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Burnside Contractors is a family-owned Christchurch business which started out in the early 1990s.

Co-owner John Taylor says; “Thirty-three years ago Dad (Max Taylor) and I started Burnside Contractors Ltd with a HQ Holden and a 3-tonne digger and built the business up to what it is today. We were a drainage business which turned into general contracting and then subdivision work.”

With the acquisition of bigger and better equipment Burnside Contractors’ main work is now in tree clearing and heavy haulage work.

“We have a very loyal customer base for which we are very grateful as it’s very competitive these days,” John says.

The first truck purchased for the company – about 25 years ago – was a 210hp S-Line 2650 International. This was partnered with an open wheeled 3-axle trailer built by MTE (Modern Transport Engineers).

Once the S-Line had done the hard yards and ‘put the company on the map’ it was replaced by a 3600 International. This was the main truck in the fleet which by then also had a couple of 400hp UD Nissans.

In 2005-06 Burnside Contractors purchased a brand new T604 Kenworth along with 4- rows-of-4 trailer which was later replaced by a M.T.E 3-rows-of-8 trailer.

The fleet has grown to now include a new Iveco, a 6x4 K200, two 6x4 T604’s and a T950 bulk unit among others along with a selection of M.T.E trailers and machinery.

However, it’s the latest addition to the fleet, a 2024 Kenworth T909, which is turning heads.

This truck was originally purchased by Rob Johnson of JCL Trucking in Otaki, but  unfortunately the truck had to be sold due to health reasons.

The staunch looking T909 has a 615hp Cummins X15 accompanied by an Eaton 18-speed Roadranger transmission. The cab has an integrated sleeper, ISRI seats for both the driver and passenger and all the radio channels a driver needs to navigate heavy loads safely on highway and bush roads.

“The truck became available, so I bought it as it was the right spec for us and what we do,” John says.

“It had low kms and the price was right. It will probably be the last one I buy. If Bradley wants another one, he’ll have to buy it.”

Bradley is John’s son and the third generation to join Burnside Contractors.

Starting out in drainage work like his grandfather and father before him, Bradley decided after 18 months, to give the family business a go. He started out on the pilot ute and learnt as he went along from others in the industry. After a while John needed a driver for the truck so Bradley stepped up, got his licences and worked with his dad learning what he needed to know.

“He’s doing pretty well considering he’s only 26 years old,” John says.

Responding to a question about Bradley being the future of Burnside Contractors Ltd John says; “Dad and I started it and now he’s there driving so he’s got to want to carry on doing it to make it work and at the moment he’s passionate about it.”

Once the truck was purchased it was taken to Hamilton and painted by the team at Off the Grid. The T909 was then taken to Hotshot Signs for the crew to work their magic and give the Kenworth a show stopping look with refined scrolls and tight pinstriping that sets it apart from others in the fleet.

The finishing touch is the bull bar which John ordered from Bar Up Bull Bars (who are located in Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia). As the team from Bar Up say; “Don’t just protect your rig, set it apart from the rest”. It certainly does that.