With 60 years under their belt, family owned and operated Uhlenberg Haulage is a rare breed of business that balances the relentless demands of the transport industry with a deep, abiding respect for heritage.

At the heart of this story are not just the 46 working trucks that keep the company moving, but two specific, gleaming examples of automotive history, a pair of Kenworth SAR Legends that serve as the crown jewels of the fleet.

For Tony Uhlenberg, who co-manages the place alongside his two brothers (Chris & Daryl), the decision to acquire not one, but two of these iconic machines was driven by a mix of nostalgia, opportunity, and a commitment to the old school trucking ethos that defines their operation.

To understand the significance of the Legend series to the Uhlenberg fleet, you must first look back at the company’s origins. Based in North Taranaki and founded in 1966 by Mike and Carol Uhlenberg, the business has been a constant presence in the industry for six decades, a milestone that Tony and his family are currently celebrating. 

When Tony, along with his partners Chris and Daryl, took the reins from his father, the fleet consisted of 17 trucks. Today, that number has grown to 46, supported by a team of 54 staff members.

The company’s history with Kenworth is nearly as long as the business itself. Tony recalls his father’s early days, noting that the connection dates back to the late 1960s.

“Dad bought an old K921, which was brought in from the UK,” he explains.

“It was used to distribute new trailers throughout England, and then it got brought here. It was [initially] a single drive, and got tandem drives, and was used for carting gas and logs.”

However, the commitment to the brand was cemented in 1974 when his father purchased his first brand-new Kenworth, a W-model 924. The price tag of $44,000 was a staggering investment at the time, especially considering the average house price in New Zealand was only $8,400. “He could have lived in it,” Tony laughs.

This deep-rooted history explains why, when the opportunity arose to secure the limited-edition Legend series, the Uhlenbergs didn’t hesitate.

The Kenworth Legend series is more than just a truck; it is a tribute to the classic SAR models of the 1980s. For many, these trucks are collector’s items, destined for a life of polishing and parade laps. For Uhlenberg Haulage, however, they were destined for the open road.

The acquisition of the first Legend, number 642, was a deliberate move to honour the company’s past.

“We had one in the 1980s,” Tony says. “The first one that we got really was just to relive that classic feel but with a modern twist.”

But as any enthusiast knows, one is rarely enough, but the arrival of the second truck, number 365, was a stroke of serendipity.

“The first one was going to be the only one,” Tony explains. “And then another one became available that was a cancelled order. We [luckily] got it before the spec was finished. So, we made it, so it was the same as the 642.” 

The window of opportunity was incredibly narrow. Tony recalls that they had to move within 24 hours to secure the second unit, as there were other buyers circling.

“I didn’t have a lot of time because he had other people looking at it,” he admits, “but the family didn’t take too much convincing.”

The result is a matching pair of heavy-duty workhorses that turn heads wherever they go. While they are modern machines under the hood (featuring Cummins X15 engines, manual Roadranger transmissions, and Rockwell diffs) they capture the aesthetic and the “feel” of the trucks that defined the industry decades ago.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Uhlenberg Legends is their daily routine. While many owners of such rare vehicles might keep them under wraps, the Uhlenbergs put them to work.

“Nothing gets a free ride,” Tony says, and the odometer readings prove it. The 642 has clocked over 320,000 kilometres, while 365, based in the Waikato, recently passed the 200,000-kilometre mark.

These trucks are not pampered; they are utilised. They run the route between their base and Auckland, a stretch of road that Tony describes as “reasonably rough”.

Yet, the Legends handle it with the grace of a classic and the reliability of a modern machine.

“They’re a masterpiece that you don’t really muck with,” Tony notes, explaining why they have kept the trucks largely stock, without excessive modifications.

The drivers chosen to operate these machines were not selected by chance. The selection process was competitive, with a row of people lining up for the keys. Ultimately, the decision came down to merit and seniority. The first truck was assigned to a long-serving employee known for his exceptional care of equipment. The second went to a senior driver whose previous truck was being retired. “They’re both passionate about them,” Tony says.

While the Legends are the stars of the show, they are part of a diverse and hardworking fleet. The Uhlenberg operation is predominantly American brand, a choice that reflects their preference for the durability and ride quality of conventional trucks. The fleet includes Western Stars, Mack Super-Liners, International ProStars, and a significant number of Peterbilts.

“I think there’s 11 Peterbilts but I couldn’t tell you how many Kenworths are in the fleet really,” Tony says, highlighting the scale of their operation.

Alongside these heavy hitters, they maintain a couple of smaller Isuzu and Hino trucks for specific tasks. This mix allows them to tackle a wide variety of jobs, from bulk transport to specialised tanker work.

The company’s culture is also reflected in how they name their trucks. It is a collaborative process, often involving the owners and the drivers. The names are rarely arbitrary; they are chosen to reflect a song, a beer, a specific event, or the truck’s purpose.

The two Legends are no exception. Truck 642 is named Flame Trees, a nod to the Cold Chisel song about a guy returning to a hometown that remains unchanged, a fitting metaphor for a company that has maintained its core values over 60 years.

The second truck, 365, is aptly named Business as Usual, a statement of intent for the company’s ongoing operations.

As Uhlenberg Haulage celebrates its 60th anniversary, the company is taking a moment to reflect on its journey. As part of the celebration, they are welcoming back former staff members to see how the business has evolved.

“I think there’s been nearly 200 staff who’ve been around the business in its six decades, which I don’t think is too bad,” Tony reflects.

The Legends will undoubtedly take pride of place at the anniversary celebrations, lined up at the front as a symbol of the company’s past and its enduring commitment to quality. For Tony, the success of the business is a bit of a mystery, even to him.

“Must be doing something right,” he says with a laugh. “Some days I do wonder what the hell we’re doing.”

But the evidence suggests otherwise.

By honouring the traditions of the past while embracing the demands of the present, Uhlenberg Haulage has created a legacy that is as robust as the trucks they drive. Whether it’s the daily grind of the Waikato routes or the pride of showcasing their Legends at a local show, the company remains a pillar of the industry.

In an era where the old school way of doing things is often sacrificed for the bottom line, Tony Uhlenberg and his brothers have proven that you can have both. You can run a modern, efficient, 46-truck fleet, and you can still find room for the soul of the industry, the long-nosed, chrome-clad, manual-shifting legends that remind everyone on the road why they fell in love with trucking in the first place.

 As Tony puts it; “People that know, know really. That’s all that matters.”