Mainfreight
Established in the late seventies, Mainfreight was founded by Neil Graham, Bruce Plested and Howard Smith and over the succeeding decades to today expanded from very modest beginnings in Auckland to now operating over 300 branches world-wide in 27 countries.
Their blue-livery and an emphasis on presentation marked a pride in the equipment and their industry that could be said to be lacking in those early chaotic years of the de-regulation of the industry.
Donna Blue Mainfreight 1984
Shot at the Alexandra Blossum Festival in the early '80s, 'Donna Blue' - JJ2090 - was one of a number of Mack's that helped stamp the Mainfreight brand into public awareness with an on-road presence that was a hallmark of the company. One of the most photographed trucks of the era, this eight-wheeler replete with alloy bull-bars was at the forefront of the deregulated industry which had unleashed the full potential of the road transport industry, after decades of rail-imposed restrictions. Mainfreight founders Neil Graham, Bruce Plested and Howard Smith were visionaries and spear-headed the way with a freight-forwarding operation that has expanded operations far beyond New Zealand shores...
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This eight-wheeler Mack Ultra Liner MF2000 worked out of the Auckland branch for Mainfreight, and replete with its four-axle trailer was one of the most recognisable combinations in New Zealand during the eighties.
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This eight-wheeler Mack Ultra Liner MF2000 worked out of the Auckland branch for Mainfreight, and replete with its four-axle trailer was one of the most recognisable combinations in New Zealand during the eighties.
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Mainfreight was one of those companies that embraced Pacifica, and I have a heap of shots of Mainfreight (mainly Barry Docherty and his Steelbro Sideflifter) promotional shots showing how road-and-sea combine to move freight...mind you, they were big supporters of rail too - but ask the public even to this day - and they associate the branding with trucks - Mainfreight founders Neil Graham, Howard Smith and Bruce Plested were way ahead of their time...
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This T2670 International was contracted to Mainfreight by LH Gibb and it worked out of Auckland, in an era of alloy bull-bars , and unfettered freedom from de-regulation that allowed rigs like this to go from one end of the country to other, a pleasure denied the industry just a few years earlier.
B-trains revolutionised long distance haulage as seen with this early example.
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Mack Super Liner tractor under containers
Mainfreight Mack Super Liner tractor under a tri-axle semi trailer hauling containers. New Zealand 1980s Auckland "Angel of Darkness' LW2193
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'Misty Blue' - International Paystar contracted to Mainfreight by Trevor Lowrey in the eighties, and I believe it was powered by a 6V92 Detroit Diesel.
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Mainfreight FR700 1984 HX1757