Aeolus Truck & Driver News

As Middle East conflict, surging fuel pricesand the roll-on inflationary impacts dominate the daily news headlines, New Zealand’s fuel supplies were holding steady at the time this issue of New Zealand Truck & Driver went to press mid-April.

It’s impossible to forecast the next global developments other than to state the obvious – even if the conflict comes to a rapid and peaceful conclusion, the damage to oil production and distribution infrastructure around the Gulf region and wider supply chain disruption will mean a normal supply situation is some months away.

So, it’s perhaps most relevant to outline how the government plans to respond to any increased fuel supply uncertaint...

The growing electric truck fleet operatedby WM New Zealand is the home for the first Mercedes-Benz eEconic in the country.

The battery electric low entry model is operating as a rear loader refuse collection truck, marking another step forward in safer operations and lower carbon emissions.

WM New Zealand has one of NZ’s largest electric truck fleets and the purchase of the truck is supported by a $150,000 grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The eEconic will be used initially for inorganic collections, with potential to support tyre collections in the future. It has been designed specifically for urban, stop-start operations and brings clear ...

Travel through the centre of the North Island requires some advance planning at present as a series of overnight road closures are in place for State Highway 1 (SH1) Desert Road until Monday March 9.

The closures began on February 15 and are in place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7pm and 6am.

NZTA says the overnight-only closures, between Tūrangi and Waiouru, have been carefully programmed to enable the last phase of the Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project (T2W), while avoiding long-term disruption.

Closures on this section of SH1 are needed to complete final surfacing in the area known as the 3 Sisters because the narrow, winding road can’t safely accommo...

NASCAR has a new look on American highways with a fleet of the latest Mack Pioneer models transporting critical race equipment from track to track.

During February’s Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, Mack Trucks and NASCAR announced a multi-year extension of their partnership, continuing the designation of Mack as the “Official Hauler of NASCAR.”

The partnership will see 11 all-new Mack Pioneer 76-inch High-Roof Sleeper models added to the NASCAR fleet.

The addition of the Pioneer models marks the latest evolution of NASCAR’s Mack fleet, which began with Pinnacle models in 2016 before transitioning to Anthem models in 2018. Six Mack Anthem models will remain in ...

Construction of the major roading project designed to improve northern access in and out of Tauranga and Mt Maunganui via State Highway 2 continues to make strong progress.

With four years of construction work already completed, Stage 1 of the Takitimu North Link (TNL) project now sees all major structures, earthworks, and environmental works well advanced.

The project focus now shifts to pavement construction along with associated drainage and stormwater treatments ahead of a scheduled 2028 opening.

NZTA reports that an estimated 2.5 million cubic metres of earth (of the 3 million m³ total planned) has already been moved.

There is also 8.84km of piling complete (100%...