Southpac Legends

With over three decades of experience, Paul Chappel from Pyramid Trucking certainly knows a lot about the road transport industry. Not only does his company have a keen eye on social responsibility but Paul himself is committed to paying it forward to future generations of truckers via the industry associations – that’s why he’s this month’s Southpac Legend.

Although he spent a short OE stint in Australia after leaving school, Paul’s parents owned a transport company, Chappel Carriers, and so it seemed inevitable that he would venture into the industry.

“My family was in it first and so I wanted to be a driver from a young age,” says Paul. “And as soon as I w... ... 

The company mainly services primary industry, but Alex primarily considers the operation as first and foremost a solution provider for its customers. 

Alex credits his father and upbringing for his love of the transport industry. His father worked for the Clutha Carrying Company in Balclutha - he was the despatcher and yard supervisor - and as a family they lived in the company house next door.

“So right from when I was able... ... 

With decades of experience in bulk petroleum transportation and their uncompromising attention to safety, Tranzliquid Logistics Ltd. Greg Pert and Jackie Carroll do more than enough to keep the NZ transport industry moving. But it’s their ‘we’re ruthless with our standards and gracious with our people’ mantra that makes them this month’s SouthPac legends.

It’s estimated that when it comes to freight, 93% by tonnes is moved by road in NZ and if Road Transport is the lifeblood of the economy, then with their fleet of Kenworth’s delivering fuel from most terminals in NZ, their family owned and operated business Tranzliquid are arguably a lifeblood behind the transpor... ... 

Whakatane-based spray painters ‘Haddocks’ have been keeping NZ trucks looking pristine and shipshape for almost four decades. ‘Goose’ Haddock joined the family business in the mid-eighties and his ‘stand by what we do’ attitude has seen the company grow from a staff of three to twenty- three. Goose is a dedicated craftsman with a passion for the industry and is hellbent on bringing new talent to the business, yet no-one (aside from the IRD) knows his real name - for that, he’s this month’s Southpac legend. 

With a surname such as Haddock, you’d feel that paint spraying and panel beating wouldn’t be Goose’s first career choice, and you’d be correct.

“Our ... ... 

Neil Wood (and his wife Joanne) are the founders of Pokeno-based bulk cartage and earthworks business N&J Wood Ltd. It’s a family run operation that, at its core, hauls feed and aggregate the length and breadth of New Zealand. 

However, not only does this hard-working entrepreneur run an incredibly sharp looking fleet of trucks, but he has also influenced the next generation with his daughter instigating the highly popular Bombay Truck Show. Neil’s latest retirement project involves hundreds of acres of farmland that will house thousands of native trees - and for those reasons he’s this month’s Southpac Legend.

According to Neil, for a lot of people, tru... ...