Business profile: Hautapu Haulage
A long-term business connection has fostered a successful joint venture in the logging industry. Deals on Wheels finds out more.
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Greg Johnson, Ra Amai, Kevin OBrien, Josh OBrien, Tipene OBrien, Brodie Te Paki
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Kevin O’Brien began working for Trevor Benson, owner of Hautapu Pine, 38 years ago as Hautapu Pine’s first full-time truck driver. That connection developed into a joint venture when Trevor set up a trucking fleet in 1997 as part of his operation. He appointed Kevin as manager, which evolved into Hautapu Haulage in 2005.
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Kevin started with one truck, and today, the fleet has grown to 17 truck and trailer units with as many drivers
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Kevin started with one truck, and today, the fleet has grown to 17 truck and trailer units with as many drivers. As well as carting for Hautapu Pine, Hautapu Haulage also has several other cartage contracts that keep them busy. The business expansion has enabled the O’Brien family to expand their fleet over the past few years.
Close-knit team
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The Hautapu Haulage fleet looking flash lined up together at the yard in Utiku, near Taihape
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The O’Brien family and their team work closely together. Kevin is still in an active role as a full-time driver, his wife Katrina works in administration, and their sons, Tipene and Joshua, oversee compliance and operations and despatch and administration, respectively.
Tipene has his finger on the pulse when it comes to day-to-day operations. Although based in Palmerston North, modern technology gives him ready access to what’s happening, and it’s only an hour’s drive to Hautapu Haulage headquarters in Utiku.
He’s often out on the roads as well, doing many tasks to ensure the smooth running of the logging operation. "I’m usually out in the forest or the office, sorting things out or in Taihape," says Tipene.
Tipene joined the family business three years ago. He’d previously been with the NZ Defence Force (NZDF) for 12 years where he finished as a transport sergeant for the 10th Transport Company.
Looking after the Hautapu truck fleet and staff and helping run the business is not too different from overseeing a transport operation, he says. "I keep a routine that keeps our drivers happy and the trucks moving. Army life helped in respect of learning to identify what needs doing and the most efficient way to carry it out," he says.
Communication is key
As with any business, Tipene says the key to keeping everyone happy is listening and communication. "If you’re listening to what your drivers are saying, then you can fix the problem.
That seems to go a long way. We also try and know our drivers on a personal level. Treating your drivers as a number means you deserve what you get. If you listen to them, they will listen to you, and you can work together."
Tipene says his father, Kevin, is one of the most inspiring role models, who leads by example. "That’s key. Dad prefers to be behind the steering wheel and leading from the front to show how to do it. He’s been driving since he was a young fella, yet he’s still keen to jump in the truck and go to work.
"Some of the drivers here are around the same age as he is and have been driving their whole lives. The evolution of the transport industry is right there when you listen to those old stories.
We see some of the younger fellows wanting to jump in and be full-time truck drivers too, and we encourage them. It’s a good life: if you enjoy being in a truck, you’re not really at work, are you?"
Their mother, Katrina, is equally inspiring. "I organise, and Dad leads, but Mum pulls many things together behind the scenes. She always knows what’s going on and is willing to help out. She’s the mover and shaker, the calming voice."
Hautapu logging fleet
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Washed and ready for the week ahead
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Their fleet has a line-up of 17 Scania, Kenworth, and Volvo truck and trailer units. Their latest is a 750 Volvo, which arrived in February 2022. "We normally have a truck for six to eight years before selling or trading and putting on a new one," says Tipene.
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Loading up in a forest in the Central North Island
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"Good equipment attracts good drivers who are proud to drive for the business. We look after our drivers as well as we can." Utiku is located in the Central North Island, and drivers come from as far afield as Palmerston North, Taupo, and everywhere in between.
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Maroon-red trucks stand out in the forest
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Many people know Hautapu Haulage trucks by their distinctive maroon and pink colour scheme. They stand out in the forest and look impressive lined up. Tipene sometimes jumps in the truck to give drivers time off, especially on weekends.
"I mostly go and hook their trailers up on the weekend after COF servicing, before returning them to their house or yard. We need to let the boys get home for the weekend to rest for Monday.
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With forest harvesting in full swing, Hautapu Haulage are kept busy
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They do long hours with early starts every day; doing this prep means one less job they need to do and one less headache for a Monday morning." Right now, things are busy and show no sign of slowing. Lockdown threw some challenges at the business, but in one way, it was a chance for drivers to have a break before starting again, says Tipene.
"As soon as we came back, it went non-stop and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon." Evans Engineering, Tokoroa mainly builds Hautapu Haulage trailers.
Recently, Patchell in Rotorua built a couple of trailers too. The truck graphics are done by Autostripes in Whanganui and more recently by Caulfield signs in Rotorua.
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Kevin started with one truck, and today, the fleet has grown to 17 truck and trailer units with as many drivers
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"The cabs are delivered already painted maroon, and if the chassis requires painting, Alro Truck Centre in Palmerston North or Brokers United in Tauranga do the job. We usually outsource the mechanical work wherever the driver is located: Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Taupo, or for those smaller jobs at our Utiku yard."
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