The star on the cover for the September 2025 issue of New Zealand Truck & Driver magazine wears the familiar colours of Clutha Valley Transport.

This month’s Giti Tyres Big Test is down south travelling the hills, valleys, and coastal scenery of South Otago as we test the new Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3258 which is the latest addition to the CVT livestock fleet. 

The focus for this month’s Fleet Focus is the separation of Southland’s big D.T. Kings Transport company into four independent businesses. In the first part of our Fleet Focus we look at how King’s Rural Transport and Riverton Rural Transport have made the transition to independently run family businesses. 

The September news section reports on the extension to the RUC exemption for heavy electric vehicles and provides the latest information about summer plans for the SH1 Tirau to Waiouru rebuild project. A European trial is showcasing how electric trucks can provide nighttime efficiencies, Iveco will soon have new owners and the Daimler Truck plant at Worth is celebrating 60 years of production.

We also look at the upcoming NZI Truckie Rest Zone dates and Dunedin’s big Special Rigs for Special Kids day at the end of August.

Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih reports on the association’s recent work to streamline the HPMV permit system and to raise awareness of Chain of Responsibility issues. There’s also an update on CVST priorities and full details of October’s North Island Road Freight Seminar in Napier.

September features take a look back at the trucks and history of Wairarapa livestock carrier John Pope Transport and our Southpac Trucks Legends section tells the story of the late Jim Dynes and his pioneering role in the New Zealand road transport industry.

We also report from the EROAD Fleet Day at Mystery Creek and preview the new generation Isuzu N and F Series models as they begin arriving in the New Zealand market.

National Road Carriers Association CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers offers his view on New Zealand’s workplace safety culture and look at the upgrade for the NRC Cost Model Tool, which can now compare the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles.

The monthly CrediFlex Recently Registered section reports on the July registration numbers for new trucks. The market was ahead of the previous month, but the 2025 market remains sluggish in both new trucks and trailers. We also feature the monthly gallery of new rigs on the road.