rod MacNeill won the Light Commercial Vehicle Salesman of the Year title for the third year running. The trophy for Heavy Commercial Vehicle Technician of the Year went to Malcolm McCullagh of Truck City in East Tamaki, while the Light Commerical Vehicle Technician of the Year title was won by
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Kelvin Caye of Ingham Sears, in Tauranga. Ian Walker says that increasingly high standards of professionalism and dedication throughout the DaimlerChrysler Group meant competition for the awards was intense. This has been especially evident in the van market, where MercedesBenz now has dedicated sales consultants from Whangarei to Dunedin. “Three years ago when I arrived the turnover of van sales staff was running at 80%,” Ian Walker recalls. “The result was all the issues like building relationships with customers and maintaining a focus. “In the past 18 months we’ve seen a dramatic reduction in turnover, which has enabled us to build a solid base, which itself breeds success,” he adds. Meanwhile the DaimlerChrysler group has confirmed remarkable sales success around the world for its commercial vehicle ranges. Heavy truck sales were a record 537,000, up 1.4% on the 2005 record. The group increased sales in Europe, the United States, South America and Japan. A highlight of the year was the sale of more than 28,000 MercedesBenz trucks equipped with Blue-Tec emissions control technology. Sales of Mercedes-Benz, Setra and Orion buses exactly equaled the 2005 figure of 36,200, although sales of chassis increased by 300 while complete buses dropped by 300. Van sales were slightly down, at 256,895, reflecting the start of production of the new Sprinter during the year. With new versions of the Sprinter coming into production, the launch in the United States of Sprinters under the Freightliner and Dodge names and an expected economic upturn, particularly in e-commerce, DaimlerChrysler expects van sales to increase again this year.
Putting Sprinter’s ESP To The Test The theory of the adaptive Electronic Stability Program (ESP) standard in all new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans is easy enough to grasp, but putting it to the test is a different matter altogether. DaimlerChrysler New Zealand staff, major customers and media representatives have had the opportunity to try the system under controlled conditions at test tracks on both sides of the Tasman – with eye-opening results. Most spectacular of the tests involved suddenly steering the Sprinter off a sealed track surface on to marble-like loose gravel, then hanging on as the ESP brought the van safely back on to the track. This test simulated an emergency maneuver to avoid an on-coming vehicle swerving into a driver’s path, or to correct everyday situations that can arise when the cell phone falls on to the cab floor, the contents of a hot pie land in the driver’s lap or a bee flies through the window and under his collar!
Another is Understeering Control (USC), which senses when the van is about to run wide in a corner and helps the driver stay on track. In many emergencies the automatic response from the driver is to stand as hard on the brakes as possible. Most drivers are now familiar with ABS anti-lock braking and EBD electronic brake force distribution, but the latest generation of braking electronics in the new Sprinter takes braking control to a new level. This was demonstrated on a flooded test track where even unladen Sprinter vans pulled up in astonishingly short distances with no sign of skidding.
Speed for the test was around 70km/h. Some of the vans were empty and some loaded with almost a tonne of freight. The latest adaptive ESP uses an array of sensors to calculate payload weight and the vehicle’s centre of gravity, then reacts accordingly to intervene before the driver may have even realized loss of control was imminent. The laws of physics are still the ultimate factor in control over a vehicle, and in most cases as the Sprinters left the sealed surface and hit the gravel they started to slide sideways. This was most spectacular in long wheelbase vans! But the ability of the big vans to regain control and enable their drivers to steer them back on to the seal was uncanny. And the “fish-tailing” that would normally be expected simply didn’t occur. The consensus among transport journalists doing the test was that a highly skilled rally driver might have maintained control without ESP, but most would probably have crashed. In another test drivers had to enter the hairpin corner at Pukekohe Park Raceway at 60km/h – exactly the same speeds that V8 Supercars do – then floor the accelerator pedal and steer the Sprinter round the bend. Again, the ESP electronics coped without any drama, controlling engine torque and braking individual wheels just enough to maintain complete control. The latest adaptive ESP is actually a whole suite of electronic systems designed to maintain control over the Sprinter even when the driver makes a mistake or is forced to avoid an emergency. They include Roll Over Mitigation (ROM) and Roll Movement Intervention (RMI), which sense when lateral acceleration is too high and respond by reducing engine torque and applying controlled braking.
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Fuel Saving Research Benefits Whole Industry Groundbreaking research by Freightliner into heavy truck aerodynamics will ultimately lead to fuel savings across the transport industry.
