Kevin’s story is not just one of business growth, but a deeply personal narrative of family legacy, an unbreakable partnership with his wife Megan, and a profound commitment to treating their team as an extension of their own family.

It’s a journey that began with the humble rumble of a truck engine in a small town and has grown into a fleet of gleaming Kenworths, a showcase of what can be achieved when passion, hard work, and respect lead the way.

For some, a career path is a choice made after years of deliberation. For Kevin McKay, it was more like an inheritance. Growing up in Katikati, a town nestled between Tauranga and Waihi, the sound of a diesel engine wasn’t just background noise; it was the family soundtrack.

“My father was driving trucks when I was quite young, and then all my three older brothers have driven trucks,” Kevin recalls, reflecting on the environment that shaped his future.

It was a world of steel, horsepower, and hard-earned miles, with conversations around the dinner table revolving around road conditions, challenging loads, and the unique camaraderie of the transport industry.

For a young Kevin, watching his father and brothers, a life outside of trucking seemed almost unimaginable. His path, he admits, was “sort of semi-inevitable” and it was only a matter of time. School, by his own admission, wasn’t for him. The call of the open road and the promise of practical, hands-on work were far more appealing than the classroom. He left at 15, but not without a plan. His parents’ rule was simple: he wasn’t allowed to leave school until he had a job secured.

He found that opportunity at a local building supply company, starting at the bottom by stacking timber shelves. Soon, he was making deliveries, his first “rig” being an “old Bedford van”.

The progression was swift. He graduated to a small two-tonne tipper truck, then to a larger, Perkins-powered Dodge. Each step up was a step closer to his destiny. It was during this time that he earned his Heavy Transport (HT) license, the key that would unlock his future in the transport industry.

His first official industry job was with Robert Monk Transport, working under the local manager, John Thomas. Here, he cut his teeth hauling fruit, vegetables, and general freight across the Bay of Plenty and into Auckland. Behind the wheel of an “N series Ford or a Mack Mid-liner,” he learned the rhythms of the road, the discipline of logistics, and the responsibility that comes with piloting a heavy vehicle. From there, he moved to Weatherall Transport driving a Scania on a daily run to Gisborne, further cementing his experience and knowledge of the region that would one day become his home base.

The entrepreneurial spirit, perhaps another inherited trait, began to stir. In 2004, Kevin took his first major step towards independence, becoming an owner-driver with a single truck, working in partnership with a friend who had started his own transport company. This period was a crucial training ground for business ownership, teaching him the intricacies of managing his own vehicle, finances, and time.

But the truly pivotal moment, the one that would set the course for the McKay enterprise as it exists today, came in 2006. The opportunity arrived through family.

“My wife’s cousin, Craig Needham, was working in forestry, building roads down in Gisborne on the East Coast and he was offered a job to cart all of his own metal, and he rung me up to help,” Kevin explains. It was a significant risk and a major life change, but one that he would never regret.

Kevin and Megan evaluated the opportunity, took a leap of faith, and relocated to Gisborne to take on the contract. With that decision, their business was born, rooted in forestry and built on a foundation of trust and family connection.

From that single truck and a bold move to a new town, the McKay business has flourished into an impressive operation. The fleet has expanded significantly to include nine of their own truck and trailer units, complemented by four heavy machines operating in the forest.

Central to the identity of this fleet is a deep and abiding loyalty to one iconic brand. Kevin is, in his own words, a “Kenworth person through, and through”.

This isn’t just a preference; it’s a passion for the reliability, performance, and driver prestige associated with the name. The McKay yard is a showcase of Kenworth excellence, with the notable exception of a “little 6-wheeler Scania,” a specialised tool chosen for its suitability for farm and forest work.

Among the polished chrome and distinctive grills are some true crown jewels. The fleet boasts not one, but two limited-edition Legend models: a T900 Legend and a W900 SAR Legend. These trucks are more than just workhorses; they are symbols of achievement and pride.

