Old School trucks: Southern Transport part 3
The lone Freightliner Argosy pictured when near-new in 2010
The then-new Mack Granites began arriving into the fleet in 2009
Six-wheeler and eight-wheeler Granites arrived in numbers
Six-wheeler and eight-wheeler Granites arrived in numbers
A later model Mack Granite with the deeper bumper incorporating front underrun protection
One of the latest Mack Granites to join the fleet, this tractor unit was pictured near-new in late 2018
Mack Tridents also joined the fleet, however, in far lesser numbers than the Granites. This Trident was one of the first and went on the road in 2013.
Driving into the Southern Transport yard in 2016 and straight ahead is an instant Mack line-up photo opportunity…
...Then look 90 degrees to the right and boom, another Mack line-up waiting to be photographed. A perfect yard to visit in the deep south.
This Mack Trident was set up with fold-down bolsters to backload timber. Pictured when new in 2016.
A stunning nine-axle Trident logger basking in the Southland sun
An equally stunning Trident ‘Chipliner’ bulkie looking the part with liveried bin and aero kit
One of two outstanding new K200 Kenworths put on the road in late 2013
The other K200 with drop-down bolsters. It was permitted to cart divisible filleted packs of timber side by side, which made these loads overwidth. The idea was short-lived.
A pair of near-identical T659 Kenworths (possibly part of the Dynes influence) went on the road in 2017 destined as loggers but were used on seasonal milk tanker duties from new
The sister T659 set up with bolsters
Volvo got a tick in the order book with this FM540 in 2017
One of a pair of impressive new 85CF DAF loggers hit the road in 2018; similar spec DAF Loggers entered sister fleets Dynes and Dunedin carrying at around the same time
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The lone Freightliner Argosy pictured when near-new in 2010
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The then-new Mack Granites began arriving into the fleet in 2009
|
|
|
|
Six-wheeler and eight-wheeler Granites arrived in numbers
|
|
|
|
Six-wheeler and eight-wheeler Granites arrived in numbers
|
|
|
|
A later model Mack Granite with the deeper bumper incorporating front underrun protection
|
|
|
|
One of the latest Mack Granites to join the fleet, this tractor unit was pictured near-new in late 2018
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|
|
|
Mack Tridents also joined the fleet, however, in far lesser numbers than the Granites. This Trident was one of the first and went on the road in 2013.
|
|
|
|
Driving into the Southern Transport yard in 2016 and straight ahead is an instant Mack line-up photo opportunity…
|
|
|
|
...Then look 90 degrees to the right and boom, another Mack line-up waiting to be photographed. A perfect yard to visit in the deep south.
|
|
|
|
This Mack Trident was set up with fold-down bolsters to backload timber. Pictured when new in 2016.
|
|
|
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A stunning nine-axle Trident logger basking in the Southland sun
|
|
|
|
An equally stunning Trident ‘Chipliner’ bulkie looking the part with liveried bin and aero kit
|
|
|
|
One of two outstanding new K200 Kenworths put on the road in late 2013
|
|
|
|
The other K200 with drop-down bolsters. It was permitted to cart divisible filleted packs of timber side by side, which made these loads overwidth. The idea was short-lived.
|
|
|
|
A pair of near-identical T659 Kenworths (possibly part of the Dynes influence) went on the road in 2017 destined as loggers but were used on seasonal milk tanker duties from new
|
|
|
|
The sister T659 set up with bolsters
|
|
|
|
Volvo got a tick in the order book with this FM540 in 2017
|
|
|
|
One of a pair of impressive new 85CF DAF loggers hit the road in 2018; similar spec DAF Loggers entered sister fleets Dynes and Dunedin carrying at around the same time
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This month, in our third and final edition featuring the Southern Transport fleet, we look at how the fleet has transpired over the last decade to the present day
There have been some interesting purchases; one such was a Freightliner Argosy pressed into service in the logging division back in 2010. It was to be the only Argosy to be seen in Southern’s colours.
The Mack brand has remained dominant and when the then-new Granite model was released in 2009, many of them joined the fleet and have continued to do so in the following 10 years.
Mack Tridents joined in on the action as well, however, in far fewer numbers than the Granites. Late 2013 saw a pair of outstanding near-identical K200 loggers and more Kenworths joined the fray in the form of T659 loggers in 2017; the latter trucks possibly due to sister company Dynes Transports’ influence and combined buying power.
Another example of the influence of sister companies was apparent when a couple of 85CF High Roof DAF loggers joined the Southern fleet in 2018, and at the same time, almost identically spec’d trucks joined the fleets of Dynes Transport and Dunedin Carrying Company.
It will certainly be interesting to see if the Mack brand remains dominant over the next decade or so and whether technology or other influences dictate other brands in gaining a stronghold or not. One thing that’s for certain is that the green and gold livery would look superb on almost any make or model of heavy truck.
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