Event: Southland Transport Invercargill Truck Parade 2020

By: Dean Middleton, Photography by: Dean and Benny Middleton

Date: 02.12.2020

The prestigious King Rig award went to McNeill Distribution’s outstanding Mack SuperLiner

Jaden Pearson from JAE Haulage won King Rig Runner-up and Best Kenworth in his impressive K200

D&D Heavy Haulage’s super impressive S730 XT Scania complete with a race truck on the low loader

Scott Transport’s ominous T909 Kenworth sounded as good and it drove away with the Best Logger award

Sinclair Transport had an impressive line-up on display, including this FH16 Volvo Livestock unit

One of two mint K200 Kenworth Aerodynes entered by Titan Bulk Haulage

This outstanding second-hand Aussie-imported Mack Superliner drew some open-mouthed stares from the street lined crowds during the parade

Eden Haulages produced a stunning line-up again this year

Bread trucks don’t come more spectacular than A & L Coombes’ R650 Highline Scania, which also won Best Scania and Best Paint Job

Eden Haulage’s beautifully presented K200 flat-roof Kenworth

Southern Transport were big supporters of the show this year

A near-new DAF Stockfeed Unit was one of five Ryal Bush units in the parade

Eight D T King trucks joined in on the action, including this UD Quon logger

The impressive Mack Super Liner heavy haulier from South Roads

Freight Haulage also had a number of trucks at the show again this year, including this smart FM Volvo bulkie

Three Rivers Contracting brought along their impressive UD Quon tipper and transporter trailer

Waikaka Transport brought along their near new R620 Scania bulkie

Callahan Transport and Central Southland Freight added an Italian influence to proceedings

Steven Shearing Contracting’s superbly refurbished International T-line

The prestigious King Rig award went to McNeill Distribution’s outstanding Mack SuperLiner

Jaden Pearson from JAE Haulage won King Rig Runner-up and Best Kenworth in his impressive K200

D&D Heavy Haulage’s super impressive S730 XT Scania complete with a race truck on the low loader

Scott Transport’s ominous T909 Kenworth sounded as good and it drove away with the Best Logger award

Sinclair Transport had an impressive line-up on display, including this FH16 Volvo Livestock unit

One of two mint K200 Kenworth Aerodynes entered by Titan Bulk Haulage

This outstanding second-hand Aussie-imported Mack Superliner drew some open-mouthed stares from the street lined crowds during the parade

Eden Haulages produced a stunning line-up again this year

Bread trucks don’t come more spectacular than A & L Coombes’ R650 Highline Scania, which also won Best Scania and Best Paint Job

Eden Haulage’s beautifully presented K200 flat-roof Kenworth

Southern Transport were big supporters of the show this year

A near-new DAF Stockfeed Unit was one of five Ryal Bush units in the parade

Eight D T King trucks joined in on the action, including this UD Quon logger

The impressive Mack Super Liner heavy haulier from South Roads

Freight Haulage also had a number of trucks at the show again this year, including this smart FM Volvo bulkie

Three Rivers Contracting brought along their impressive UD Quon tipper and transporter trailer

Waikaka Transport brought along their near new R620 Scania bulkie

Callahan Transport and Central Southland Freight added an Italian influence to proceedings

Steven Shearing Contracting’s superbly refurbished International T-line

A quick look at this year's Southland Transport Invercargill Truck Parade

Our annual trip to Southland for a few days each Labour Weekend is always a good one with welcoming smiles from local transport operators and truckies alike. The only downside is the traditionally inclement weather we usually strike while down there at that time of the year.

What a surprise it was on the morning of the 2020 Southland Transport Invercargill Truck Parade when we get ready to leave the motel room at 6.30am and it was a balmy 25 degrees. A quick check on the phone and it was forecast to reach the high 20s, however, there was a big reminder we were in Invercargill when it was also forecast for a weather bomb (in the form of a cold wet and windy southerly) due to hit the city at 1pm, which just happened to be the start time of the truck parade.

Fingers crossed, we headed to the venue to capture the participants driving in and parking up ready for judging. The number of trucks entered were down on previous years, however, more than 100 trucks lined up, which was still a big effort considering the uncertainty of COVID-19, which, in turn, meant the show was confirmed to go ahead only a couple of weeks before the scheduled date. At 1pm (with the sun still shining), the convoy headed through the public-lined streets without a hitch and the prizegiving was held at the Newfield Tavern later in the afternoon. This year, the prestigious King Rig trophy was awarded to the big Mack Superliner Bulkie of McNeill Distribution and the runner-up was JAE Haulage’s superb Kenworth Aerodyne.

And in case anyone is wondering, the forecasted southerly arrived but thankfully after the festivities had ended and the temperature dropped from 25 to 8 degrees in minutes. Yep, we were in Invercargill alright.

Invercargill Truck Parade 2020 winners

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