Freightliner collaborated with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) in a comprehensive two-year study on the impact of aerodynamics on heavy truck fuel efficiency. Results of the study were reported to members of Congress, DOE staff and truck industry representatives at a recent function at DOE headquarters in Washington. Freightliner played a key role in the research as the DaimlerChrysler company truck builder operates the only wind tunnel in the United States specifically designed to test aerodynamics on Class 8 heavy trucks. Project leader was executive engineer for Freightliner, Scott Smith, who said the company chose to focus on mirrors and mirror systems because the wind tunnel could be used to track the relatively small aerodynamic changes created by different mirrors and their mountings. Moreover, trucks need mirrors for safe all-round visibility and they invariably stick out into the wind stream. A Freightliner Century Class tractor unit was fitted with a range of different mirror configurations and the results compared after wind tunnel testing. From the analysis, it was learned that even today’s best-designed mirrors can affect vehicle aerodynamics by as much as 6% or more, depending on their design and placement on the truck. It’s not just the mirror shape, but the placement on the truck and even the shape of the truck in the vicinity of the mirror that affect the efficiency of the airflow. “Freightliner’s unique testing resources have not only let us consider updates we can make to our own products, but also enable us to 6
propose design recommendations for industry-wide fuel efficiency improvements,” said Scott Smith. “Mirrors need to be integrated in to the specific vehicle design because what works on one make or model may not perform the same on another. The real benefit from our study is that we have produced design guidelines that can be incorporated on any heavy-duty vehicle design to improve the airflow around mirrors regarding total vehicle aerodynamics.” The Freightliner engineers were also able to study how aerodynamics around the mirrors and side windows of the truck affect the dispersion of water droplets from rain or road spray. This may ultimately result in clearer glass and better visibility in wet conditions. With fuel costs an industry-wide concern, Freightliner is continuing with aerodynamic studies that will lead to future fuel savings. Meanwhile, Freightliner has also announced that it can now supply trucks with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines that meet the tough new EPA 2007 exhaust emission standards. These see reductions of 95% in particulates and 50% in nitrogen oxide over 2006 engines. “These engines pass the ‘white handkerchief test’ where a white hanky placed over the exhaust pipes of the running truck shows there is no soot or odour emitted,” says Freightliner director of sales, Tim Tindall. “They also demonstrate Freightliner and Detroit Diesel’s commitment to clean air and environmental progress.” Since the development of the clean Detroit Diesel engine started in 2004, the EPA 2007-compliant engines have undergone a total of more than 22 million kilometers of testing, including 4 million kilometers under normal revenue-earning operation.
Sprinter Style – It’s The Wheel Thing The combination of factory-applied carbon black metallic paint, smart graphics and spectacular 20-inch alloy wheels make the Magwarehouse Mercedes-Benz Sprinter a show-stopper on the road. That’s exactly what Magwarehouse.com Ltd owner Nathan Joll was looking for when he ordered the standard wheelbase, high roof 315 Sprinter van: “It’s the most cost-effective advertising you can get.” It’s actually the second Sprinter he’s designed as a mobile billboard. The first was a 313 high roof 3.5-metre wheelbase van, partly vinylwrapped to achieve the Magwarehouse black and orange colour scheme, and fitted with big mag wheels. “But it was only three months old when I was hit from behind by a truck so hard it sent me six metres down the road and into the back of a car. The force of the impact punched that car down the road as well. “Thanks to the high-back seats I ended up with nothing worse than a sore neck, but the van was written off,” Nathan Joll says. He adds that a replacement Sprinter was an automatic choice, in more ways than one – this time he specified an automatic transmission behind the potent 150hp Euro Four diesel engine. “I wouldn’t have a manual gearbox again after driving the auto,” he says. But the Sprinter was a clear choice for other reasons, most important of them being its ability to be fitted with the after-market alloy wheels Magwarehouse specialises in. Most opposition van brands
are difficult to fit with bigger wheels because of their wheel off-sets and stud patterns. Nathan Joll’s choice of wheel was Detata Verdikt 20x8 alloy rims fitted with 245/45R20 Goodyear F1 Supercar tyres. “These are asymmetrical tyres, which enables us to rotate them around the vehicle for even wear,” he explains. “And the Sprinter handles brilliantly on them.” In fact the spectacular van drives, rides and handles so well Nathan Joll uses it as his day-to-day vehicle. He even took his wife around the Coromandel Peninsular in it, enjoying its flat cornering on the narrow winding roads there. Although it’s primarily a mobile billboard, the Sprinter does get pressed into work, particularly when Magwarehouse takes part in car shows. “Because it’s no longer on commercial tyres we do have to watch the weight we carry, but for a recent car show in Hamilton we took all the gear we needed for a nine metre by nine metre stand in just two loads,” Nathan Joll says. “Without the Sprinter, getting gear to a show would be a mission.” The head office of Magwarehouse, which Nathan Joll established four years ago, is combined with a retail store at Panmure, in Auckland. There are a dozen other stores, operated by licensed owners, from Whangarei to Christchurch. Along with wheels and tyres, which can tally up to $7000 for a stateof-the-art 22-inch set, they sell tyres, suspension lowering equipment, shock absorbers, springs, stainless steel exhaust systems, Momo accessories, stereos and a range of equipment used by enthusiasts of the sport of car drifting. Magwarehouse also has a “virtual showroom” where customers can be shown on a computer screen exactly how their own cars will look with different wheels and other customising equipment.
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Mercedes-Benz High-Flier In NZ A leading United Kingdom Mercedes-Benz heavy truck sales executive has moved to New Zealand for closer links with the road transport industry – and the beach. Irish-born Kevin Curran is now the dedicated Mercedes-Benz specialist for Trucks & Trailers Ltd, covering the Auckland, Waikato, central North Island and Bay of Plenty regions.
sales of the German brand, Kevin will free Ron Price and Wayne Jones to concentrate fully on the Freightliner and Sterling brands across the same area.
He came to New Zealand after 18 years in the heavy truck industry in the United Kingdom, culminating in a position as sales director for large West Midlands Mercedes-Benz dealer Gerard Mann.
All three DaimlerChrysler heavy truck brands will continue to be represented by Craig Silby in Auckland and Northland and by John O’Sullivan in Palmerston North, Wellington, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay.
