Regardless of the fact the silver fern never made it onto the flag this year, seeing it does awaken an underlying sense of pride and belonging, and that‘s exactly why it‘s the anchor image in the Kiwitrans livery. As the local ownership component of many New Zealand firms becomes ever more diluted, Kiwitrans proudly announces itself as 100% Aotearoa. 

Kiwitrans burst onto scene in January last year. Managing director David Malanaphy is no stranger to road transport; son of Provincial Freightlines co-founder Dave Malanaphy Snr, David has transport operations in his blood. The company focuses on bulk, timber, container and general cartage operation in the upper North Island. 

Fleet No 6 arrived in March following rapid early growth. A 2013 model Western Star, the 4884FX model has a 40” Stratosphere sleeper and is powered by a 525hp Detroit Diesel. It has an 18-speed Roadranger automated manual transmission, Meritor 46.160 rear end and rides on air suspension. The truck started life at Halls Refrigerated Transport Ltd before being sold to company contractor Destination Trucking Ltd from Nelson where it spent two years running Christchurch to Picton. W hen David brought the truck she was on the lot at Star Trucks in Nelson. 

“ The truck was the third unit to go into full Kiwitrans livery and we really wanted to make a statement with it,” said David. “ We wanted to show we‘re here to stay, the pride with which we approach our customers‘ cartage requirement, and our belief in New Zealand owned businesses‘ ability to deliver.” 

The truck was matched to a brand new 15.1m MaxiTRANS Freighter quad semi-trailer, and without question the end result is striking. 

Driver of the immaculate Western Star is Joe Timothy. Like all of the Kiwitrans drivers Joe was a Provincial Freightlines man, and like his workmates he loves the challenge and closeknit team spirit the young entity offers. 

Starting out driving demolition trucks for Wellington Demolition in 1997, Joe progressed on to truck-mounted crane work in the Wellington region before moving home to the Waikato in 2003. He took a job driving for Wallace Meats and after that Coromandel Meat Transport before starting at Provincial Freightlines Ltd. He stayed on when the company was purchased by Linfox Logistics in 2007, leaving last year to take up the opportunity to help grow the new Kiwitrans business. 

Joe said his new ride is a home away from home and rates the truck highly. 

“My Dad drove trucks,” says Joe. “I used to tell him I wanted to drive trucks and he‘d say, ‘No boy you don‘t want to drive trucks.‘ So I‘d say, what would you rather do? And he‘d say, ‘Nothing – best job in the world‘.” 

There‘s no doubting that following his dad‘s example rather than advice has landed Joe a sweet ride in a company, that like his truck, is going places. 

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