Alexandra Transport/Fulton Hogan Central/ ATL/ MOVe Logistics
Whatever the name this company will for all time be associated with Mack which left an indelible stamp on the region in the eighties and nineties.
This page will be greatly expanded and this is just a taste of what is in the archive.
Help us by adding good, relevant pictures and descriptions if you have them on the form at the bottom of the page. Go here to see a little of whats coming…
CVC – Nissan Diesel UD – UD Trucks
CVC has an amazing history, and continued a legacy from its predecessor – Melhops – to establish Nissan Diesel UD as one of the most dependable and durable truck brands in the country.
The first Nissans arrived in the late-sixties and are still being sold (now as UD Trucks) – by CVC who just marked 40 years of operations.
Click here to view a documentary marking this occasion
Nissan’s entry into the New Zealand truck market was with the 6TW12 Jumbo, which was a revelation in the 1960’s as it boasted a tandem drive, 236hp from a two-stroke Uniflow diesel engine, a solid six-road suspension package and unheard durability for the era.
Nissan Diesel’s COE models started with the six-wheeler Rhino, the eight-wheeler Vulcan and the four-wheeler Tasker – arriving in New Zealand in the late 1960s and originally powered by Nissan’s stupendous for the time – Uniflow two-stroke diesel engine range.
The fuel-crisis of the early ’70s eventually killed off the two-strokes, but by then Nissan had developed their four-stroke range, and in particular the 300hp V8 that powered their heavy-hitters proved to be a huge success and one of the reasons the brand is so well respected in the industry, as it set a template of durability that defined the brand right up to the present day.
Once the two-stroke engines had seen their day, and Nissan’s four-strokes appeared on the scene and the TW50 V8s arrived, this truck more than any other established the brand in New Zealand, and in particular Southland and Otago.
Firstly with Melhops, who were instrumental in establishing Nissan Diesel into the country, and then with CVC, the brand became legendary in the South.
Like-wise – if you have any great pix of this model – upload it along with as much info as you have in the link at the bottom of the page.
Click here to view the CVC – Nissan Diesel – COE gallery
Click here to view the CVC – Nissan Diesel – TW50 and T series gallery
Click here to view the CVC – UD Trucks – CVC sales Quon era gallery
Mossburn Transport/NSTH
Northern Southland Transport can trace its roots back to Mossburn Transport which was started by Cliff and Marge Bennetts in the 1950s.
Various local transport operations were bought by the Bennetts which constantly expanded the company. Many of these images are from the Bennett family’s albums, with others from a variety of sources.
Amongst many of its activities, Mossburn Transport was notable for being an early adopter of Mercedes trucks, and they were active in the Manapouri/West Arm era supplying many of the transport needs of that huge project.
During a great expansion period over the sixties, seventies and eighties, many companies in the region were bought or amalgamated and Mossburn Transport evolved into North Southland Transport Holdings, complete with a board which featured many notable figures of the period.
Sir John Davies, KNZM QSO, who once worked as a Central Otago high country musterer before starting a career in road transport, eventually obtained control of Northern Southland Transport Holdings, which is now one of several transport related companies under his ownership, working under his Trojan Holdings Ltd umbrella, which also has extensive tourism interests.
Sir John was one of the great driving forces that propelled the Southern Lakes tourism industry, and his time as Queenstown mayor, his interests in road transport and tourism which included ownership or major shareholder interest in a wide range of jewel-in-the-crown tourism interests that include Mount Cook’s Hermitage Hotel, Bungy New Zealand, Tourism Milford, guided walks on the Routeburn and Milford tracks and many other interests, all meshed to create a truly unique business empire usually serviced by the cream and brown NSTH rigs that are ubiquitous in the Southern Lakes region.
NSTH has a remarkable history and we welcome any contribution to enlarging and refining this page.
Click here to view pix of NSTH – the early days
Click here to view a gallery of a livestock haul out of Mt Nic in the eighties
Carson Transport – Balfour, Southland
One of the most brand-diverse, but sharply presented fleets in Southland was Carson Transport of Balfour, located in some of the most productive land on the planet.
Don Carson sourced his trucks from all points of the compass and had North American, Japanese and European and British brands within his fleet in the mid-eighties when road transport was unleashed when the industry deregulated and operators such as Don could hit their straps and weren’t tied to just feeding rail…
Click here to view the Carson Transport gallery
Clyde Cartage
One of the myriad companies that grew rose to the task of helping build the Clyde Dam, with this company specialising in moving bulk cement by road, putting trucks under the concrete skips that were lofted by crane to build up the dam, rock work and fruit cartage in the bottom half of the South Island during the fruit season.
Ross Transport
This Gore based company was at the forefront of innovation and its range of brands and equipment has always been a stand-out in the Southland region.
Under Graeme Bolgers stewardship it lead the way through de-regulation with some innovative gear.
We welcome photos and comments to build up this history
Mainfreight – early days pre 2000
Mainfreight, possibly more than any other company, showcased how the road transport industry post-deregulation could become more efficient and productive with a high-profile fleet of some of the most impressive trucks on the road in the 1980s.
Click here to view shots of Mainfreight in the 1980s and ’90s
TNL (Transport Nelson Ltd) who’s blue and white colours can be seen in the MOVE livery.
One of the great names in NZ road transport history – one with a long and distinguished history that saw a bunch of local carriers in the Tasman region combine to form Transport Nelson Ltd.
A history of this company is in the pipelines but here are some of the pictures we’ve accumulated to help tell the story.