A new Fuso Shogun specially configured to transport large utes, vans and motorhomes provides a bright yellow showpiece for the cover and Giti Tyres Big Test feature in February’s New Zealand Truck & Driver on sale now.

Carr & Haslam have worked with both Fuso and Jackson Enterprises to achieve a unique specification for a new 400hp Fuso Shogun 8x4 Super Low which is ideal for the new generation of large utes and commercial vans being sold on the New Zealand market.

The February Advantage Tyres Fleet Focus takes a trip to Porirua to look at the impressive 16-year growth of Bryce O’Sullivan Contracting (BOSCO). The company began with Bryce’s teenage passion and a family pedigree in earthmoving and has become a powerhouse operation across the wider Wellington region with a fleet of standout trucks and plant.

The first batch of industry news for 2026 headlines another year of Kiwi truck market leadership for Isuzu and looks at new model introductions from Fuso and Merecedes-Benz.

There’s also a look ahead to the final phase of the State Highway 1 Tirau-to-Waiouru accelerated maintenance project and a preview of upcoming summer truck shows around the regions.

Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih looks at the key issues the association will be pressing during election year and there’s a detailed look a tyre suitability following a recent coroner’s report into a 2023 fatal accident.

The regular Southpac Legend feature tells the story of Maungatua Contracting which spans three generations of the Duncan family and looks at the pride of the fleet – a Kenworth T900 Legend appropriately named Maungatua Legend.

February feature coverage tells the story of Canterbury’s Diezal Mattingley, who drives trucks on both sides of the Tasman, breeds prize-winning Barock Pinto sport horses, and also sings lead vocals with heavy metal bands.

Historian Rod Simmonds wraps up his series about the Wairarapa rural transport scene in the 1960-1980s era and we provide a backgrounder to the Weigh-in-Motion technology which will have a widespread roll-out across major state highways in 2026 to accompany an updated CVSC network.

The February issue also delivers the latest policy and advocacy updates from National Road Carriers and the NZ Heavy Haulage Association.

 And CrediFlex Recently Registered looks at the final two months of registration data for 2025 to confirm the New Zealand new truck and trailer market faced tough conditions throughout last year. We analyse the sales trends and segment data and there’s our monthly gallery of new rigs on the road.