NZ TRUCK & DRIVER
| June 2026
June 2026 $10.90 incl. GST
BIG TEST Quiet revolution | FLEET FOCUS Understated Cool | FEATURE: Something Old, Something Blue
FLEET FOCUS Understated Cool
FEATURE Something Old, Something Blue
Issue 301
t e i u Q olution rev
The Official Magazine of
ISSN 2703-6278
The Isuzu F Series.
More safety. More technology. Available now.
With a redesigned modern cab, Euro VI DB6A engine on select models*, advanced safety features and a more comfortable drive, the Isuzu F Series Medium and Heavy models are in stock and available for delivery today. To find out more, visit your nearest Isuzu Trucks Dealer or visit isuzu.co.nz
*Excluding FRR, FRD, FSR & FSD 4 cyl models, FX & FY models
CONTENTS Issue 301 – June 2026
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News The latest from the world of road transport including… SH1 rebuild programme completed… Big spend on South Island rail… Volvo and DAF introduce new BEV models… EROAD Fleet Day speakers announced… and a preview of the 2026 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
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MANAGEMENT
Advertising
Bygone Days – Manawatu This month’s trucking industry history from Rod Simmonds looks at the Manawatu and Rangitikei and features the companies and trucks which serviced the region from the 1980s.
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Return of the Condor The UD Trucks Condor nameplate has returned to the New Zealand market with a range of mediumduty models suited to a wide range of different applications.
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Recognising NZ’s best-looking trucks… including a giant pull-out poster of this month’s finalist.
CrediFlex Recently Registered The April registration data for new trucks and trailers saw the market continuing to hold steady compared to 2025. We look at the latest trends and segment leaders, plus the monthly gallery of new rigs on the road.
COLUMNS 61 National Road Carriers Association James Smith, General Manager Policy and Advocacy explains the penalties for non-payment of Road User Chargers and James Perrin, Chief Operating Officer, looks at the importance of fuel supply resilience.
Alex Little drives to five The 2025-26 NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Truck Championship finale was staged at Manfeild over ANZAC weekend with Alex Little clinching his fifth consecutive national title.
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Trevor Woolston 027 492 5600 trevor@trucker.co.nz
Trudy Woolston
Victor Georgiades 021 925 600 victor@trucker.co.nz
Trudy Woolston Phone
Hayden Woolston 027 448 8768 hayden@trucker.co.nz
admin@trucker.co.nz
SUBSCRIPTIONS admin@trucker.co.nz 027 474 6033
NZ subscription $110 incl. GST for one year (11 issues) price Overseas rates on application ADDRESS
EDITORIAL Editor
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REGULARS: 80/ Double Coin Tyres NZ Transport 81 Imaging Awards
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Southpac Legend A Bloody Legendary Ornament: The story of Corey Burnett’s Kenworth SAR Legend the special place it holds for Burnett’s Transport and Engineering.
Advantage Tyre Solutions Fleet Focus Understated Cool: When the Edgar family from MidCanterbury purchased a small transport company 27 years ago, it was supposed to be a stop-gap business venture while a new vineyard matured. Today the iDL (Independent Distributors Ltd) fleet has grown to 40 units and operates throughout the South Island and as far north as Levin.
Publisher
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Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih reports from Transporting New Zealand’s participation in Road Safety Week and Mark Stockdale takes a look at key lessons which New Zealand can learn from fuel supply issues.
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A 30-year-old Freightliner TLD 120 has been restored and returned to the road as a tribute to the history of the Alexander Group and the people who have worked there.
Giti Tyres Big Test Quiet Revolution: Now at work in the Rotorua Forest Haulage fleet is a world-first battery electric Scania B-Train logger. We take a look at the unique truck at work, the charging infrastructure which supports it, and the lessons being learned which will help shape the future of log transport.
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FEATURES: 65 Something old, something blue
Colin Smith 021 510319 colin@trucker.co.nz
Associate Editor
Brian Cowan
CONTRIBUTORS
Olivia Beauchamp Gerald Shacklock Rod Simmonds David Kinch Joseph Johnson Jarod Carruthers
ART DEPARTMENT Design & Production Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic EQUIPMENT GUIDE AUCKLAND, NORTHLAND, BOP, WAIKATO, CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND Advertising Hayden Woolston 027 448 8768 hayden@trucker.co.nz
AUCKLAND, LOWER NORTH ISLAND, SOUTH ISLAND Advertising Hayden Woolston 027 448 8768 hayden@trucker.co.nz
Phone Freephone Postal Address Street Address Web
+64 9 571 3544 0508 TRUCKER (878 2537) PO Box 112 062, Penrose, AUCKLAND 172B Marua Road, Ellerslie, AUCKLAND www.alliedpublications.co.nz
PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION Bluestar Printer Retail Distribution ARE Direct Publication: New Zealand Truck & Driver is published monthly, except January, by Allied Publications Ltd PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland Contributions: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for lost or damaged materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc). To mail, ensure return (if required), material must be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. It’s suggested that the editor is contacted by fax or email before submitting material. Copyright: Articles in New Zealand Truck & Driver are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.