So why move to New Zealand? Lifestyle is his short answer, but it’s as much the working environment as the ability to spend free time at the beach. “I used to enjoy the nitty-gritty of working with truck operators as a salesman earlier in my career,” he explains. “But the UK market has become dominated by large conglomerates, often run by accountants. They will place an order for 100 tractor units, all with identical off-the-shelf specs, and it will be based purely on price.” Kevin Curran says the traditional small family firm with 15 or 20 trucks barely exists in Britain any more, and the days when drivers had any input into the selection of a new truck are long gone. Up to 80% of new truck sales are to major fleet or leasing companies and there is very little speccing of individual trucks to suit specific applications. Even drivers are routinely hired short-term from agencies rather than employed by a carrier. Asked if he could foresee the New Zealand industry plotting a similar course, Kevin replies: “I hope not!” Trucks & Trailers General Manager Sales, Chris Mackey, says Kevin Curran’s arrival coincided with the company’s desire to strengthen its representation of the Mercedes-Benz product. By taking over
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“Sales of Freightliner and Sterling have been particularly strong and, of course, a lot of time is spent supporting these sales,” Chris Mackey says. “At the same time the increasing technical specialization and sophistication of the Mercedes-Benz trucks meant it was time for a sustained presence representing them.” As an addition to the sales force, the appointment of Kevin Curran reflects continued growth for the Manukau City, Rotorua and Palmerston North based truck dealership. Kevin Curran started work in the Scania Great Britain warehouse and worked through parts, warranty, vehicle pricing and fleet sales roles before moving to a dealership and beginning his sales career. He also sold Volvo and Leyland DAF trucks before moving up to Mercedes-Benz. He grew up next to the ocean in Ireland, but when working in the Midlands he was 300km from the nearest coast. Now he lives with his partner and her daughter in the east Auckland seaside suburb of Beachlands. “The first thing I see when I get up each morning is the gulf – I’m a happy man,” he says.
It’s The Bullet For New Actros Eight-wheelers A pair of brand new Mercedes-Benz Actros 8x4 trucks pulling four-axle trailers play a vital role in a new freight service that’s been nicknamed “the bullet run.” It’s not hard to see how the run got its name – the two rigs travel practically non-stop between Auckland and Christchurch to fulfill a new five day a week freight service for Toll TranzLink. With each rig covering around 5000km weekly, the ability to handle long distances reliably was a major factor in the choice of the Actros trucks for owner Daryl McCrostie of McCrostie Trucking Ltd. “I’m a fan of European trucks because of their comfort,” he says. “Fuel economy and safety are bonuses, but long-term reliability was the biggest thing. “I looked at Scania and Volvo as well as Mercedes-Benz, but the Actros came out well ahead on both price and spec. “The clincher was R & M,” he adds. “With support from DaimlerChrysler the R & M costs weren’t far off half the costs of the others.” The trucks are serviced at Trucks & Trailers in Manukau City or Southstar Freightliner in Christchurch, depending on which end of the run they are at when service falls due. Despite the distances involved and the ferry trip in the middle, the bullet run is almost an overnight service. The trucks leave Auckland around noon one day and are in Christchurch first thing the next morning. Daryl's three drivers (two in Taupo and one in Blenheim) share the duties between the two trucks. One Taupo driver does the Auckland leg and the other takes the rig on to Wellington, where it swaps off the evening ferry with the northbound truck, which his Blenheim driver has returned from Christchurch.
Both Actros curtainsider trucks have 540hp, 1843ft/lb engines running through Telligent automated-shift gearboxes, and run on air suspension with weight gauges. The Domett curtainsider fouraxle trailers are also on air suspension with electronic braking and polished alloy wheels. They feature drop-down mezzanine floors to increase loading versatility. Hailing from a farming background in Otago, Daryl McCrostie grew up around Mercedes-Benz trucks, but his first purchase as an ownerdriver three years ago was an Argosy he contracted to Freightlines on floating inter-island work. When his partner Dominique, a qualified accountant, took up a job offer they moved to Auckland and Daryl put his second rig on, a tractor unit with AF Logistics Hastings. The elderly MP1 570hp Actros “continues to give us a good run”. These days it heads north out of the Bay beside another Actros, a now six-month-old, highspec 2654 tractor unit with super single steer tyres, a Voith retarder and Telligent automated gearbox. It handles the Hastings-Auckland run and at 130,000km it “hasn’t missed a beat.” Despite operating a growing fleet, Daryl still climbs behind the wheel every day handling the Auckland metro day shift on his other Tranzlink unit, a 460hp Mercedes-Benz Actros 8x4. It travels overnight to New Plymouth with general freight. Although McCrostie Trucking Ltd now runs a six-strong fleet (there’s a 470hp Mack Qantum tractor alongside the five Mercs), they are running so hard and far that Daryl McCrostie rarely sees them, relying on cellphone contact with his drivers to keep their wheels turning. That’s why long-term reliability is such a priority.
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Award Winning Ways For New Sprinter The class-leading qualities of the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van have been recognized with a string of awards from both sides of the world.
