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The new Iveco S-Way 570 8x4 is being driven by Gary Short and went on the road in late-January. It’s working on a 54-tonne permit equipped with a new Kraft Engineering deck and is towing a 5-axle Kraft trailer.

There are a variety of truck brands working in the HTL fleet, predominantly Scania, with Kenworth, DAF, and Fuso also represented. The Iveco is a new addition to the heavy-duty ranks.

“Our only other Iveco is a little 4-wheeler [a 2024 EuroCargo ML 180] for pick-ups. We did have a few a while back, but that was quite a number of years ago,” says HTL owner Dave Benner.

“They [Iveco] have been actively pushing their product lately and with a new model and new technology I thought we’d give one a try and see how it goes.”

The HTL fleet works out of the Thornton depot near Whakatane and also from a Gisborne yard.

“We’ve got 25 trucks plus five owner-drivers. They are split about half and half between Thornton and Gisborne and the trucks work all across the North Island. Livestock is all we do,” Dave says.

While the Iveco is a new addition at the heavy end of the fleet, HTL stuck with its favoured Bay of Plenty suppliers for the build.

The deck and trailer were built at Ngongotaha by Kraft Engineering.

“James [Worsnop] at Kraft has had a long association with us at Heikell Transport, and Kraft make an excellent product. Our fleet is a mix of gear from Kraft and Jacksons, but everything has Nationwide crates.

“Nationwide have a good team at Mount Maunganui and they make the best product with the best back-up,” says Dave.

TRT supplied the Traction Air central tyre inflation system which along with the lights on the cab and backing lights, microwave, CB and bush radio was set up by Coastline Auto Electrical in Whakatane, who look after all of HTL’s electrical needs.

The paint is by Whakatane’s Haddock Spray Painters and the signage is the work of Diverse Graphics in Whakatane, an eye-catching highlight being the charging bull graphic on both sides of the cab.

“Chanelle [Hayward] at Diverse Graphics always comes up with something a bit special for each new truck. Our Scanias have got big Griffins on them and the bull is unique to this one,” Dave says.

“I went over to Hamilton the other day and I passed it coming back over the Kaimais. It’s turned out very sharp and I think it looks the part.”

The S-Way 8x4 in Hi-roof sleeper configuration has the 12.9-litre Cursor 13 six-cylinder engine in Euro 6 specification which develops 570hp at 1900rpm and 2500Nm of torque at 1000rpm – teamed with a 12-speed ZF TraXon AMT.

The safety features include Advanced Emergency Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and full LED Headlights with Cornering Fog Lights.

Driver Gary Short had only been behind the wheel of the S-Way just over a week when we asked him for his initial driving impressions.

“I’ve been up north of Auckland as far as Kaiwaka with it so far,” Gary says.

“I’m enjoying it. All I’ve ever really known before is Scania, so it’s been a good experience to start learning about something else.

“It’s really smooth and comfortable and it’s nice to drive. It’s got decent performance and a 6-stage retarder which is really powerful,” he says.

Gary says he likes the comfort and features of the S-Way.

“I’ve got a bunk bed with a fridge/freezer underneath and our sparky reckons it’s the first S-Way [in New Zealand] to have a microwave. It’s been set-up real nice.”

And Gary confirms the modern European styling of the new S-Way is already attracting a bit of attention.

“A few people have said to me that it looks good in our Heikell colours and that it really stands out,” Gary says.