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And the latest addition to the busy auger fleet at Waharoa Transport is a standout example of Swedish horsepower and technology coming together with local build expertise to make the most of an anniversary opportunity.

Actually, make that two anniversaries.

The V8 powerhouse went on the road just before Christmas after being ordered at the start of 2025 for a winter build. It was on the road just in time to celebrate the 2025 anniversary of the Clothier family’s 70-year ownership of Waharoa Transport Company Limited (WTCL).

R.B. (Bruce) Clothier started out on his own when he was 18-years-old with his father having to purchase his first truck because he was too young to own the truck – even though he had the cash to buy it. He was keen to start his own business and from there he bought Waharoa Transport company in 1955 from Trever Rayner.

The second milestone is 30 years since Bruce’s three sons – Glen, Craig, and Mark – bought the company to establish the current entity as Waharoa Transport (1995) Co. Ltd.

The new S 770 has been specced and branded to celebrate the twin milestones.

Continuing a long relationship with Matamata’s Warren Auger Bins, the 9-axle truck and trailer unit running on a 54t permit is carting stockfeed throughout the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, with occasional trips to Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

The signature feature of the new unit are murals along the side of the bins depicting some of the key trucks from WTCL history. But look closely and there’s more.

“On the cab there’s also a tribute to RB,” says Greg Clothier, one of several third-generation family members working at the company.

“Grandad developed the Waharoa industrial park here, and he loved his loaders and his old Commer, which we still own and have restored.”

They appear above the driver’s door along with a portrait of Bruce in his trademark bucket hat.

The truck bins feature images of an International Transtar and a Kenworth K104.

“The Transtar was the first brand new truck the brothers bought after taking over the company in 1995. It’s a bit of a legend of a truck,” says Greg.

“The Kenworth K104 is a 2003 model we bought second-hand with very low kms. It has done a lot work for the company.

“It’s got a C15 that went for years and years getting over two million kms out of the motor before it needed a rebuild. The truck is still clocking kms up currently in the fleet, now approaching 3 million kms.

There’s also a late-model Scania, a 1993 International T-Line and a Kenworth 610 SAR along the sides of the trailer. The mix of old and new trucks represents the three key areas of WTL operations  – general freight, bulk trucks, and augers.

The modern Waharoa Transport fleet sits at just over 50 trucks.

“It’s predominantly Scania and PACCAR product with a few Japanese trucks,” says Greg.

“Scania have proven themselves in the market and with their support. And the guys love driving them which is a big thing. Without drivers, the trucks aren’t going to go anywhere.”

The idea of adding a 770 to the fleet took shape in early 2025.

“We sort of ummed and arghed about a 770 for a while, and then Glen pulled the trigger and said `it’s happening’,” says Greg.

“Then we started thinking about the idea of a tribute truck.” 

“We were talking about it for a while, but once it turned up it got pumped out pretty quickly. We wanted it before Christmas.”

The other key person involved in the build is Ricky Mold, who has run the WTCL auger operation for four years and was formerly a driver and mechanic at the company.

“Glen said to us [Ricky and Greg] `it’s up to you boys’,” Greg says.

“Ricky pretty much specced the whole thing and did a pretty good job of keeping it all under wraps. It was a surprise for dad and the other brothers,” says Greg.

“Bruce’s wife Rose came out to see it unveiled and there were a few wet eyes that afternoon.”

Ricky says he enjoyed the process of building a special truck for the three brothers.

“It was cool. We haven’t had a lot to do with speccing trucks for the last 10 years or so, everything has been pretty standard, But we have been more involved over the last 4-5 years in speccing new trucks,” Ricky says.

“When we started setting-up this unit we realised the company hadn’t celebrated anything like this before, and that 70 and 30 were both big anniversaries.”

The first decision was to have RVE Vehicle Enhancement stitch some special 30th Anniversary leather seat trims for the 770.

“I said `if we’re going to do the seats, we’re not stopping there’,” says Ricky.

Working with Andrew Lane from Scania the spec was finalised and all the extras - the lighting and fit-out – was done by Performance Diesels in Tauranga.

Warren Auger Bins is the main supplier to WTL.

“Glen has supported them, and they have supported Waharoa Transport,” Greg says.

“Glen was the one who went to Warrens with the idea of an open top bin for faster loading. It saves 20-30 minutes loading with the aeroplane bucket and its pretty standard across the industry now,” says Greg.

Ricky says the bins include some new design ideas.

“Warren Auger Bins are the top-of-the-line in the industry. We’re trying a new walkway inside the bin and stairs up in front of each bin and added extra lights. There are a few detail things we wanted,” Ricky says.

The graphics and branding were left to Caulfield Signs in Rotorua. It’s a mix of the old and the new – the signwriting and scrolls on the cab are done by hand but the graphics are the latest technology.

“It was our first time going to Darren [Caulfield] and he put in a huge effort. We took a lot [of photos] to him, and he came with a lot of ideas. He was awesome to work with,” Ricky says.

The other key part of the equation is the driver. 

Still in his mid-20s, Jamie Ross was selected to drive the company flagship. 

“His mum drove for us for years when we had the milk tankers for OCD (Open Country Dairy) and he was mad keen on trucks as a young kid,” Greg says.

“I used to pick him up on a Saturday when he was just a young fella and he’d come down to the yard to help out. He used to drive the trucks through the yard to wash them.

“Then he started off in the store for us driving a forklift.

“Jamie is outstanding for his age. He’s earned his stripes as a well-respected driver.”

Jamie has driven several trucks for WTL, including the K104 Kenworth and most recently a Scania 650 for 18 months. He been immediately impressed with the 770.

“The comfort is the best thing. They have put some flash seats in it and it’s all on airbags,” Jamie says.

“And it’s got plenty of horsepower. It’s about 10kph quicker than the 650 going up the Kaimais from the Matamata side.”

Jamie took the truck to the Morrinsville Motorama in early February, and he says the truck has also prompted a lot of feedback while at work.

“I’ve already had quite a few comments about how good it looks. Some of the older guys have really liked seeing the old trucks on there,” Jamie says.