Its first recognition was European Van of the Year 2006, probably the world’s most prestigious award for a light commercial vehicle, presented by the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show organisation in Germany. Then the Sprinter took the prize in the extremely competitive British van market, taking the Van of the Year 2006 title in the UK’s What Van magazine. Proving it also meets the highly-specialised requirements of the New Zealand market, the Sprinter then was named NZ Van of the Year 2006 by NZ Company Vehicle magazine. And the big new Mercedes-Benz van also won the Irish Van of the Year 2007 title to cap off a perfect start to its launch on world markets late last year. The Sprinter scored highly for all the qualities judges look for in the van category: a wide range of configurations to suit the requirements of diverse operations, powerful but fuel-efficient engines, a major emphasis on safety and excellent drivability. Several of the judges also singled out the new smooth-shifting sixspeed manual gearbox as contributing to their decision, while safety features like Electronic Stability Control and ABS braking ere also taken into account. In summing up they said: “The Sprinter represents the pinnacle of current large panel van design and drive train implementation.” The new Sprinter is really a complete range of vehicles, with three wheelbase lengths, from 3250mm to 4325mm, four overall lengths stretching out to a gigantic 7343mm and three roof heights including the all-new super high roof. The result is loading capacities ranging
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from a nimble seven cubic metres to a huge 17 cubic metres – a 27% gain over the old model. In addition to the van range, the Sprinter is available in single and double cab-and-chassis versions suitable for truck decks or specialist coach-built bodies, while a chassis-cowl version can also be ordered. The wide range of vehicle configurations is supported by an equally extensive power line-up, based on a new 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine that meets the latest Euro Four emissions standard. This engine is available in 65kW (88hp), 80kW (109hp), 95kW (129hp) and 110kW (150hp) ratings, the highest two of which are achieved by industry-leading two-stage turbocharging. Operators looking for the ultimate in van performance without sacrificing economy can opt for the class-topping 135kW (184hp) produced by the flagship 3.0 litre common rail V6 diesel engine. Along with the six-speed manual gearbox, DaimlerChrysler offers a full automatic transmission. The high level of technology in both engines and transmissions have enabled the company to offer a standard three-year, 200,000km warranty and extended 40,000km service intervals across the Sprinter range. Commenting on the company's successes, Ian Walker, MercedesBenz Commercial Vehicles General Manger said: "We're delighted that our products have been recognised by Company Vehicle, What Van magazine, and the IAA German Commercial Vehicle awards. We strive to offer our customers the best products to enable them to run their businesses successfully. “We back this up with the customer service and dealership support that you expect from a quality brand like Mercedes-Benz,” he adds.
Ellesmere Transport The Rural All-Rounders A new generation may be taking over the reins at Ellesmere Transport, but the company’s philosophy of meeting all the cartage requirements of its rural community aren’t changing. Owner Murray Righton had been working for shearing gangs when in 1962 he started driving for Ellesmere Transport, based at Dunsandel, on State Highway One about 40km south of Christchurch. “The newer trucks in the fleet were S-model and TK Bedfords, but I was put into an old bonneted Ford V8 with the jailbar grille,” he recalls. “I carted everything on it, including stock.” Big changes were afoot in the district at the time, following the closure of the rail line from Hornby through Leeston to Southbridge. Rail was also moving out of livestock cartage. In the early 1970s the family groups that owned Ellesmere Transport offered Murray Righton shares in the company if he would move out of the cab and into the office. At that stage the fleet numbered about 20 trucks, but most were getting long in the tooth. As the original family owners moved on, he purchased their share holdings until in 1988 he owned the business outright. His sons Paul and Mark now run the business under Murray Righton’s guidance. Mark joined the family firm 12 years ago after a career as a stock agent for Wrightsons and Paul started eight years ago after running a wine bar and playing rugby overseas. Both started at Ellesmere as drivers before taking on their management roles. Ellesmere Transport now employs about 70 people and operates 50 trucks, including the Little River fleet of Banks Peninsular Transport. They service the local district with the cartage of everything from stock and fertiliser to containers and ready-mixed concrete. Although farming in the area was sheep, cattle and grain until around
a decade ago, large-scale irrigated dairying has since played an increasingly important role. But the all-European fleet of trucks (apart from one Nissan Diesel freight unit) and the attitude of servicing all the customers’ requirements haven’t changed. Backbones of the fleet are Mercedes-Benz trucks, which Murray Righton says suit the conditions. “We operate from the sea to the main divide and in places we have to cross rivers that are up to the truck decks,” he says. “While tare weight is becoming more important to us, there’s no substitute for strength in our work. “Full lock-up diffs and big, heavy back ends are what we want, but we also look for cab comfort as that helps us attract and keep good drivers.” The first Mercedes-Benz trucks went into the Ellesmere Transport fleet in the late 1960s and Murray Righton says they gave a lot better run than any of the other brands then available. He says an important factor in continuing to buy Mercedes-Benz trucks is the relationship he’s enjoyed with Trucks South Ltd sales consultant Gerald Stanley. “I started buying trucks from Gerald in 1988 and his mechanical background and knowledge of the product has been invaluable.” As farming in the district has become increasingly intensive, the reliability, efficiency and technology of the Mercedes-Benz trucks has helped Ellesmere Transport keep pace and maintain the level of service its customers have come to expect.
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New Service Agent in Taupo A new agent for parts and service for the three DaimlerChrysler heavy truck brands has been appointed in Taupo. Long-established support company to the transport, forestry and farming industries for vehicles and equipment, Parts & Services Ltd of Taupo, was recently appointed servioe agents for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Sterling trucks.
the latest technologies, and each mechanic specializes in a particular field,” he adds. “Along with our commitment to training we also keep up to date with new systems like accessing workshop manuals on-line and electronic diagnosis abilities.”
