New Zealand uniquely has a wider variety of truck brands at work, than any other nation. Too small to support its own truck manufacturing industry, the country imported its trucks from America, Europe, Britain and Asia to create the most diverse array of trucks in the world. Due to a small population, a rugged landscape, a poor rail and coastal shipping network, together with a massive dependence on the rural community for much of its export wealth, New Zealand relies heavily on its trucking fleet - more so than almost any other country in the world. Truck Archive captures many of the unique aspects of the New Zealand transport scene, filmed over many decades. Much more can be found here - www.truckarchive.com
My grandfather was 3rd Div. Interesting to see some footage of the Solomons.. I now drive trucks in Australia and wouldnt go back to NZ. Its a beautiful country but living and driving here has more opportunities, for me at least..
Just dropped on this channel. As an ex trucker in the uk and Europe was intrigued. WHAT A BRILLIANT VIDEO. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Thank you so much for putting this video together. NZ government need to archive this for future educations. A lot of history is sadly lost, because As usual, the wrong stuff, thought to be interesting and churned out and mostly gets by-passed. Now this IS what is interesting and relevant, not for filling tv time . More Videos like these are needed to show the facts with entrainment, to give folks a REAL look into history of things critical to a country's international success. Thank you MARK uk
Thanks for your comments Mark, I felt that the battles the NZ road transport industry encountered, the short-sightedness of successive governments, and just how difficult and expensive it was to create the roading network - and the overwhelming under-appreciation the general public has towards trucks and our industry and the lack of knowledge of how critical road transport is to the common good - needed telling. Glad you enjoyed it - there are two more episodes on the way on successive Saturdays (NZ time) Sunday your time!
Not a lot has truly improved in NZ over the years - patching up at the last minute, at the least possible cost, and with no investment in future expansion. Shameful.
@@stewatparkpark2933 'Cause we spend it all on half-baked political decisions. Like canning the ferries, now the government still needs new ferries but they won't be locked in at the 2021 price the two big ships were gonna be, so they'll end up costing more while getting us less.
Don't feel bad, as an ex Kiwi now driving in Oz I can tell you the state of the roads over here is disgraceful in many places.. and Australia does have the size and resources to do something. They put up signs saying rough surface, lower the speed limits, but don't fix anything (properly)
What about Motor Truck Distributors in Palmerston North? They assembled Macks from the ground up. Ok, not quite manufacturing, but they did it for years.
Hi Andy, yes, New Zealand would have a far poorer road transport industry without the efforts of Ron Carpenter and Motor Truck Distributors, and the Mack product is well represented over the three programs. But...., as you pointed out - they assembled their fine range of products - not manufactured. The Mack story in this country is one well worth telling.... Tow more episodes to come over successive Saturdays that will expand on this subject. Thanks for your comments - much appreciated.
This trucking programme comes care of and sponsored by the trucking friends of the National Party with the spare cash from their slush fund to kill the Cook Strait ferries. Battle to cancel was easier with National's support than they could have believed in their wildest dreams.
Brilliant!!...I quit NZ for Oz in 78. I could see little to no future at home while NZR had the industry by the short & curlys. We needed permits for everything, even when rail could not deliver. At that point, late 70's, if I remember correctly, the nett cost to the nation of 3 million people was about a $1 million per day just to keep the rail network running. Not sustainable. Deregulation was a blessing but too late for some of us. Now retired & thinking of coming home I am considered an alien & would lose most of what I have due to changes in citizenship law. At 72 & with road train experience & licence, I could contribute but it ain't going to happen.
I left in 1978 for Aussie and carried on driving here Aussie. I still have mates and relations driving in NZ, and amazed at how quick NZ adopted new ideas to move freight. Much quicker than the Aussie red tape brigade. Retired now with the MC license intact aged 70. Still enjoy going hom and catching with my trucking mates. Top documentary.
I came out of school in 77 and thats what all I wanted to do too, but my Old Man put up the exact same reasons you did and why I would be forever working for somebody else. Successful owner-operator drivers were far and few between, instead, I went into carpentry / building. I still dream wistfully when you see the beautiful rigs on the roads nowadays compared to the mostly British D Series Fords, Commers, Bedford's, Leyland's and everything else in between. Real trucks only started to appear via Dalhoff and King with the Kenworth's etc., and Forest Products brought in the Pacific's which were mainly off road for in the bush. PS. Remember pre-deregulation - the small engine part (or similar) behind the driver's seat which was the documented "back load"?? LOL. Great Video and an Archive to the young bucks to show how it was done.
