With a recipe that‘s worked a treat in the first two events, this year‘s TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show kept a good thing going, retaining the same family feel and sense of industry cameraderie.

The trucks and displays came from far and wide to the Canterbury A&P Showgrounds. Although some we talked to wondered about the move away from Wigram, the showgrounds proved just as user- friendly, with great access and oodles of space.

Three hundred and fifty trucks and more than 70 trade exhibitors and displays from all corners of the country kept 23,000 visitors fizzing over two days.

The Friday trade day was also student day. More than 200 senior high school students identified by teachers as potential transport
career candidates were hosted in groups around the participating exhibitors who gave them a behind-the-scenes look at opportunities in the industry. Some were offered work experience, and most were surprised at the pay rates available. The careers showcase was a deemed a huge success. NZ Trucking Association CEO, Dave Boyce said the students were treated to a barbecue lunch and truck rides, and had plenty of free time to explore the rest of the show.

“They all left with goodie bags, filled with exhibitor give- aways throughout the day. The teachers‘ feedback has been positive, and they have already shown interest in booking more students for the 2020 show.”

Saturday saw more than 250 trucks competing for the 40 awards. With some Show and Shine trucks travelling hundreds of kilometres to get there in time.

“The effort the drivers go to to prepare their trucks is greatly appreciated and they truly make the event,” said Boyce.

During the day, TR Group ran the Trucking Relay Competition, which attracted seven teams wanting to show off their manoeuvring, loading, and tarping skills, along with a display of brute strength as they pulled a truck on the end of a rope along the tarmac. Teams from both islands competed, with the Auckland quartet of John Baillie, Stuart Howard, Mathew Young and Shaun Reynolds taking away the grand prize of a trip for four to the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show.

The kids‘ activities on Saturday also kept attendees busy. Monitored by volunteers from Child Cancer Foundation Canterbury and Ronald McDonald House SI, they included the Heavy Trucks bouncy castle, giant sandpit, kids‘ colouring tent, CablePrice kids‘ digger, RC
Haulers radio control trucks, and truck photo boards. The show shop was popular, selling out of around 400 toy trucks brought in
especially for the event. The Safety MAN Road Safety Truck was on site, with tips on how to share the road safely with big trucks, as well as giving the truck drivers an insight into how they can stay healthy on the road.

The event was rounded off with a celebration dinner for 400 people held at TMC Trailers‘ workshop. Vintage themed metal truck centrepieces, LED truck brands signs, and one-off specially designed tyre bar leaners courtesy of Carters Tyres were auctioned on the night.

The Trucking Industry Show has an ‘X-factor‘ for sure and the NZ Trucking Association team put a huge effort into every detail. With more great ideas already on the board it‘s a case of roll on 2020. We will be there.

Trade Day Highlights

High honours
Also on the stand was the truck that would eventually take out top honours in the show and shine. It‘s hard to believe Alan and Leanne Coomb‘s R730 Scania has more than half million kilometres under its tyres.

Intertruck cleans up
Container Waste proudly showing their International 9870 and ProStar on the Intertruck stand.
Great products and Kiwis backing Kiwis must bring benefits to both national and regional economies.

Enduro – get stuck in
Prestige Commercial Vehicles had the new Fuso Enduro range on display. Pitched at the vocational market where a competitively priced, reliable workhorse is required, with the quality and support of a long-established brand, the range will surely get a strong foothold in time.

Southpac mixing it up
Grant Driver and the Allied Concrete team continue to refine the carriage of concrete. Here a DAF receives the famous blue and yellow livery and cement receptacle. Safety, uniformity of set-up, and cost efficiency are three key pillars in the quest for perfection.

Quon pops up
CVC‘s stand featured the new UD Quon (right). Released at the Brisbane Truck Show last year, the new UD flagship range is more influenced by parent company Volvo than ever before, with a level of safety and features not seen on a Japanese truck up until now. Like the FH when it arrived, we‘re sure the face will grow on us.

TMCs big day out
Naming rights sponsor TMC had all manner of their latest kit on show. One of the showpieces was this front-to-back new unit for Renwick Transport Ltd.

Heavy Trucks built smart
Among the extensive line-up of Western Stars and MANs on the Heavy Trucks stand was this new
Western Star 4884 FXC log combination destined for Heagney Brothers Ltd, featuring EXTE bolsters and
auto chain tensioners. Heavy Trucks‘ Glenn Heybourn said a lot of work had gone into making the unit
as efficient and safe as possible.

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