Southpac Legends

Straight talking ‘fearless’ Fred Burling was not only a pioneer in the trucking industry but his work ethic was deemed ‘salutable’ by those that knew (or knew of) him. With a massive 60-year contribution to the freight and farming industry, not only from the Wairarapa area but throughout New Zealand, Fred really was a legend.

To say Frederick Allan Burling ‘Fred’ came from ‘humble beginnings’ is an understatement of epic proportions. Born in Hastings in 1940, his early life was fraught with difficulties, essentially a combination of hard times for the family and of course World War II resulted in Fred and his five siblings being placed into the Methodist Children’s home orphanag... ... 

From cleaning fizzy drink delivery trucks as a kid to meticulously repairing crashed Kenworth cabs, restoring the old and modifying the new as an adult, Willie Malcolm’s attention to detail and buzz about the industry has not only brought him a truck load of ardent admiration from his peers but his enthusiasm has been passed on to future generations to come - that’s why he’s a Southpac Legend.

Although Willie was born in Rotorua, his parents hailed from Sterling in Scotland. His father took up a role as a branch manager of a soft drink company that produced brands such as Schweppes and Coke, and that’s where Willie’s love of trucks began. He says, “As kids we went to work with D... ... 

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 ... ... 

Parked up in the yard or rolling down the highway with a load of precast concrete or structural steel on the back, the striking flat-roof SAR looks like it has driven straight out of a golden era of Australasian trucking. It turns heads everywhere it goes because it gets the fundamentals exactly right – long bonnet, classic lines, proper stance, and manual gearbox.

For owner Grant Sumner, this truck represents 45 years in the transport industry, a lifetime spent behind the wheel, building relationsh... ... 

However, when the opportunity to own a Kenworth SAR Legend, Corey Burnett’s, (MD of Burnett’s Transport and Earthmoving) heart took over and he jumped at the chance. So, we have to ask, why does he keep it locked up in the shed?

Corey’s story, spanning 25 years in the industry, is highlighted in the acquisition and meticulous preservation of his Kenworth SAR Legend, but before we explore that, let’s start with Corey himself.

His journey into the trucking world began not with a grand plan, but with the hands-on experience of an apprentice. He honed his skills working for various compa... ...