NZ TRUCK & DRIVER
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| March 2026
March 2026
ISSN 2703-6278
Issue 298
PLUS
FLEET FOCUS Passing the parcels FEATURE Bygone Days – Foleys Transport
BIG TEST The heartbeat of horsepower | FLEET FOCUS Passing the parcels | FEATURE: Bygone Days – Foleys Transport
The Official Magazine of
24 | Truck & Driver
BIG TEST
ith Story Colin Sm hacklock Photos Gerald S
Truck & Driver | 25
g n i s s Pa the parcels Gerald Shacklock Story Colin Smith Photos
LEGENDS
Legendary trucks for legendary people
Logging Legend – Bevan Satherley
66 | Truck & Driver
F
EW NAMES IN NEW ZEALAND’S LOGGING INDUSTRY CARRY the same weight as Bevan Satherley. As the owner of one of Hawke’s Bay’s most recognisable log transport operations, Satherley Logging, Bevan has built a reputation founded on hard work, high standards, and an unapologetic love for quality machinery. At the centre of that reputation sits one of the most distinctive working trucks in the country — the Kenworth T900 Legend. Bevan’s affinity for trucks began long before he was running his own fleet. Growing up around his father’s earthmoving business, it wasn’t the diggers that caught his eye — it was the trucks that kept everything moving. “My father ran an earthmoving business, but it was always the trucks that caught my attention more than the machinery itself.” he says. After working alongside his father and later spending time in the Australian mining sector, Bevan returned home with no grand plan to enter logging transport. That changed with what he now describes as a “simple decision that snowballed.” “We purchased a T650 with the intention of converting it into a transporter. Then an opportunity came up to cart logs, and I found myself learning the industry very quickly. From there, things progressed naturally.” That moment marked the beginning of what would become Satherley Logging, officially established in 2006 when Bevan received his Transport Service Licence. “2006 was when it all kicked off, I was driving the T650 back then and now we are having our 20th birthday.” Two decades on, Satherley Logging has grown into a significant regional operator, servicing Hawke’s Bay with a fleet recognised for its presentation, reliability, and capability. While log cartage remains the company’s core focus, the operation also includes tipper
work and specialised equipment. At its heart, Bevan says, the business is about people. “Our performance is driven by the quality of our people, the strength of our relationships, and the standard of the equipment we operate.” A strong focus on safety and wellbeing is at the heart of our business; “Safety is non-negotiable. We want every member of our team to return home safely to their families at the end of each day.” Today, the fleet numbers around 30 trucks, predominantly Kenworths, alongside some Scanias, Macks, and Isuzus. With new Kenworths already earmarked for build, Bevan makes no secret of his preference. “Kenworth trucks absolutely have their place in this industry.” The Kenworth T900 Among the fleet, however, one truck stands in a class of its own. The Kenworth T900 Legend is a limited-production heritage model paying homage to Kenworth’s iconic long nose truck — just 250 ever built worldwide. When Bevan missed out on the earlier T950 Legend, he was determined not to make the same mistake twice. “I had missed the opportunity with the T950, so when the T900 Legend became available, I was determined not to let that happen again.” What surprised him most was how few forestry operators committed to one. “I honestly thought there’d be two or three on logs. There’s serious heritage with the T900 in forestry — Mike Lambert ran plenty of them back in the day.” That rarity only strengthened the appeal. Bevan believes his truck is the only T900 Legend working in logging across New Zealand and Australia. When Kenworth offered the opportunity, the decision came with a tight deadline.
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