NZ TRUCK & DRIVER
| November 2026
November 2026 $12.90 incl. GST
BIG TEST China Doll | FLEET FOCUS From crates to cranesl | FEATURE: Hall of Fame 2026
China
Issue 306
Doll
FLEET FOCUS
From crates to cranes
FEATURE
Hall of Fame 2026
The Official Magazine of
ISSN 2703-6278
TRUCKS YOU CAN RELY ON Partner You Can Trust
CONTENTS Issue 306 – November 2026
2
News The latest from the world of road transport including… China unleashes a barrage of new models at IAA Transportation… Progress on the Papakura to Drury project… Bombay Truck Show update… Hyundai moves to Euro VI line-up… Takapau Auto Fair report… and Norbert Kiss wins a record eighth FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
22
75
Advantage Tyre Solutions Fleet Focus
81
Bygone Days – Northland Trucking
CrediFlex Recently Registered September was the strongest month of 2026 for new truck registrations while the gentle upward trend in trailer registrations continues.
COLUMNS: 59 National Road Carriers Association This month National Road Carriers are kicking off a year of celebrations to mark its 90th anniversary.
79
New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association CEO Jonathan Bhana-Thomson backgrounds the benefits of a new training course which will boost knowledge and skills for oversize load operations.
Rod Simmonds looks back into the 1970s and the unique challenges of operating a transport service in the Northland region.
From crates to cranes: Set to celebrate 75 years in business during November, the McIntosh family has built a Manawatu business with a dual focus on crane and hiab services alongside farm equipment manufacturing.
MANAGEMENT
85
Record breaking Kenworth Klassic The 10th anniversary Kenworth Classic at Clarendon, NSW attracted a record-breaking 1,160 trucks. David Kinch photographed the showstoppers and caught up with organiser Bruce Gunter.
Transporting New Zealand
Recognising NZ’s best-looking trucks… including a giant pull-out poster of this month’s finalist.
Hall of Fame 2026 Profiling the six new inductees to the Allied Petroleum/Mobil Delvac 1 New Zealand Road Transport Hall of Fame, who were honoured at the annual gala dinner in Invercargill.
CEO Dom Kalasih provides a detailed look at the latest updates to the Green Compact and there’s a deep dive into the global factors causing volatile diesel prices.
44
REGULARS: 80/ Double Coin Tyres NZ Transport 81 Imaging Awards
In our latest profile of Kenworth Legend Series models we look at the Gold Rush and Gold Nugget Legends at work for Waihi-based John Lockley Transport.
67
Giti Tyres Big Test China Doll: With 660hp and an impressive standard specification, the Sitrak C9 is a new challenger for premium brands. We hit the road for a day in a new C9 working for Sims Metals which is hauling scrap metal around the northern region.
39
FEATURES: 62 Southpac Legend: The Lockley Legacy
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
Publisher
Hayden Woolston 027 448 8768 hayden@trucker.co.nz
Trudy Woolston
Advertising
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
General freight and refrigerated goods make up the majority of the goods our audience move. NZ Truck & Driver has a strong following in Liverstock and forestry covering 92% of forestry operators and 80% of livestock transporting businesses.
SUBSCRIPTIONS admin@trucker.co.nz 027 474 6033
NZ subscription $110 incl. GST for one year price (11 issues) Overseas rates on application ADDRESS
EDITORIAL Editor
Colin Smith 021 510319 colin@trucker.co.nz
Associate Editor
Brian Cowan
CONTRIBUTORS
Olivia Beauchamp Gerald Shacklock Rod Simmonds David Kinch
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 Printer Bluestar Retail Distribution ARE Direct Publication: New Zealand Truck & Driver is published monthly, except January, by Allied Publications Ltd PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland
Data from NZ Truck & Driver subscription database
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.
www.facebook.com/nztruckanddriver
www.nztruckanddriver.co.nz Truck & Driver | 1
NEWS
The GAC display featured the T9 Robotruck with autonomous operation using the Pony.ai 4th Generation Autonomous Driving Technology.
