Advantage Tyres Fleet Focus

The story of Ashburton-based refrigerated fleet iDL has strong overtones of the almost-accidental. When Ross and Judith Edgar bought a modest two-truck operation 27 years ago it was simply as a stop-gap while their primary business venture, a new vineyard, matured and started producing revenue.

That was the plan, but one that was diverted by consistent growth in the transport business. Four years on the vineyard was sold and the couple’s focus shifted to the trucking firm, which nowadays has 40 units and has extended its operations from the mid-Canterbury area to pretty much the whole South Island.

The company is still family-owned. Ross and Judith are quasi-retired, but sons Zac... ... 

Canterbury-headquartered JCL Asphalt and associated Blue Diamond Haulage are somewhat bucking the convention in family-owned fleets of children working for their parents. In this case, Tim Craw works for the companies owned by son James.

That said, Tim and his wife Sue were the primary financial backers when the then 22-year-old James started up on his own in 2004. And it was a pretty modest start – a five-tonne Isuzu tipper, a little roller and associated wheelbarrows and other gear that gave James and handful of his mates their first steps into the asphalt business.

He admits the time since has been an exciting – and at times roller-coaster – ride. JCL is now a respected player... ... 

The way Gen 2 truckie Ethan Smith sees it, his family’s trucking and contracting business is “the last of the old-school contractors.”

What he means is that, in the 25 years since Allen and Sheree Smith (yep, his Mum and Dad) started NorthEnd Contractors, some things haven’t changed: The business is still run in much the same way as it was in the beginning.

Although he and “little bro” Axel largely run the show these days, it’s still a strictly-no-bullshit, down to earth kind of an outfit – run by hard-case, hardworking people….

With zero regard for political correctness (like Ethan says, “a spade’s a spade – you know what I mean”). No corporate glos... ...