Double Coin Imaging Awards

Some of the recent additions to the J Swap Contractors fleet have been attention grabbers decked out with mural size colour photograph wraps running the full length along truck and trailer bodies.

Many of the J Swap trucks with these modern visuals depict the various activities which the company is involved in and also some of the history of the Matamata-based firm which is closing in on its 90th anniversary.

The new DAF featuring on this month’s Double Coin Tyres Transport Imaging Awards poster has a different message to share. J Swap decided to create a mobile billboard to boost the profile of the Rural Support trusts.

The Rural Support charitable trusts offer confidential advice, counselling and support for farmers and growers who encounter issues with health and wellbeing, employment matters, financial pressure, animal welfare and other adverse events affecting their life and livelihoods.

The Rural Support branding, website, and the messages “Rural people helping rural people” and “Need help? Need to talk?” run along the sides of the auger bin and five-axle trailer of the DAF CF 85 which features as the NZ T&D August issue Transport Imaging poster truck.

The truck cab retains the signature J Swap livery of white with stripes in three shades of blue contrasted by yellow signwriting.

Director Stephen Swap says the Rural Support branding also appears on two new tipper units which joined the J Swap fleet recently as well as a bottom dump trailer.

“We got to know a few people involved with running the Rural Support trusts through some events we have been part of,” says Stephen.

“We recognise there are some important issues in the rural communities and that the Rural Support trusts do great work. It’s something we wanted to be part of and show our support for.”

The DAF CF 85 Space Cab 8x4 makes stock feed deliveries around the North Island. It’s powered by the 530hp version of the Paccar MX-13 six-cylinder engine. 

J Swap operates its stock feed units out of Mt Maunganui, Matamata and Taranaki. This DAF is Matamata-based with driving duties shared by Kevin Bright and Brett Hobson.

“Our auger trucks are mainly European eight wheelers. The DAF suits this work particularly well and we have quite a lot of them on our auger fleet,” says Stephen.

The Matamata connection is a strong one with local firm Warren Auger Bins building the 20ft, four compartment open top truck bin fitted with 24ft discharge auger.

The trailer is a Warren 5620 5-axle 28ft, six compartment open top with 28ft discharge auger. Transpecs supplied the SAF ZI9 Intradisc axles, Wabco EBS braking, Alcoa Dura-bright alloy wheels and Hella lighting. A Deutz diesel power pack runs the trailer hydraulics.

“The truck is the standard spec that we build for Swaps with bigger verticals so it can be unloaded faster,” says Brad Warren.

The DAF is the most recent addition to the J Swap Stock Feeds fleet.

“As far as auger trucks are concerned, we’ve now built 15 for them with another one ready soon that will be identical to this one,” says Brad.

“As well as new builds, we also look after all the repairs and maintenance.”

The Rural Support signage and the other modern wraps worn by J Swap vehicles are produced by Tauranga’s Sign Source. 

There are creative and practical aspects to producing the eye-catching wraps.

“It’s a four-stage process. You start with the photographer and then we do the artwork. Once it’s been approved you get it printed and then you wrap it, just the same as people are doing with cars,” says Sign Source owner Daryl Horn.

“It’s done in panels. You start at the top and work your way down just like wallpaper.

“The auger bins are a little bit more involved than the flat sides on a tipper, but we’ve done a few of them now and we know the process,” Daryl says.

“We’ve done quite a few of these wraps for Swaps now. They get a lot of feedback from them and people seem to like it.”