The story behind the T900 Legend beautifully illustrates the fusion of business and family that defines the McKays. The one-day-only ordering window for the highly sought-after T900 model happened to fall on his wife Megan’s birthday. With a smile, Kevin jokes, “So I keep telling my wife, it’s your truck”. It’s a light-hearted comment that speaks volumes about their partnership. She doesn’t drive it.

This partnership is, without a doubt, the central pillar of the company. Kevin and Megan, who have been together for over 25 years, operate as a seamless team, their individual strengths combining to create a formidable whole. While Kevin is the face of the operation on the road, managing the fleet and the hands-on logistics, Megan is the anchor in the office.

“She looks after the office and the finances,” Kevin states simply, a modest summary of a role that is integral to their stability and growth.

Megan’s influence, however, extends far beyond the balance sheets. She is the driving force behind the company’s exceptional safety culture and its commitment to employee welfare.

Kevin proudly says: “She’s quite passionate about safety and giving everything we can give to our staff, and she works hard in that space.”

Megan’s diligent efforts have resulted in the company achieving numerous prestigious accreditations, including EROAD 5-star driver status and ACC Fleet Saver Gold recognition. They are tangible proof of a deep-seated commitment to creating a safe and supportive work environment, a factor that helps them attract and retain top-quality staff.

This focus on people is where the heart of the McKay philosophy truly lies. In an industry that can often be transient and impersonal, the McKay’s have cultivated a culture where every employee feels valued. They see their team not as a list of payroll numbers, but as an “extended family”. Their guiding principle is simple yet powerful: “treating people the way that you want to be treated. Which is with respect.”

This respect is demonstrated through open communication, genuine care, and by providing the best possible tools for the job. Investing in high-quality, well-maintained Kenworth trucks isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about showing their drivers that they are valued professionals. This approach fosters immense pride within the team. Their drivers are proud of the rigs they command and, more importantly, what those rigs represent: “reliability, professionalism, that’s what McKays are all about.”

While their business is a prominent fixture in the Gisborne community, the McKays themselves are quietly humble. They are “very community minded” but have no interest in broadcasting their contributions, preferring to “fly under the radar” and let their actions speak for themselves.

The team at McKay Cartage was instrumental in the recovery efforts following multiple storms in the Gisborne area, including Cyclone Gabrielle. They played a crucial role by carting rock for essential repairs to a washed-out bridge abutment in Tokomaru Bay, working with other contractors to reopen roads and restore access for supplies and residents.

During the challenging cleanup after Cyclone Gabrielle, they were fully involved despite a complete loss of communications, resorting to driving to relay messages and even flying people between the coast and Gisborne to coordinate their efforts.

Their deep-seated support for the grassroots rugby community is also a reflection of their core values. On the East Coast, the passion for rugby mirrors the fanaticism of English football, a phenomenon rooted in community and family. This fervent support aligns perfectly with McKay Cartage’s own ethos, as the company considers family (both their immediate family and their business “family”) to be the most integral and interwoven thread of their operation.

That being said, their focus remains squarely on service, professionalism, and leading by example. This forward-thinking vision is articulated perfectly by Megan, who encapsulates their competitive drive and commitment to excellence.

“We firmly believe that we’re the number one specialist down here for bulk cartage, and so we like to lead from the front,” she says.

“We like to be the first with innovation... and just have everyone else follow.

“Alongside the gear, our greatest asset is our team who do an incredibly hard job, in incredibly tough conditions. If you want to test your driving ability and that of the gear, then come down the East Coast – it has some of the harshest roading in the country and our business is a testament to our team.”

This is the McKay Way. From Kevin’s first delivery in a small Bedford van to a fleet of legendary Kenworths, the journey has been one of relentless hard work, strategic growth, and an unwavering belief in their people. It’s a story written in diesel and steel, but its most enduring chapters are about loyalty, respect, and the remarkable power of building a business that feels like home.