Old school trucks: Container Transport & Storage—Part 1

By: Dean Middleton, Photography by: Dean Middleton

1 15 Container Transport and Storage were primarily a Mainfreight contractor back in the early ’90s. This second-hand UK import 1635 Mercedes-Benz block truck was pictured after winning Truck of the Show at a Timaru Truck Show back in that era. 1 15
2 15 Another second-hand import 4x2 tractor unit block truck. Who didn’t love a TM Bedford? Well, maybe now more than then some would say. 2 15
3 15 Another cool TM Bedford; this time a six-wheeler tractor unit 3 15
4 14 One of my personal favourites of theirs back in the day was this mint F10 Volvo named ‘The Boss’ 4 14
5 14 Another tidy Volvo; this F12 earned its keep towing a three-axle skeletal semi 5 14
6 14 This 1635 Mercedes-Benz import block truck was placed in Daily Freight livery 6 14
7 14 The next-generation Container Transport and Storage livery and under new ownership, this F12 Volvo looked the part 7 14
8 14 An FH12 Volvo pulling a three-axle skele back in the days when an export container permit could allow a 30-tonne gross container in six axles 8 14
9 14 A CG400 on swinglift duties 9 14
10 14 A tidy FS Hino with then customer Tudor Steel signwriting 10 14
11 13 CTS purchased the Container Division of Frews Contracting, and this CW440 was one of the trucks brought across into the fleet 11 13
12 14 CTS purchased the Container Division of Frews Contracting, and this CW440 was one of the trucks brought across into the fleet 12 14
13 14 There have been a few curtainsiders that have made their way into the fleet over the years 13 14
14 14 Another FS Hino set-up as a quad-quad 14 14
15 14 Lightweight Freightliners also found their way into the fleet; this Argosy was pictured at the 2008 Christchurch Truck Show 15 14
16 14 Two Argosys standing guard over a Foden Alpha back in 2009 16 14
17 14 The only Sleeper cabbed Argosy to wear the CTS livery 17 14
18 14 Several pre-loved Scanias spent some time in the line-up, including this 124G 420 model 18 14
19 14 A later model Scania pictured back in 2011 19 14

Deals on Wheels takes a look at the Container Transport and Storage fleet from the mid-'90s

As a young fella in the ’80s, pushbiking across the other side of town to take truck photos meant that when I saw a Manfreight truck, all I wanted to do was take a photo of it.
Fast forward a few years and I paid more attention to who the Mainfreight contractors were and who actually ran and owned the trucks.

In the mid-’90s, Container Transport and Storage ran half a dozen trucks contracted to Mainfreight primarily on container cartage throughout the greater Christchurch area. At this time, second-hand trucks imported from the UK were quite common in New Zealand, and a large portion of these were in 4x2 or 6x2 configuration.

Container Transport and Storage ran several of these second-hand imported trucks, the memorable one being an immaculate 1635 4x2 Mercedes-Benz tractor unit, which took out the ‘Truck of the Show’ at a truck show in Timaru back in the mid-’90s.

The 4x2 trucks in the fleet were utilised as ‘block trucks’, which meant that they would have a concrete block weighing several tonnes that clipped on the fifth wheel via a kingpin mounted on the bottom of the block.

They were also fitted with a ring feeder to tow full trailers. Back then, a significant amount of Inter-Island freight was moved by Pacifica Shipping who ran roll-on-roll-off ships, which meant full trailers were loaded at freight forwarders in Auckland, towed to the port for Christchurch-based trucks mirroring the process when the ships arrived at the Port of Lyttelton.

Container Transport and Storage became their own entity in the late ’90s parting ways with the Mainfreight group and engaging in their own work. In 2002, the Allison family acquired the business, and it became Container Transport and Storage (2002) Limited.

A new livery was introduced, and they became known as CTS. Container and steel cartage were the primary breadwinners for the company along with some general freight work in curtainsiders.

Volvos and Nissan Diesels headed up the fleet before the introduction of lightweight freightliner Argosys and a trio of Foden Alphas joined the fray. Next month, we look at how the fleet has evolved to today, with a major truck brand affiliation, some innovative use of HPMV laws, and another livery change or two.  

Find new and used trucks for sale in NZ 

Keep up to date in the industry by signing up to Deals on Wheels' free newsletter or liking us on Facebook. 

Related Listings For Sale

Related articles