Double Coin Imaging Awards

From a Hastings home base, C&M Livestock cover all of New Zealand and the new Kenworth is one of the best looking of the new generation models.

Clifton started as a wash boy at Lime Haulage Ltd in Te Kuiti, then worked his way up to the stock driving ranks at the wheel of Volvos.

Some time spent at Waitoa Haulage and then Graeme Wright Transport (driving more Volvos) followed before a stint at Nationwide Livestock driving an International Eagle and Scanias which were dedicated to cattle. That allowed Clifton to see pretty much all of the country.

A brief spell on bulk work helped to reinforce Clifton’s passion for the livestock side of the industry and he made a move to become a dedicated contractor at Farmers Transport Ltd in 2020 with a new Volvo FH700.

After six seasons and nearly 800,000kms it was time for upgrade – and here we are today with one of the most striking Kenworth K220s to hit the road.

The truck fulfils Clifton’s long-held ambition to own an iconic Kenworth Aerodyne.

Powered by a 615hp Cummins X15 matched to an 18-speed Roadranger, the K220 has Hendrickson Primaax rear air suspension, spring front suspension as well as the new cab suspension now available for the K220.

Jackson Enterprises built the new truck deck fitted with Delta crates and Jacksons fitting the deck, effluent tanks, concealed lights, toolboxes. Clifton’s existing 5-axle trailer has had a full refurbishment with the Delta crates repainted.

Clifton’s sales contact at Southpac Trucks was Mark O’Hara.

“Mark was bloody brilliant to deal with,” Clifton says.

The first two weeks saw the new truck working in its home region. 

“We’ve done a bit of local work just make sure everything is working correctly and I’ve done a couple of runs up to Auckland.

“It hasn’t really stretched its legs yet but soon we’ll be travelling all across New Zealand,” Clifton says.

But there’s already been enough time behind the wheel to get any early feel for the modern Kenworth experience.

“I’m liking everything about it so far, but maybe the biggest thing is the amount of room in the cab. It’s a big step up from the earlier K models.”

Clifton left the cab paint and stripes design to locals Henderson Rd Panel & Paint (HRPP) Ltd and their modern take on the traditional FT livery is outstanding. This will endure any scrutiny by the purist and cuts a stunning image against the dry brown Hawke’s Bay countryside.

“I’d like to thank Graeme Lowes (owner of Hawke’s Bay Farmers Transport] for giving us a lot of freedom with the design of the truck,” says Clifton.

“He told us that as long as we didn’t change the FT colours, we could do whatever we wanted. The truck has come together just how we wanted.”

Farmers Transport Ltd have been around since the 1930s, part of the local Eastern Equities Group and until recently was part of the HWR Richardson empire. 

A scaled back structure now sees Hawke’s Bay Farmers Transport Ltd (2024) being run out of Hastings and Waipawa depots and returning to a focus on the core rural work that built and served the original FT group from inception.

During the 1980s FT favoured the day cab Kenworth K144 and K125s on stock work. Many had screaming 8V92 Detroits and with three-deck crates locally made by Sutton Crates they looked and sounded the goods. Now some 40 years later the tradition continues but in a much more refined way.

Clifton is already enjoying the big cab Aerodyne and learning to master a Roadranger again while seeing the amazing rural countryside! Dreams do come true...