Double Coin Imaging Awards

As the saying goes “goods things take time” so waiting for a new Kenworth K220 to be ready for the road and our photo session was well worth it.

Maramarua-based W.E. Hale Ltd is celebrating 50 years in business this year, so what better way to celebrate than putting another stunning new K220 Flat Roof bulk unit on the road sold by Tim Finlay at Southpac Trucks.

Humble and understated owner Mark (William) Hale isn’t much for shouting about his achievements, but the locals know and with his KBS (Karaka Bulk Spreading 2018) and W. E. Hale Transport bulk commodities fleet now numbering over 20 trucks, the half-century milestone is well worthy of celebrating.

The first truck for the Hale family was a 1963 Thames Trader that was used on the local farm and then started “doing 10,000 of those firkin small hay bales for over 20 years on that truck” until an upgrade (term used loosely) to a TK Bedford.

The original Thames Trader was “sold” as a cab and chassis to another one of New Zealand’s quiet achievers – J Swap Matamata – to restore.

Later the Mack bulldog dominated the fleet for many years, with the awesome V8 Mack Super-Liners, Ultra-Liners and the last of the hybrid Quantums all playing an important role for W.E. Hale.

But once Mack stopped making a cabover model, alternative American gear had to be found. The first Kenworth K108 is still working well in the fleet with the latest K220 joining three other K220s already at work.

This latest acquisition is a far cry from the under-powered “Pommie” trucks that started W.E. Hale Ltd. 

It took over 14 months to get the new K220 on the road and earning its keep, but now it is an exceptional mobile billboard and truck show every day with local Leo Schipper behind the wheel and maintaining the highest of standards.

Transfleet Trailers built the truck body and 5-axle trailer to maximum limits and the K220 is capable of carting wood chip, bark, sawdust, stock feed, fertiliser, aggregates and such like all over the North Island. All the fleet’s new bulk units have the PTEK wireless trailer smart wiring looms fitted.

The traditional colours, subtle scrolls and sign writing carry on the long-established partnership with Frank Bogaart – a traditional style. And the matching covers, stainless infills and extra lighting make this K220 a stunner.

The well set up K220 boasts plenty of innovative technology and extras to make it perform and look just a bit better than most. It joins an increasingly Kenworth/DAF heavy fleet, while Iveco’s dominate the KBS/Hale spreading side and Isuzu carry out the smaller farm and residential delivery duties.

Despite carting woodchip, bark, fertiliser, stock feed, aggregates and other mucky loads, the W.E. Hale trucks always stand out as clean, tidy and on point. The fleet covers most of the North Island working out of many sawmills and returning with all sorts of bulk commodities. Regular runs down to Gisborne, Napier and Wellington are now more common.

Based in the old CHH Sawmill site at Maramarua, the main highway links are nearby and on Auckland’s doorstep so to speak. Getting away early to beat the traffic hold ups is a daily chore.

The half century of being in business is a milestone well worth celebrating in these tough economic times and getting a K220 as a present isn’t too bad.