Canterbury-headquartered JCL Asphalt and associated Blue Diamond Haulage are somewhat bucking the convention in family-owned fleets of children working for their parents. In this case, Tim Craw works for the companies owned by son James.

That said, Tim and his wife Sue were the primary financial backers when the then 22-year-old James started up on his own in 2004. And it was a pretty modest start – a five-tonne Isuzu tipper, a little roller and associated wheelbarrows and other gear that gave James and handful of his mates their first steps into the asphalt business.

He admits the time since has been an exciting – and at times roller-coaster – ride. JCL is now a respected player in the road-surfacing segment, sub-contracting to heavyweights like Fulton Hogan and Downers on major construction and maintenance projects and has established an enviable reputation for the quality of its work both on new subdivisions and in the private residential sphere.

The Blue Diamond Haulage brand came into being eight years ago. As James explains: “The main reason for setting up Blue Diamond was to chase external work, while still retaining the flexibility to back up on our own jobs when needed.