NZ Truck & Driver August 2026

NZ TRUCK & DRIVER

| August 2026

August 2026 $10.90 incl. GST

BIG TEST Boxing Clever | FLEET FOCUS Rhodes toward the future | FEATURE: 2026 National Road Freight Conference

S FLEET FOCU rd the future Rhodes towa FEATURE l Road 2026 Nationa nce re Freight Confe

Issue 303

Boxing Clever

The Official Magazine of

ISSN 2703-6278

Boxing Clever Story Colin Smith Photos Gerald Shacklock

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BIG TEST

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Rhodes toward the

Story Colin Smith Photos Gerald Shacklock

future

Troy, Warwick and Tyson Rhodes with the latest addition to the Rhodes For Roads fleet, a Freightliner Cascadia 6x4 bulk tipper unit and 5-axle trailer.

Three Brothers – Two Legends

W

ITH 60 YEARS UNDER THEIR BELT, FAMILY OWNED AND operated Uhlenberg Haulage is a rare breed of business that balances the relentless demands of the transport industry with a deep, abiding respect for heritage.

At the heart of this story are not just the 46 working trucks that keep the company moving, but two specific, gleaming examples of automotive history, a pair of Kenworth SAR Legends that serve as the crown jewels of the fleet.

For Tony Uhlenberg, who co-manages the place alongside his two brothers (Chris & Daryl), the decision to acquire not one, but two of these iconic machines was driven by a mix of nostalgia,

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opportunity, and a commitment to the old school trucking ethos that defines their operation.

To understand the significance of the Legend series to the Uhlenberg fleet, you must first look back at the company’s origins.

Based in North Taranaki and founded in 1966 by Mike and Carol Uhlenberg, the business has been a constant presence in the industry for six decades, a milestone that Tony and his family are currently celebrating.

When Tony, along with his partners Chris and Daryl, took the reins from his father, the fleet consisted of 17 trucks. Today, that number has grown to 46, supported by a team of 54 staff members.

LEGENDS

Legendary trucks for legendary people

The company’s history with Kenworth is nearly as long as the business itself. Tony recalls his father’s early days, noting that the connection dates back to the late 1960s.

“Dad bought an old K921, which was brought in from the UK,” he explains.

“It was used to distribute new trailers throughout England, and then it got brought here. It was [initially] a single drive, and got tandem drives, and was used for carting gas and logs.”

However, the commitment to the brand was cemented in 1974 when his father purchased his first brand-new Kenworth, a W-model 924. The price tag of $44,000 was a staggering investment at the time, especially considering the average house price in New Zealand was only $8,400. “He could have lived in it,” Tony laughs.

This deep-rooted history explains why, when the opportunity

arose to secure the limited-edition Legend series, the Uhlenbergs didn’t hesitate.

The Kenworth Legend series is more than just a truck; it is a tribute to the classic SAR models of the 1980s. For many, these trucks are collector’s items, destined for a life of polishing and parade laps. For Uhlenberg Haulage, however, they were destined for the open road.

The acquisition of the first Legend, number 642, was a deliberate move to honour the company’s past.

“We had one in the 1980s,” Tony says. “The first one that we got really was just to relive that classic feel but with a modern twist.”

But as any enthusiast knows, one is rarely enough, but the arrival of the second truck, number 365, was a stroke of serendipity.

“The first one was going to be the only one,” Tony explains. “And

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Masterton-based Kieran Oliver Contracting has just added a new Kenworth T909 for heavy haul work rated to 107t GCM. The mid-roof 36-inch sleeper has a Euro 6 Cummins X15 producing 625hp and 2050 lb-ft of torque with an RTLO22918B manual transmission. The MT21-165 rear end has a 4.56:1 ratio and Airglide 460 suspension. Interior features include charcoal trim, full chrome gauge bezel and switch kit, and a PearlCraft white steering wheel and gear knob. The exterior is highlighted with Dura-bright alloys, Kentweld polished bumper, 8-inch straight custom exhausts and full stainless raised intakes, Halo headlights and custom lighting, drop visor, tank wraps, front guard flares, custom stainless lighting panels, custom toolboxes with KW backlighting, full chassis covers, custom battery boxes painted and detailed with clear coating, and a custom rear bumper.

A Bigfoot CTI tyre inflation system is fitted along with a 90mm Kompensating fifth wheel with SI Lodec scales, and full auto greasing system.

Chassis rigging, stainless chassis work, tank wraps, and tool boxes by MJ Custom Engineering (Palmerston North). Sold by Mark O’Hara.

Wellington-based G&P Haulage have the distinctive blue Iveco S-Way 570 formerly from the Iveco NZ demonstrator fleet. The 6x4 tractor with High Roof Sleeper runs the Euro 6 Cursor 13 engine with 570hp and 2500Nm of torque. The drivetrain includes the ZF 12 speed AMT gearbox, MT23-150/D rear axle, air suspension with ECAS and axle load indicators and safety features includes ABS/EBS, adaptive cruise control, LDWS, and ESP. Extras include Super Single front tyres, a roof light bar, stone guard, chassis side skirts. A Jost sliding 5th wheel is fitted. Paint and signage by Royans, and a custom leather interior package by RVE. Sold by Elliot Barnard.

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T8 Group in Whangarei has a new UD Quon CW26460 with a bath tub tipper built by Ten4 Transport Engineering. The 460hp GH11 engine drives to an ESCOT-VI AMT and Meritor rear axles riding on 6-rod suspension. Disc brakes and the full UD Trucks safety suite are fitted. The Quon has Super Single rims and tyres, seat covers, stone guard, sun visor, monsoon shield, and Live Drive PTO. The new Quon works in T8s transport and tree work operations. Sold by Wade Lorimer.

This striking new 6x4 Sleeper Cab DAF CF has recently joined Blenheim-based civil roading and asphalt paving company, T. C. Nicholls Ltd. Painted in their distinctive yellow and black colours, it is a hard machine to miss. It has gone on the road with a brand-new Adams & Currie steel bin and tows a matching 4-axle trailer. Built tough for the demands of the job, this truck is at work cruising the flat areas of Blenheim while also packing the punch to make light work of the rugged, steep and harsh terrain of the Marlborough Sounds. Sold by Richard Reid.

A new Kenworth K220 is carting timber and wood chip for Hastings-based Tumu Transport. The 2.3m Aerodyne Cab 8x4 has a Euro 6 Cummins X15 with 625hp and 2050 lb-ft of torque driving to an Eaton RTLO20918B 18-speed manual transmission. The front end is a twin steer Meritor MFS66-122 (non-load share) rated at 12.0t with leaf spring suspension. The rear features Meritor MT21-165GP with dual axle lock and 4.10:1 ratio, Airglide 460 8-bag air suspension with 10-inch ride height. Meritor drum brakes have ABS/EBS, DTC, and ATC. The air suspension cab has Red Garnet trim, ISRI air seats, gold gauges, Smart wheel, digital dash cluster, wood dash panels, air conditioning, wireless phone charging pad, sliding draw fridge in bunk, and rear wall storage locker in sleeper. The exterior has Dura-bright alloy wheels, painted drop visor, alloy polished bumper, custom grill mesh and grill bars, aero mirrors, and dovetail roof spoiler. The Domett Trailers curtainsider body is teamed with a 5-axle curtain trailer which has polished alloy wheels, disc brakes, EBS, and air suspension. Sold by Mark O’Hara.

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