Chinese brands deliver Hannover new model blitz THE PAST TWO IAA TRANSPORTATION EXPOS HELD in Hannover, Germany have shone the spotlight on electrification with the European brands leading the way. The big news theme of the 2027 show held in September was a barrage of fresh and future truck models from Chinese brands developed to challenge the European establishment. IAA Transportation 2026 featured 1,589 exhibitors from 46 countries, and set a new record for international participation. About 460 Chinese companies were represented in Hannover this year and
China had its strongest presence ever with truck brands including BIAC Foton, BYD, GAC, Farizon Geely, FAW, and SANY premiering new trucks. BYD gained the major international headlines with the debut of its batteryelectric ETT 44 (previewed in last months’ issue]. BAIC Foton celebrated a milestone in Hannover, announcing it has now delivered 13 million vehicles globally. Foton displayed its largest-ever lineup, including seven new energy vehicles and six self-developed core components. The Foton Galaxus R9 PHEV has completed field tests in Spain, and the Cavan C1 has been launched overseas.
Diesel engine CS600 and CS600 XXL on display at the FAW Trucks stand. 2 | Truck & Driver
NEWS
Left: The Foton Cavan Beacon is a long-haul heavy truck platform which will support battery electric, battery swapping and hydrogen energy sources. Above: The FAW TL.X Visionary Concept Truck previews the design direction and features of a truck for 2036. Models making their overseas public debut included the hydrogen-andelectric capable Cavan Beacon heavy truck, eGalaxus D3 (Sweeper) battery electric medium truck, and Daystar light truck, The Cavan Beacon is billed as a zero-carbon intelligent long-haul heavy truck. Its platform supports 15 variants across battery electric, battery swapping, gaseous and liquid hydrogen energy sources. Foton says megawatt fast-charging reaches 20–80% in 18 minutes and electric range exceeds 600km – while the hydrogen range exceeds 1,000km. Claimed energy consumption for the 6x4 BEV version is 115kWh per 100km. Advanced driver assistance systems in the Cavan Beacon are based on readiness for SAE Level 4 autonomous operation and the cab features AI voice assistant, dual screens, and a 1,000mm sleeper berth. Foton is eyeing Europe as a key market to achieve its 2030 targets which include new energy vehicles accounting for 50% of its sales and international sales being 40% of its business. Making its official European debut at Hannover was the Homtruck, a heavy-duty electric truck from Geely Farizon which is specified for European operating requirements. It carries a 600-kWh battery delivering over 500km range. The Homtruck premièred alongside two new light commercial EV models – the Farizon SV and V7E. FAW Trucks showcased five complete vehicles and nine core powertrain systems across four exhibition areas – Low Carbon, Zero Carbon, Ecosystem, and Future – presenting a full-spectrum powertrain strategy and intelligent technology capabilities. FAW plans to introduce its Cortron CS seventh-generation heavy-duty truck to European markets in the near future. On display in Hannover were two diesel tractors – the CS600 and CS600 XXL – and the CS925 batteryelectric tractor variant. Also making its global premiere at the show was the FAW TL.X Visionary Concept Truck which previews the design and features of a truck for 2036 with breakthroughs in modular space design, multi-powertrain compatibility, fullstack intelligence, and other areas. FAW brought more than 200 dealers, suppliers, key customers, and media representatives from around the world attended the unveiling. GAC Commercial Vehicle debuted at IAA Transportation 2026 by showcasing its new-energy heavy and light commercial vehicle products.
