Advantage Tyres Fleet Focus

White trucks with purple and silver livery convey a clean and simple visual for Waipapa-based Carters BulkHaul.

Growing from a single truck in 2007 to 13 trucks working across Northland highways and beyond, Dan and Debbie Carter have remained loyal to Daimler product (Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz) since starting the company 19 years ago.

Prior to establishing Carters BulkHaul, Dan already had a few years of experience behind the wheel with local transport operators before going to work for Cyril Alexander.

“Cyril brought a Freightliner Argosy 6x4 which I drove for 18 months, then Debbie and I brought the truck off him – which became Truck 1,” says Dan.

Carters BulkH... ... 

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... ...