@@nzsaltflatsracer8054 I should clarify that. I might as well be an alien. I would literally have no rights, even though I was born there. Unless I am reading it wrong, I would be treated as an immigrant. The other issue is the cost which means my existing asset base would need to be liquidated before moving back to NZ. Importing my own equipment into NZ is now prohibitive. That is something I am not prepared to do. Anybody else like to chime in?......There may be some avenue I am unaware of.
Brought 2 new Mack CH trucks to work that forest ran them 24/7 for 6 years. Only shutdown for servicing. Managed to still have the same engine blocks, gearboxes and diffs on both. Couple inframes done but never had an engine blow up. I ran them on delo 400 and serviced them every 250 hours not kms. Hour meters were almost 50,000 hours when we retired them from the bush.
Murphy Bert’s Argosy storms down the road, its sleek frame cutting through the wind like a bullet. The roar of the engine echoes with raw power, each gear shift a surge of control. It’s a captivating blend of force and finesse, as the Argosy dominates the asphalt with unstoppable momentum.
Great Video for the archives, and so good to hear the names of trucks, places and men again, in particular the late Peter MacDonald, a true Kiwi and a gentleman. I am pretty sure his funeral is still the biggest Whangarei has had. Dalhoff and King only had their ads for Kenworth on TV during the Movin On series back in the late--mid 70's, and as a small boy on those long trips [back in the early 60's] from Russell to Hawkes Bay to visit grandparents, the highlights were always waving to the logging truck driver, not least the creaky old Mohaka bridge, and the car overheating on those dusty Taupo Hills... happy care-free days. PS: Peter Mac told me when I was buying a Tug with a 6/71, - "most efficient way of turning diesel into noise!" haha, great motors..
How those men worked,where they worked and what they had to work with is an inspiration to those of us who know how to appreciate them . The tales are probably dar greater than told here . The New Guys piloting the massive new gear ,do you think they have the same DNA ? Forestry certainly carved a memory in NZ history and it may not have the recognition that it so deserves as a crucial part of the Kiwi way . Certainly pleasing to hear of the efforts to save Kiwi and the many Birds . Thank you for the efforts of all in making this doco
I worked in the bush in NZ KLC MURAPARA, we had Pacifics, think bout 400 hp, spicers 2 sticks hauling triples to the railhead at Murapara d7 pushing off the skids, or HD 11 Aliis Argg, the 6 o clock closing diffs spicer
The sound of those Jimmy's music to the ears, great doco guys. Remember the orange and green Pan Pac on the Napier-Taupo Hiway late 70s and the Mt Cook Landline buses with the Detroits as well, great era 👍 👌
Well sadly today Jonsey has passed on . They got rid of his beloved Freightliner and The TNL Rai Valley branch has been closed . Thanks for the memories
Sorry to hear that Joe. I meet Jonsey a few times, including time in the cab when his Freightliner was new, and he was a top bloke in ever sense of the word, and the epitome of a professional driver who drove some of the most exacting roads and trails to be found anywhere in this country - and made it look easy.
I sent your video to a friend who knows his daughter , I’m sure she will love this video. Thank you for helping preserve memories. Jonsey really was a great guy . Yes I have come to learn not every person is capable of driving roads like this , unfortunately I’ve seen a couple go over the side . Cheers guys .
10 axles can't haul 170 tons that double what it could handle. Here in Michigan USA were are allowed 160,000 to 164,000 on 11 axles. Yes 13,000 per axle might be a bit light or 18,000 pounds with a 9' "3-meter" spread axle
These forests in New Zealand tended to have private roads, owned by the Forestry organization. While the video is dated as from 2002 and much has changed since that time. The timber is Monterey Pine (Radiata Pine) a USA species of pine tree. That will grow from seedling to harvest within 30 years in New Zealand. Yet the their native USA, would take 50 to 70 years to mature.
@@ChristopherWHerbert I was not referring to what was Legal to Haul .. You claimed a weight double what the axles and tries could actually handle .. Just not possible to haul such loads on tires that small. My Oshkosh M-911 Tank hauler has tandem axles rated for 65,000# but the tires are twice as large. It has 14:00 R 24 dual wheels The tires are 54" tall on 14" rims each
Fletcher purchased 100 K.W's for $1million, they were carting from Kaingaroa to T.P.P. Kawerau .. An Whirinaki .. If my memory serves me right they were orange an green.. The Trucks they had doing the TPP. run had 2engines an carried 100ton plus, loads ... Get this .. They could do 100mph.