GAC’s heavy commercial vehicle business also focuses on autonomous operation with the T9 Robotruck combining Pony.ai’s 4th Generation Autonomous Driving Technology with GAC’s fully redundant drive-by-wire chassis. Its automotive-grade suite includes nine LiDARs, three radars and 13 cameras. Compared with the previous generation, GAC says hardware costs are 70% lower and autonomous-driving transportation cost per ton-kilometre is approximately 30% lower, improving efficiency in long-haul, dedicated-route and port transportation. Also on show was the T9 Battery Swap EV Tractor combining an electric drive axle with a 603kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, delivering up to 475km of range with combined energy consumption as low as 1.2 kWh/km. A full-vehicle battery swap using the Aulton system takes approximately three to five minutes, reducing downtime and improving vehicle utilisation. GAC says charging and battery swapping are complementary solutions for different scenarios, with swapping particularly valuable for fixed-route, highfrequency operations. SANY Heavy Truck, together with Putzmeister, a member of SANY Group, presented a production-ready portfolio of battery-electric commercial vehicles developed for European transport operations. It’s display included the SE636 battery-electric heavy-duty truck along with battery-electric cargo and concrete mixer trucks, demonstrating SANY’s capabilities across multiple commercial transport applications. Built on a 4x2 chassis, the SE636 features a 636kWh battery system, a range of up to 500km and a kerb weight of 10.9 metric tons. The vehicle has received EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval and is already operating in Germany, Türkiye and other European markets. According to SANY, it is the first mass-produced battery-electric heavy-duty truck from a Chinese manufacturer to receive EU WVTA. IAA Transportation 2026 from September 15-20 drew more than 140,000 visitors and featured over 150 world premieres and new products. International attendees accounted for a record 40% of trade visitors, up from 34% in 2024. Test drives were once again a particular highlight of IAA Transportation. This year, visitors could try out 84 vehicles from 17 exhibitors. Compared with 2024, when 60 vehicles were available, the selection grew by 40% to a new record. The next IAA TRANSPORTATION will take place in Hannover from September 19 to 24, 2028.
Left: The SANY SE636 batteryelectric heavy-duty truck. Right: The Homtruck from Geely Farizon made its European debut at Hannover.
Truck & Driver | 3
NEWS The Otuuwairoa Stream and the new bridge which has realigned southbound traffic on the Southern Motorway.
Papakura to Drury taking shape A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE ON THE STATE HIGHWAY 1 (SH1) Papakura to Drury Road of Regional Significance has been reached with southbound traffic now using a new motorway alignment and bridge. “The Southern Motorway carries about 80,000 vehicles each day and is critical to Auckland and the upper North Island’s economy,” says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The Papakura to Drury project will improve safety, resilience, and journey reliability, while supporting growth in South Auckland and strengthening connections for people and freight.” Moving southbound traffic onto the new alignment (between the BP motorway service centre, south of Papakura Interchange, and Drury Interchange) is a milestone for the team working on SH1 Papakura to Drury. The new alignment will create the space needed to continue widening the motorway and replacing ageing infrastructure in a way that keeps traffic Looking south over Slippery Creek/ Otuuwairoa Steam.
4 | Truck & Driver
moving as safely and efficiently as possible. “The new southbound alignment includes the first of five new bridges being delivered as part of the second and final stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project. Starting in October, the old bridge will be dismantled in sections using cranes operating from within the widened motorway median,” Mr Bishop says. “Once the old bridge is removed, construction can begin on a second southbound bridge that will ultimately be connected to the new structure alongside it. This bridge will then temporarily carry two lanes of traffic in each direction while the northbound bridge is dismantled and replaced with a wider structure. “These new bridges will be up to 2.5 metres higher than the bridges they replace, improving flood resilience and futureproofing for climate change and sea level rise. Bridge building activities are also continuing across the wider corridor. Piles were recently finished for a new motorway bridge over Great South Road at Drury Interchange and next month teams will prepare to lift beams for a new Bremner Road bridge over Ngaakooroa Stream. Construction of a new Bremner Road bridge over the motorway, replacing the structure demolished in mid-February, is also progressing, with abutment piling on the western side scheduled to begin in October. Once completed in 2030, these improvements will see three lanes in each direction (one additional lane in each direction) between Papakura and Drury Interchanges and six new motorway bridges, enhanced safety barriers and lighting, walking and cycling connections, as well as future proofing for additional rail connections and wide shoulders to accommodate future bus services.