Sales and business development manager Mike King says Parts & Services cover an area of the central North Island extending over a 60km radius around Taupo and to Waiouru. The service is available around the clock and includes two fully-equipped mobile workshops. One of these is a four-wheel-drive hydraulic hose and fitting service.
Parts & Services also operates a separate light vehicle workshop and fast lube service, so is equipped to look after the servicing of vans, utes and cars, with a special interest in 4x4 vehicles. It is also authorised to issue warrants of fitness. This enables it to offer a one-stop service for all the vehicles in a transport operator’s fleet – not just the trucks.
Backbone of the company’s truck servicing is a modern five-bay workshop with a drive-through pit and a heavy four-post vehicle lift with a 22-tonne capacity. Parts & Services also have a full engineering workshop with the ability to cover any maintenance on truck bodies and heavy trailers as well as carrying out truck body building and general engineering work. Along with a full range of on-site welding services, the engineering shop runs a mobile welding plant. Although established in its present form by managing director Roy Marsden in 1991, the company traces its origins back 27 years in Taupo. Several of the current staff have worked with Roy Marsden for all of the 27 years. The company now employs more than 30 people on a site of almost an acre at 1 Miro Street, and counts itself among the larger businesses in the town. The workshop and engineering shop are supported by a large parts department, which also holds accessories, welding supplies and engineering components. “We service and source parts for any brand of truck – and machinery for that matter,” says Mike King. “We’re particularly proud of our parts department, which sources parts direct from manufacturers around the world.” A parts department staff of seven maintains an inventory of more commonly used parts and arranges quick delivery – usually overnight – of parts not held in stock. Mike King says that while Parts & Service will take a special interest in meeting the needs of Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Sterling owners, the company will service and source parts for any brand of truck. “The company’s broad aim is to provide professional services to commercial plant and vehicle operators in forestry, farming, transport and other industries,” he explains. “We place considerable emphasis on keeping our staff trained in
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The company’s PSL Agri division is sales and service dealer for Case IH tractors, Husqvarna outdoor products and CB Norwood farm equipment in the central plateau region and has a 50% interest in JMV Agri Rotorua, the sales and service dealer for New Holland and Kubota tractors.
Sprinter Success At St John The first Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances put into service by St John are due for replacement this year, but are still performing so well some staff will be sorry to see them leave. The original 312 Sprinters went into service in 1999 and 2000 and most have clocked up more than 300,000km, largely without problems. St John policy is to operate ambulances for eight years or 350,000km, so their days are numbered. But their performance has earned them a special standing in the ambulance service. Says St John Northern Region fleet manager John McNaull: “They must be one of the best vehicles ever produced by Mercedes-Benz – they were just built right.” Some 13 of the original 312 model Sprinters joined the 130-strong Northern Region ambulance fleet and all are still operating in either the Northern or Central regions. There are now 11 312s and 41 316 Sprinters in the Northern Region fleet and five 312s and 15 316s in the Central Region fleet. John recalls that there was some resistance to them initially from ambulance officers steeped in the tradition of large, powerful, mostly American-built ambulances with V8 petrol engines.
of the last of the old-model Sprinter is still available from the efficient new 2.2 litre common rail four cylinder diesel in the new model, John says the potent 135kW (185hp) 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine may also be considered as with all the equipment inside them, the ambulances weigh around 2.7 tonnes. Any new vehicles joining the St John fleet could have a mix of new and refurbished ambulance bodies, or could be van conversions. The locally-built fibreglass bodies have proved light yet very strong, and easily repaired after the inevitable bumps and scrapes. “We’ve been able to save as much as $18,000 a unit by removing the bodies, refurbishing them and fitting them to new chassis,” John explains. And even when a complete new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulance, with all the rescue and medical gear on board, can top $180,000, that’s a worthwhile saving.
