Southpac Legends

Not only does Rodney ‘the lifter’ Kempthorne – of family-run Heavy Metal Haulage fame –have a determined work ethic and a passion for the trucking industry, but he was almost born in the cab of his dad’s truck. He is certainly a Southpac Legend.

You could say that Rodney was destined to be in the trucking world. His father founded and ran E.E Kempthorne, a rural carrying business, and his two older brothers, Alan, and Max, also made the transport industry their careers. However, the clincher would have to be the unconventional way he came into the world.

Rodney says, “when we were kids, our parents had a carrying business in Ngāhinapōuri, and the old man was... ... 

Between running two large fleets, having membership of multiple industry and community groups across New Zealand and being the executive member and president of two branches of Transporting NZ, Campbell ‘Bill’ Gilmour of Pacific Haulage/Gilmour Transport fame seems to do nothing by half. But he’s also a humble guy that appreciates all the people that have helped him along the way – and for that, he’s a Southpac legend.

Campbell Gilmour was born in the deep south of Invercargill, however, grew up and did most of his formative schooling years in Alexandra. Even from an early age he says that he was obsessed with trucks.

“As long as I remember I was always mad ... ... 

Based in Western Southland, Wayne Williams of Transport Services Ltd (TSL) is a humble kind of a guy who “likes to see people succeed.”

Better time management is what got him into the industry, and he’s an ideas man with a “work hard, treat people equally and respectfully” attitude. And that’s why he’s a Southpac Legend.

His parents owned a 365-hectare farm in Opio, Southland and from an early age Wayne had a vision of owning a farm in the area. Upon leaving school he started out as a shearer; however, the insightful teen soon discovered it was not the way to achieve his goal.

Wayne recalls: “I started as an apprentice shearer, but I used to live 16km... ... 

Whether it’s on the road or on the racetrack, the Uhlenberg name is hard to miss. They are a tight knit group that share a passion for the ‘big gear’, Speedway and stay true to their family virtues - and for that, they are this month’s Southpac legends.

Uhlenberg Haulage was founded in 1966 by Mike and Carol Uhlenberg, but its origins extend back further to Mike’s father, James (Tim) Uhlenberg, and his 80-acre dairy farm in Mangatoki.

“Tim was a farmer but had a love of machinery,” says Daryl Uhlenberg. “He always had engines and cars like DeSotos and big American V8s, and that rubbed off on dad.”

Mike Uhlenberg was born at Eltham in the Taranaki in 193... ... 

Based in the ‘Naki, Sandfords Rural Carriers has been in business for nigh-on a century.

This is obviously something of a monumental feat all by itself, however, what’s more impressive is the family run business has also remained under the control of the founder’s direct descendants throughout. It’s for this reason, plus the loyalty they have amassed in the Auroa area and wider South Taranaki, that Phil Sandford is this month’s Southpac Legend.

Sandfords as a transport company started with a single truck in 1923, when Phil’s grandfather, Mr E.F. ‘Ebby’ Sandford began carrying general goods upon returning from the Western Front in World War I.

“Ebby’s fi... ...