#3 $)3# /2 $25- !8,% 3530%.3)/. !33%-",9 ,IGHTWEIGHT VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE VERY LOW MAINTENANCE WITH HIGH ROLL STIFFNESS
E551 COUPLING WITH MANUAL SECURITY LOCK
-IRA TRACK TEST HAVE CONlRMED THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCTS EVER PRODUCED BY !RVIN -ERITOR 2/2 4HE TRAILING ARMS FEATURE A @# CROSS SECTIONAL PROlLE WHICH PROVIDES A MORE EFlCIENT ENGINEERING STRUCTURE AND FURTHER REDUCES SUSPENSION WEIGHT 0ERMITS REALIGNMENT DURING SERVICE WHICH IN TURNS IMPROVES HANDLING AND TYRE WEAR 2OAD FRIENDLY REDUCES STYLE ROAD DAMAGE l OLD RINGFEDER #ONTROLS THE EFFECT OF WHEEL END SHIMMING VIBRATION 0REVENTS OVER EXTENSION OF AIRLOCK SPRING MANUAL SECURITY
4RAILING !RM
0IVOT %YE 4RACKING
l EASY TO SERVICE
$AMPERS
l IN CAB WARNING LIGHTS l STANDARD MOUNTING BOLT PATTERN FOR SECURITY AND JACK !XLE #ONNECTION KNIFE ALARMS AVAILABLE l SEALED HEAD 4HE ARMS ARE RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO THE AXLE IN A SPECIAL PATENT PENDING JOINT THAT PROVIDES A PROTECTIVE AXLE @GRIP THAT ACTUALLY EXTENDS THE AXLE LIFE DUE TO THE STRESS SMOOTHING DESIGN 4HE TRAILING ARMS WILL LAST THE LIFE OF THE RUNNING GEAR )NCREASED FOR AND AFT STIFFNESS )NCREASED ROLL STIFFNESS AND TRAMP COMPLIANCE 0REDICTABLE PROGRESSIVE ROLL STIFFNESS ADDING TO SAFETY 2EDUCED INDUCED STEER
MANUFACTURED IN ITALY 0IVOTl "USH l REPLACEABLE BRONZE BUSHES IN WEAR 4HE AREAS OF MECHANISM HEAD DIRECT TRAILING ARM JOINT TO THE AXLE ELIMINATES @5 BOLTS EFFECTIVELY REMOVING MAINTENANCE AND WEIGHT -AINTENANCE AND GUIDE MOUTH 2EDUCED TRAILER OFF ROAD TIME
TD34167
NZ DISTRIBUTORS FOR OVER 30 YEARS
299 7777 $ISTRIBUTED IN .: BY 4 ! 4 % 3 .: ,TD
NEWS The finishing touches are being applied to the new TDX facility in Hewletts Rd, Mt Maunganui.
TDX expands in Tauranga TDX HAS AN EXPANDED PRESENCE IN THE BAY OF Plenty, with its Tauranga operation moving to a significantly larger facility at 101 Hewletts Rd, Mt Maunganui from October 2026. The new site covers 6,250m² - up from 1,500m² at TDX’s previous location at 6 Rerewai Place. Positioned by State Highway 2, it will give TDX greater visibility, and room to support its growing customer base in the Bay of Plenty and the wider Central North Island. TDX National Aftersales Manager Craig Wymer says the move reflects the region’s growth and TDX’s commitment to strong local support. “Tauranga and the wider Central North Island have become increasingly important areas for both TDX and LDX. With the number of customers, we now support across the region, we have outgrown our current branch,” Craig says. “The Hewletts Rd facility gives our team the space and resources to continue providing the level of service our customers deserve and expect.” The new branch provides 2,000m² of workshop and service space, increasing TDX’s capacity to maintain and repair equipment for customers throughout the region.