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t e i u Q n o i t u l revo cklock tos Gerald Sha
ith Pho Story Colin Sm
22 | Truck & Driver
BIG TEST
The Scania BEV B-Train loaded on departure from the Kaingaroa Processing Plant.
Truck & Driver | 23
Johnson Story Brian Cowan Photos Joseph
Understated
Cool
BENEFACTORS
23 JANUARY 2027 Bombay Rugby Club Free Kids Entertainment • 400+ Truck Show & Shine • Helicopter Rides • Live Bands + Bar • Food Trucks • Gold Coin Entry • Race Truck Display • 100% of profit to charities
TD35642
rd
The RFH Group has a new Scania R 620 B8x4NA curtain sider for timber cartage around the North Island. The DC16 16-litre develops 620hp and the Opticruise GRSO905R transmission has a 4100D retarder. The R 620 has an RB662 hypoid rear end, leaf suspension front axles and air suspension rear axles, ABS/EBS disc brakes, plus ACC, AEB and LDW safety features. Extras include a drop visor, scales, fridge, coffee machine, and microwave. The unit has a new Roadmaster curtain sider body and new Roadmaster 5-axle trailer. Paint by Vaughan Road Panel & Paint and sign written by Caulfield Signs. Sold by Callan Short.
Truck market remains steady THE NEW ZEALAND NEW TRUCK MARKET CONTINUES to show signs of steadying, with April registrations very close to last year’s 2025 levels. NZ Transport Agency data shows 252 new trucks (with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or more) were registered for the month, taking the total sales for the first four months of the year to 1157 units. The total for the January-April period last year was 1187 registrations. It’s a similar story in the trailer market with 76 new registrations in April. The YTD total at the end of April stands at 304, only slightly behind 2025 YTD total registrations of 321 during the first four months of 2025. In the overall 4.5t to maximum GVM new truck market, Isuzu is the April leader with 50 registrations – taking its 2026 total to 206, again very close to 208 registrations at the same time last year. Hino remains in second place with 38 registrations for the month of April and 166 YTD. Hino’s performance also remains close to its YTD total last year of 169. Meanwhile third-placed Fuso achieved 27 registrations for April and 135 YTD, slightly down on last year’s 165 in the same period. Scania (YTD 129/April 31) remains in fourth position ahead of Mercedes-Benz (79/6) in fifth followed by Volvo (75/27), Iveco (74/8), Kenworth (52/7), UD (51/11) and DAF (39/7) to round out the top 10 brands in the Kiwi truck market. There were no surprises in the crossover 3.5-4.5t GVM segment, with Fiat (106/23) leading with over double the registrations of
Mercedes-Benz (52/10) in second place ahead of LDV (32/4). In the 4.5-7.5t GVM class, Isuzu (69/17) continues to build a significant lead ahead of second-placed Hino (51/10) and Iveco (49/4), Mercedes-Benz (46/1) and Fuso (41/12). The 7.5-15t GVM category sees Isuzu (76/17) leading ahead of Hino (50/14), and Fuso (45/5). Hino (18/0) retains the number one ranking in the 15-20.5t GVM division ahead of second-placed Isuzu (10/4) while UD (8/1) holds third. In the tiny 20.5-23t segment (6 units total YTD), Isuzu (2/0) and Hino (2/1) lead the segment with Hino and Shacman the other manufacturers to register a unit Registrations in the premium 23t-to-maximum GVM segment see a continuation of Scania’s leadership with 31 registrations in April, boosting its YTD total to 124 units. Volvo (74/27) retains second place ahead of Kenworth (52/7). Isuzu continues in fourth (49/12), while Hino (45/13) moved ahead of UD (42/10) and DAF (39/7). Fuso (38/7), Mercedes-Benz (32/5) and Iveco (19/3) all retain their positions to round out the top 10 positions. In the trailer market Patchell (45/12) continues to lead the market ahead of Fruehauf (39/9) and Roadmaster (26/7) in third position. Domett (22/7) retains fourth while TES (19/7) moves ahead of Fairfax (16/2) and Transport Trailers (13/1) and TMC (13/2). MTE (12/2) along with CWS (7/2) and Transfleet (7/1) round out the top10 YTD April. Truck & Driver | 85