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The K220 is driven by 25-year-old Bailey Wilson, who is a third-generation truck driver following in the steps of his father and grandfather.

 “It’s a generational thing,” Bailey says.

“The old man was with Clutha Valley [Transport] in the early days followed by a short stint at Fonterra and then 15 years at Temuka Transport. My grandad also drove trucks and was on a yellow International at Waitaki doing house removals. So, I’m third generation as far as I know.”

Born in Balclutha, Bailey’s family moved to the South Canterbury town of Temuka where he would go for trips with his dad when he drove for Temuka Transport.

It was inevitable that Bailey would one day become a truck driver.

“I started with Temuka Transport right at the bottom, washing out stock crates,” says  Bailey.

“I was 15 years old and still in school at the time, so I was working in a servo (service station) for two hours after school and then go to the yard and wash out stock crates or just fleet wash the trucks. I got an exemption to be able to start my HT licence six months early through NZTA and started out on a fert spreader with a Class 2 licence –which I loved.

“I left Temuka Transport and got a job driving a fert spreader for Four Peakes Transport in Geraldine. By that time, I was on my Class 4 which allowed me to do ‘truck only’ stock truck work. Then in 2020 after the first Covid lockdown, I was offered a job with Ryal Bush in Feilding driving a CF DAF carting stock with my Class 4, until I acquired my Class 5 a couple of months later.

“A year later I joined the team at Martinborough Transport and was based out of Feilding driving a Freightliner Argosy, but I felt like I needed a bit more variety.

“I’d never done general freight, so I joined Booth’s and started on a curtain sider and I’ve been there ever since.”

Based out of Palmerston North, Bailey felt like he needed another challenge, so he put his hand up to drive an International 9870 drop sider that Booth’s had acquired.

“I said I’d give it a go and if it works out, it works out, sort of thing. Obviously, it must’ve gone alright as the K220 Kenworth was ordered,” Bailey says.

Booth’s FTL Manager Stephen Smith says; “The reasoning behind having that type of truck (drop sider) on the road is it’s all round versatility, as it can cover work in our flat deck division and then has the added benefit of putting the sides in to cart bulk and the tipping factor which allows us to cart any loads requiring tip off (bulk/timber etc). That versatility just helps in keeping the unit moving up and down the country.”

The 2026 Kenworth K220 is powered by a 600hp Cummins X15 Euro 5  engine with 1850 lb-ft of torque along with an Eaton Fuller RTLO20918B manual transmission.

Running on 275/70 x R22.5 steer and drive tyres, the Kenworth looks sharp with Dura-bright alloy rims accompanied by wheel chrome hub caps and nut covers. An aluminium Kenworth polished FUPS bumper gives the cab a deeper, tough look.

Other visual details include stainless West Coast style mirrors with a 7-inch spotter mirror plus a painted drop visor.

The K220 is fitted with a number of safety features including EBSS (electronic brake safety system), ABS (anti-lock brake system) and the Bendix blind spot camera fitted on the left-hand side of the cab.

Bailey gets to cruise the New Zealand roads on the comfortable ISRI 6860/870 Pro air suspension seat. The truck also runs the Haul Weigh by Trucktronix scales which were fitted by Broadway Auto Electrical.

The truck deck and trailer, which feature Roadrunner toolboxes, were built by Fruehauf which Bailey is super impressed with.

The final word goes to Booth’s Stephen Smith: “As for Bailey, he’s a hard-working, old school style truck driver who is an asset to our team.

“He embraces a mentality for getting a job done right and has knowledge that far exceeds his years. He’s worked extremely hard in his time here and is well deserving of his new truck. 

“He played a key part in the build process and his knowledge and understanding of the industry has helped us in putting an outstanding unit on the road.”