It will also give the equipment division a stronger local presence, with more room to display and stock Volvo and Yanmar construction equipment. Increased office space on the ground floor will bring more of the branch team together in one area. A larger warehouse means more parts can be held locally to support customers across the region. The branch will carry OEM parts, Shell Lubricants, Donaldson, and Sakura filtration products, cleaners, degreasers, coolants and other maintenance supplies. The facility will also support TDX’s sister company, LDX, and its growing material handling customer base. The move to Hewletts Rd represents a significant investment in TDX’s Central North Island operations and provides additional capacity to support future growth. For customers, that means greater workshop capability, more machinery and parts held locally, and a larger team focused on keeping their businesses moving. It is estimated that the new TDX Tauranga branch will be operational at 101 Hewletts Rd from Monday 19 October 2026 at which time the current branch at 6 Rerewai Place will close.
TRUCK, BUS & TRAILER PARTS
TD35796
COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS
SCAN HERE
TO VISIT OUR WEBSTORE
6 | Truck & Driver
NEWS
Iveco comp welcomes Kiwi technicans CHRISTCHURCH ELECTRICIAN JARROD HODGETTS from NZ Trucks gained a podium finish as New Zealanders joined the Iveco Master Technician Tournament in Australia for the first time recently. Following the success of its inaugural Master Technician Tournament last year, Iveco has expanded its 2026 competition, welcoming participants from New Zealand to the event and in doing so igniting a friendly TransTasman rivalry. Over 100 technicians from across Iveco’s Australian and New Zealand dealer network participated in this year’s event, with stage one of the competition involving three rounds of challenging on-line questionnaires covering all aspects of servicing and maintaining the Iveco range, along with fault diagnosis. The field was then narrowed to the top-performing nine technicians – seven from Australia and two from New Zealand – who were invited to go head-to-head in a series of practical tasks at Iveco’s Customer Innovation Centre in Melbourne. Working against the clock, the finalists performed seven tasks on Iveco Daily, Eurocargo and S-Way models covering programming and CANBus system diagnostics using multimeter, PicoScope and Iveco diagnostic tool. Additionally, contestants engaged in a remote diagnosis role play using Iveco’s Remote Assistance Service. In selecting the winner, judges evaluated accuracy and timeliness of fault diagnosis and rectification, and their overall approach to correcting vehicle issues. Each participant’s methodology, discipline and professionalism in overcoming the challenges was also considered. Top honours in this year’s Iveco Master Technician Tournament went to Workshop Foreman, Matthew Radke, from Black Truck Sales
Christchurch electrician Jarrod Hodgetts (right) claimed third place in Iveco’s Master Technicians Tournament. He’s pictured with winner Matthew Radke (centre) and runner-up James Bambery (left). in Toowoomba, with the minor placings being awarded to Adtrans Truck Centre Senior Technician, James Bambery, and Electrician, Jarrod Hodgetts, from NZ Trucks in Christchurch. As well as bragging rights, the three place getters received cash prizes and were presented with trophies at an official awards dinner. “Response to this year’s expanded tournament was extremely positive and having New Zealand technicians join the competition certainly gave it an international flavour, while setting the scene for some friendly banter and new rivalries,” says IVECO Manager, Customer and Product Support, Jason Mobberley. “The tournament provided technicians with an opportunity to test their skills against their peers, which ultimately leads to greater knowledge sharing and professional development across our dealer network. The learnings gained from the competition are then taken back to dealerships, benefiting Iveco customers throughout Australia and New Zealand. “We look forward to further developing the Iveco Master Technician Tournament next year and encourage even more technicians to take part in the programme.”