“But they were from another era,” he says. “Their turning circles were horrendous and they did use a lot of fuel. “When we switched to the diesel Sprinters they gave away little, if any, performance but fuel costs were reduced markedly,” he adds. “These days we’re all conscious of our carbon footprint so we’re still working on reducing fuel consumption. “It’s St John policy to use automatics so the ambulance officers don’t have to think about shifting gears, particularly in heavy traffic,” John McNaull explains. “It’s a safety consideration – we’re big on safety, and ABS anti-lock braking and airbags in the cab are specified as a matter of course. “However, after sampling newer Sprinters with the ESP Electronic Stability Program on race tracks at Pukekohe and in Australia I believe it’s the most improved safety feature of the lot – it’s a great feature.” The requirements for safety, tight turning circle, fuel economy and availability of full automatic transmissions will be key factors in deciding on replacements for the original 312 Sprinters. St John will shortly be calling for bids for new ambulances for the coming financial year. If Sprinters are ultimately selected, the choice of engine will be the subject of considerable thought. While the 110kW (150hp) rating
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Customer Trucks Actros Tanker Distributing fuel around the picturesque rural areas of Canterbury sounds like a dream job – especially when it’s done from behind the wheel of a new Mercedes-Benz Actros. The new 3246L/48 has been put into the work by Christchurch operator Southfuels Ltd, with Beaven handling the driving. The twin-steer Actros is fitted with an 18,000-litre fuel tanker body to maximize load while retaining the maneuverability required for rural work. Powering the sharp-looking truck is a 460hp Mercedes-Benz engine driving through a 16-speed auto-shift gearbox. Sales consultant: Russell Marr – Trucks South Ltd
Northern Argosy A spectacular new sight on the roads of Northland is this Freightliner Argosy eight-wheeler in the colours of Kaitaia Transport. Part of the large United Carriers group, Kaitaia Transport sends the new truck all over the North Island in the hands of driver Aaron Chapman. The 8x4 truck pulls a Roadmaster four-axle curtainsider trailer with overwidth equipment to enable it to cart board and wool when required. Powering the smart Argosy is an ISX Cummins, which drives through a 16918A Smartshift Roadranger gearbox. Sales consultant: Craig Silby and Chris Mackey – Trucks & Trailers Auckland
Potent Stock Liners A pair of potent Freightliner Argosy stock liners have been put to work by Martinborough Transport from its Wairarapa base. Both of the new trucks are fitted with 620hp Cummins Signature diesel engines, but differ in their gearboxes: One has a Smartshift Roadranger while the other has the manual 18-speed version of the Fuller box. Driven by Radar and Jarrod, the two big Freightliners pull four-axle stock trailers, which pack in four decks for sheep transport. The Martinborough rigs roam the whole of the North Island with occasional forays across Cook Strait. Sales consultant: John O’Sullivan – Trucks & Trailers Palmerston North
Split Personality During summer this new Freightliner is a milk tanker, but in winter it turns into a logging truck. The Argosy with a split personality is operated by Dunedin Carrying Co and achieves its versatility with twist lock attachments for the different bodies. Driven by “Dog”, it has a Cummins Signature 520hp engine, driving through a RTLO 20918B Roadranger to keep it going throughout the South Island, summer or winter. The Freightliner pulls a three-axle Patchell trailer and extras include an Isringhausen air seat, buttoned upholstery and an AliArc bumper. Sales consultant: Trevor McCallum – Southstar Freightliner 14
Customer Trucks Slim Columbia A slim tare weight maximizes payloads for this new Freightliner Columbia bulk tipper working out of Whangarei. Operated by Stan Semenoff, the 6x4 truck pulls a Morgan Engineering four-axle trailer and carts bulk commodities throughout the Northland region. Driver Colin Smith has an MBE 4000 engine under the Columbia’s smooth bonnet. The truck is also fitted with a Turbobrake to hold speed in check on downhills. The gearbox is a 16918A Roadranger with Smartshift. Sales consultant: Craig Silby – Trucks & Trailers Auckland
Fulton Hogan Benz This new Mercedes-Benz truck is the first in many years to be put to work in the Dunedin fleet of high-profile national operator Fulton Hogan. The 2646K 6x4 tipper pulls a four-axle trailer hauling bulk yellow sand around the Dunedin area. Driver John Martin handles the smart truck and trailer rig, which is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM501 V6 diesel rated at 460hp. The power goes to the tandem drive through a Mercedes-Benz G240 16speed gearbox. Sales consultant: Barry Sherer – Trucks South Ltd
Cool Sterling Carting refrigerated freight around the top half of the South Island is the life in store for this new Blenheim-based Sterling tractor unit. The AT9500 6x4 tractor is the first brand-new truck to join the fleet of Tranz Star Distribution Ltd. The Sterling is powered by a Detroit Series 60 diesel engine rated at 500hp and driving through an Eaton RTLO 1891B Roadranger gearbox. The tractor unit pulls a three-axle reefer carting loads between Christchurch and its home base in Blenheim. Sales consultant: Barry Sherer – Trucks South Ltd
Queenstown Tipper Based in Queenstown, this new Sterling bulk tipper is becoming a familiar sight on the roads of Central Otago. The 6x4 AT9500 tipper pulls a four-axle tipping trailer on general contracting work around the scenic region. Driven by either Tony or Corey, it’s the first new truck in the fleet of Queenstown operator Bennetts Group Holdings Ltd. Powering the smart Sterling is a 470hp Detroit Diesel Series 60, which drives through a standard Eaton RTLO 1891B Roadranger. Sales consultant: Barry Shere – Trucks South Ltd
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Customer Trucks Talleys Freightliner Motueka is home base for this smart new Freightliner Century Class prime mover. Operated by Talleys Fisheries Ltd, the 6x4 tractor unit is driven by Bruce Spittal and hauls refrigerated containers throughout the South Island. Powering the Freightliner is a C15 Caterpillar diesel engine rated at 500hp and driving through an Eaton Fuller RTLO 16918B 18-speed Roadranger. The tractor unit has been set up with a low turntable height of just 1100mm, enabling it to legally cart the increasingly common 9ft 6in high shipping containers. Sales consultant: Trevor McCallum – Southstar Freightliner
