It hasn’t been part of a formal business plan, but one truck per year is a rough average for the step-by-step growth of Laurent Contractors.

The rural transport company at Waharoa, just north of Matamata, turns 10-years-old in early December. So, the maths of reaching a decade in business suggests the Laurent fleet should now number 10 red trucks.

Which is pretty much spot on… there are 10 red trucks (but one is for sale) plus a new MAN spreader in pristine white that’s set to be painted red as soon as it can be taken out of the work rotation for a few days. So yes, let’s call it 10 years to build the fleet to 10 trucks.

You get the first impression of what to expect from Vaughan and Dani Laurent’s operation when you visit the yard where the company works from, about 1.5km from Waharoa village. The long gravel driveway is tidily fenced, smoothly groomed and free from potholes.