Show time for Dunedin THE ANNUAL DUNEDIN TRUCK SHOW FOR 2027 TAKES place on Saturday January 23. With renewed naming rights sponsorship from Carter’s Tyre Service, the popular summertime event is held in conjunction with the Otago Taieri A&P Show and showcases the region’s best-looking trucks and fleets. The event format continues largely unchanged. The venue is the A&P Showgrounds in Dukes Rd, Mosgiel with gates open for trucks from 7am and public entry from 10am. Judging starts at 9am with prizegiving at 3pm. Truck entry is a $10 minimum donation with funds going to the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust. A barbeque will be run as a fundraiser for the Scouts. With this year’s show being cancelled due to heavy rain, the 2027 Dunedin show will be second time the Alex McLellan Memorial Trophy has been presented to the King Rig overall winner. The trophy was awarded for the first time at the 2025 show and was won by Phil Taylor from Halls Cold Chain with his FH Volvo. Phil Taylor from Halls Cold Chain, pictured with Kim Unahi-McLellan, was the inaugural winner of the Alex McLellan Memorial Trophy for King Rig at the 2025 Dunedin show. Truck & Driver | 7
NEWS
The eTGX is the long-haul electric model in the MAN lineup.
MAN boosts eTGX efficiency A MAJOR REDESIGN OF THE FLAGSHIP BATTERY electric model in the MAN range made its debut at the IAA Transportation 2026 expo in Hannover, Germany last month. The eTGX is the German marque’s solution for all-electric heavy-duty long-haul transport. The new model features a redesign with the front of the vehicle pulled forward by 120mm, making efficient use of the latest EU length specifications for zero-emission vehicles to optimise aerodynamics and safety. Combined with a new generation of batteries with improved cell chemistry that offer 10% more usable energy than the previous generation, as well as up to 20% more powerful recuperation, the new MAN eTGX is up to 3% more efficient than the previous model. For a typical 4x2 semi-trailer tractor with six batteries and a total capacity of 552kWh, this increases the range to up to 660km. The 6x2 semi-trailer tractor, which will also be available in the future, can reach up to 720km with seven batteries and a total capacity of 644kWh – without intermediate charging. The modularity, size and weight of the battery modules remain unchanged while an increase in drive power will deliver up to 440kW (598hp) in the future. The compact size and low weight of the batteries remain unchanged: the 4x2 semitrailer tractor with an unladen weight of 10.7t offers a payload of up to 25t with a standard semitrailer – comparable to that of a diesel semi-trailer. The increase in usable capacity to 95% results in a gross capacity of 92kWh per battery pack, with 88kWh available for vehicle operation.
With an optional MCS charging port – which has been in series production by MAN since July – and a maximum charging power of 750kW, the batteries can be refilled in around 30 minutes and can therefore take place during the driver’s driving break. The design of the new eTGX has an optimised front end which has been extended by 120mm. This also provides greater safety; with a lowered windscreen frame and a new low-visibility window in the passenger door, the driver has a better direct view of other road users in front of and next to the vehicle. This means that he is already meeting upcoming legal requirements. The front end features a single-frame grille, continuous fog light strip and optimised wind deflectors, reduces air resistance and thus contributes to the longer range. At the same time, the extension of the front in conjunction with a lowering of the dashboard and a lowered windscreen wiper system improves the driver’s direct view of other road users directly in front of the vehicle. Additional safety is provided by the new low-visibility window in the passenger door, which provides a better view of the immediate field to the right of the vehicle when turning. It has an interior and exterior window to improve the interior acoustics, ventilation against fogging, can be opened for cleaning and also protects the driver’s privacy thanks to its tint. The new eTGX expands the MAN electric commercial vehicle portfolio which already includes the eTGL, eTGM, eTGS and eTGX series – covering applications with a gross vehicle weight of 12 to 50 tonnes. All vehicles are based on a modular technology approach with uniform highvoltage components and battery systems. Truck & Driver | 9