Lightweight Columbia Low tare weight of around seven tonne ready for work was the key factor for Christchurch owner-operator Mike Gilmore when he put his new Freightliner Columbia on the road. Pulling a three-axle semi-trailer, the rig can legally cart a 30-tonne container on its duties around Christchurch under contract to Toll Tranz Link. The smart Columbia is powered by a MBE 4000 diesel engine rated at 450hp and driving through a Roadranger RTLO 16918B gearbox. The new 6x4 tractor unit is the second Freightliner Mike Gilmore has owned – it replaced a Century Class tractor unit. Sales consultant: Trevor McCallum – Southstar Freightliner
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Summerland Sterling Is Hot In The Hills When Cromwell-based Summerland Express Freight Ltd bought its first Sterling with an MBE 4000 engine the objective was low tare weight – but it has proved to he a hit in the hills. The new LT9500 twin-steer tractor unit is the seventh Sterling in the 39-strong Summerland fleet, but all the earlier trucks were powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 or Caterpillar engines. Summerland owner Ross (Smilie) Millard operates a mixed fleet, but opts for the bonneted Sterlings in the areas of his operation where tare weight is crucial. He’s happy enough with the new tractor unit’s 8200kg tare, which will help optimize payloads when pulling a new TMC quad-axle curtain-sided semi-trailer. However, he didn’t really set out to buy an MBE engine under the Sterling’s bonnet. “I’m probably more of a Detroit man,” he laughs. “But the MBE was in it and anything is worth a go.” The tractor and quad semi rig is destined for a regular Christchurch to Dunedin run, carting mostly Winstone wallboard south and returning with general freight. But the new Sterling spent the first month of its life in the Cromwell fleet hauling fruit to Christchurch with Arthur Jelly at the helm. Cromwell is, of course, right in the heart of the Central Otago fruit bowl and at harvest time everything else gives way to getting the fruit to market. The new Sterling was press-ganged into the job before it was even painted in the sharp Summerland fleet colours. But that gave Ross Millard the chance for an early evaluation of the new MBE 4000 and first impressions have been good. “It’s up there on fuel economy but we’ve been even more impressed with the way it will pull right down to 1000rpm on the hills,” he says. “It pulls very, very well down low and a lot of the American engines
won’t do that. “The ability to pull hard down low reduces the need for gear changing, and that certainly helps the economy,” he adds. Ross Millard says the only thing that lets the MBE down a bit is its exhaust brake, which is “not overly great – it’s a bit like holding a big softball mitt out the window.” (Since the Summerland truck went on the road a much more powerful turbobrake has become available as an option. In combination with the standard exhaust brake it produces up to 600hp of retardation). The Sterlings in the Summerland fleet have played a part in rapid growth since Ross Millard bought the business in 1990, when it operated a single Mitsubishi five-tonne Canter. Before that he was a partner in a contracting business, and moved into trucking when the partnership split because he didn’t want to leave Cromwell. Of course Sterling isn’t the only low-tare truck available and Ross Millard says a major factor in his loyalty to the brand has been the back-up provided by Russell Marr and his team at Trucks South Ltd in Timaru. “We’ve enjoyed a good relationship with them, which is important,” he explains. “As well as that, Timaru is on our path. We leave the trucks there for a lot of our servicing and use one of their loan trucks to keep working.” He adds that the Sterling is “a good fleet truck” and the drivers like them, even if it can be hard to winkle them out of cab-over European trucks once they’ve become used to the comfort they offer.
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Customers Rule For Luxury Airport Shuttles Bay of Plenty based Luxury Airport Shuttles is a company that could almost be accused of taking too much notice of its customers. It was even named by a customer. Explains owner Rob Brosnan: “When we were starting out we told a customer we aimed to provide a luxury service. He wrote out his check to Luxury Airport Shuttles and we decided that was a pretty good name.”
“In 2003 we bought a 316 and a 313 Sprinter and they’re both up around the 700,000km mark now,” Rob Brosnan explains. “For example, the 313 has done over 700,000km and is still on its original clutch. The only problem it has had was with one injector.”
Rob and his wife Gail Brosnan started the business with a single 12-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 312 in mid-2002 and it has gone on to become the biggest service of its type in the Bay of Plenty.
The company now operates 14 vehicles and all are serviced at G B Motors in Rotorua.
With bases in both Tauranga and Rotorua it offers door-to-door airport shuttles around the clock, servicing Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua airports. During busy periods the company can run as many as 15 services within a 24-hour period to Auckland airport alone.
The fleet flagships are Mercedes-Benz coaches – an 814 28-seater and a 303 48-seater. They are supported by a total of seven Sprinters and three Vitos, ranging in size from six to 12 seats. The latest additions are smaller MB100 and MB140 vans, which are used for local transfers.
The original Mercedes-Benz is still in the fleet, and although it continues to provide luxurious, reliable service, that’s not the main reason the rest of the fleet are also Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Luxury Airport Shuttles prides itself on offering the highest level of service, comfort and punctuality, with friendly, reliable drivers, regardless of whether its customers are individuals or large groups.
“It’s mostly customer feedback that keeps us going back to the brand,” says Rob Brosnan. “We tried a Toyota Gran Via, but our customers told us that didn’t class as a luxury vehicle so we only kept it for six weeks.
Along with the shuttle service, it offers North Island sightseeing services, specializing in trips for passengers on visiting cruise ships.
“We also tried a very nicely fitted-out Ford Transit and, even though it had very good seats, the customer reaction was that it was only a Ford. “Even if the vehicle is an older Mercedes-Benz the perception is that it’s a luxury vehicle,” he adds. “The badge on the front definitely gets us work.”
Most of the fleet vehicles are now equipped with GPS tracking systems, some with a Navman unit which enables office staff to transmit messages directly to the vehicle screen. “When we get a call, say from the information desk at Auckland airport, this enables us to locate the nearest vehicle and provide an up-to-date arrival time,” says Rob Brosnan. “We can even turn back a shuttle that’s just left.”
