Paul Balneaves drove his first truck at the age of 12, saying that was when ‘the diesel must have started flowing through the blood‘.

In 1980 he began working in the family business, which under his leadership has gone from a 33-truck fleet in 1980 to a 125-truck fleet in 2015.

Over the years a number of purchases were made, including Crosbie Bros and Mason & Raynor, ME Melhop (renamed the Commercial Vehicle Centre Ltd), and Western Haulage. In 1996 when one of their biggest log cartage customers left, Log Marketing NZ was established. In 2013 White, Bates and Shearing Transport were purchased, and in 2015 HWH Trucks.

Paul has contributed to the Road Transport Association in several roles, as president of Region 5, Southland branch president, and Road Transport Association conference chairman.

HALL OF FAME 2016

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