The July 2026 edition of New Zealand Truck & Driver magazine is on sale this week with the cover story and GiTi Tyres Big Test shining the spotlight on the New Generation DAF range. 

We are in the Thames Valley and Waikato for a day with loyal DAF customers Waitoa Haulage and a chance to see their new XF 530 livestock unit at work. The new DAF excels for its driver comfort, cab design, and visibility. 

Advantage Tyre Solutions Fleet Focus makes a trip to the Bay of Islands to visit the all-Daimler fleet of Carters BulkHaul. The Waipapa-based fleet belonging to Dan and Debbie Carter looks after a range of clients in the Northland region with trucks and trailers built to Dan’s detailed specifications.

The July News section reports on King’s Birthday honours for transport leaders Warwick Wilshier and Scott O’Donnell, previews the next extension of SH1 Waikato Expressway south to Piarere, and updates a record-breaking response to Bombay Truck Show registrations.

We also look the latest update to the Volvo Electric Truck line-up and cover the first two rounds of the 2026 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship.

The monthly update from Transporting New Zealand sees CEO Dom Kalasih apply a transport focus on the issues New Zealanders consider important and he also dives into some new heavy vehicle research from Australia. Mark Stockdale outlines the benefits of the Transporting NZ Cost Model. 

The July issue also takes a trip across the Tasman to join Isuzu Australia for the Darwin to Cairns leg of its 15,000km Road Show around the big country which is showcasing the new N and F Series models. 

The latest instalment of ByGone Days Kiwi trucking industry history sees Rod Simmonds looks at the transport companies which served the Wellington region during the 1980s and the Southpac Legend feature tells the story of Grant Sumner’s Kenworth SAR Legend, which takes on a hard-working role for Dargaville-based Sumner Haulage.

We also report from the annual Gore Truck Show and preview Scania’s New Super 11 5-cylinder engine which is now available in New Zealand. 

The July update from the National Road Carriers Association sees James Smith taking a look at the efficiency potential of electric-powered trailers, while James Perrin dives into the detail of Budget 2026 and topics of relevance to the transport industry.

CrediFlex Recently Registered reports on the registration data for new trucks and trailers during May accompanied by the monthly gallery of new rigs on the road.