While the image is important, reliability is also crucial when customers have to meet national or international flights and it’s another factor in Luxury Airport Shuttles’ choice of vehicles.
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“Same Again” Suits Northland Mercedes-Benz Operator When Northland contractor Aaran Pascoe went looking for a new truck towards the end of 2005 his aim was simple – to find one just like his Mercedes-Benz 2232 tipper, even though its 25th birthday is coming along this year.
“The old 2232 is ideal for our work,” he explains. “And it has served us well for a first truck in a relatively new business.” It’s little wonder, then, that he wound up purchasing a MercedesBenz 2633 Atego six-wheeler, which is pretty much exactly the modern equivalent of the old 2232. “Despite being almost 25 years apart they are remarkably similar,” Aaran Pascoe says. “They are just about the same horsepower, even though the new one’s engine is only about half the capacity of the old V10. And when they are parked side-by-side they are very close in size.” The big differences are in quietness inside the cab, safety and fuel economy. The 7.2 litre turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine in the Atego is “miles more economical” than the old naturally aspirated V10. Aaran Pascoe comes from a contracting family and is based just out of Kamo, north of Whangarei. His own eight-year-old business concentrates on contracting work, operating within about a 45km radius of is base, which includes Whangarei. He operates bulldozers, graders and excavators and says the initial decision to buy a truck was to keep the machines working without having to rely on outside carriers. When he first looked at buying the 2232 it was already 21-yearsold, but “looked tidier than most of the newer Jap stuff we had been seeing.” The 1982 Mercedes-Benz originally worked as a stock truck in the Pukekohe-based R.W. Howard Ltd fleet, moving north after United Carriers purchased the company. It was then bought Causer
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Farms, in Maungataroto. Gary Causer later replaced it with a Mercedes-Benz 2534 tipper and Aaran Pascoe became effectively only the third operator of the old 2232. “We do a lot of work like carting fertilizer to farm air strips and spreading metal on farm races and the 2232 is ideal for that work,” he says. “It has very good traction, which keeps it going when many of the other trucks have to knock off work, and it has good ground clearance. It will pull a two-axle trailer into places where you just can’t go when you’re carting 30 tonne.” Even though the truck is approaching its 25th birthday and has probably done more than a million kilometres, it’s continued to work with remarkable reliability. The 330hp Atego is a relative baby at just 18-months-old, but Aaran Pascoe is finding that it’s definitely a chip off the old block. Fitted with a rugged steel 10 cubic metre tipping body designed to be as tough and low-maintenance as the rest of the rig, it’s working just as hard, although with much improved efficiency. Aaran had Intertruck Engineering North in Whangarei build a lowprofile steel-bodied three-axle tipping trailer, with Wabco load sensing EBS electronic braking to match the Atego’s system, to pull behind it. “It is a very nice truck to drive, with good visibility for farm work,” he says. However he retains a soft spot for the old Merc. Driver Gary Mann is normally assigned to the Atego and when Aaran Pascoe isn’t operating one of his machines, he takes the wheel of the old 2232.
Dealer and Service Network Trucks
Sales/Service/Parts
Trucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) Trucks South Ltd (Timaru)
Trucks
MB/S/F MB/S/F F MB/S
Ph: Ph: Ph: Ph:
09 06 03 03
262 356 359 687
2465 8589 7913 4133
Service/Parts – MB/S/F
Keith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Truck City (Auck) Tidd Ross Todd (Ham) Tidd Ross Todd (Mt Mang) Parts and Service (Taupo) Jim Young Motors (Napier) W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Highway Trucks Ltd (P.Nth) Wilmac Transport Services (Wgtn) Truck Specialists Nelson Dunedin Truck Services Invercargill Truck Servicing
Light Commercial Vans Keith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Giltrap North Shore (Auck) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) Ingham Sears (Tauranga) Ingham Booth Autohaus (Ham) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) Kirk Motors Lower Hutt Houston Motors (Nelson) Armstrong Prestige Chch Armstrong Prestige Dunedin
Light Commercial Vans Keri Keri Autohaus Truck City (Auck) G B Motors (Roto) Tocker Automotive (Taupo) Main Street Autos (Hast) W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Truck Specialists Nelson SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) Hansens Auto Services (Qstown) Dunedin Truck Services Invercargill Truck Servicing
Ph: 09 430 3900 Ph: 09 274 6523 Ph: 07 849 4839 Ph: 07 574 0471 Ph: 07 378 2673 Ph: 06 836 6126 Ph: 06 759 2051 Ph: 06 358 8702 Ph: 04 237 4433 Ph: 03 544 6090 Ph: 03 479 0150 Ph: 03 215 9566
Sales/Service/Parts Ph: 09 430 3900 Ph: 09 443 3808 Ph: 09 262 2465 Ph: 07 572 8260 Ph: 07 838 1317 Ph: 06 356 8589 Ph: 04 566 3903 Ph: 03 548 8204 Ph: 03 343 2468 Ph: 03 470 3030
Service/Parts – MB Ph: 09 407 8646 Ph: 09 274 6523 Ph: 07 348 7598 Ph: 07 378 9714 Ph: 06 878 5472 Ph: 06 759 2051 Ph: 03 544 6090 Ph: 03 359 7913 Ph: 03 442 9702 Ph: 03 479 0150 Ph: 03 215 9566
