48 | Orion Haulage T T Richard Loader Growing firmmeets industry needs TRANSPORT Celebrating twenty-one years in business last year was a significant milestone for Orion Haulage, which is part of the Orion Group that also includes Actus Transport and Kalsada Transport. Orion Haulage was founded by Glen and Lisa Mackay when they purchased an aging truck and a small amount of work off an existing transport company in Paeroa. In those early days, most work involved carting raw materials for pig and poultry farmers to home-mill and blend their own stock feed. Glen says there were always some dairy silos around but by 2004 palm kernel and other imported products had started to enter the country, and Orion Haulage grew with four auger feed trucks operating in the area. By 2006 silos were popping up on dairy farms everywhere, and the business started to grow quite quickly. “Since then, our business has grown organically, and we have also purchased other feed truck businesses and their assets. Orion Haulage now operates a modern fleet of about forty-five auger trucks and tanker units throughout the North Island, servicing the dairy industry.” While Orion Haulage’s main base is in Morrinsville, it has depots in New Plymouth, Wanganui, Levin, Palmerston North, and Woodville. “We do a little bit of work directly for the dairy farmer, but most of it is through large businesses that import and market stock feed, and we deliver it to the dairy farmers’ silos. We have some major contracts with some of the big players in the market, but we will carry for anyone.” In addition to Orion Haulage’s fleet of auger units, there is also a set of tanker units that mainly transport molasses, along with some dairy factory by-products like lactose, both of which are used as dairy cow supplement. Orion Haulage employs around 50 staff. While predominantly drivers, there are also mechanics, engineers, schedulers and office staff, all forming part of the team to get the job done on time, and the dairy cows fed. Glen says while he can always find people to fill roles within the business, the challenge is finding the right people with the right work ethic, the skill sets and culture fit. “It is hard finding people who are qualified to drive these trucks. They might have their Class 2 licence which entitles them to drive a medium rigid vehicle, but it is quite a process to take them through to their Class 5 Heavy Vehicle licence, where they can drive vehicles like ours. Our family business is proud to support another great New Zealand business like Orion Haulage, so they can keep delivering specialist transport and logistic services - primarily across the dairy and poultry sectors. We’re stoked to be part of their journey. Whatever your fuel needs, Waitomo can help. As well as supplying petrol and diesel, we offer bulk fuel supply, onsite diesel supply and fuel storage solutions. Seventy-five years on, our values remain the same – great people, top performance and a fairer price for fuel. Give the Waitomo team a call to discuss your fuel needs today. One hundred percent Kiwi-owned and operated, Waitomo has been fueling Kiwi businesses across the country for 75 years. 0800 922 123 | WAITOMOGROUP.CO.NZ “Opening up the borders to get drivers into the country would certainly help, but even then we may not get great people. “The Government could certainly help by making the licensing system a lot simpler to move people through it faster. “I would like to see the age for getting a Class 5 licence lowered from eighteen to sixteen. If the person is mature and capable of driving a truck, why can’t they get their licence. “Some people are just natural with driving these vehicles, while others not so much. When we get those good ones who are quite capable of doing it, why can’t we give them a licence. There are also more women being attracted to the industry now, and the industry can do with them.” Reflecting on twenty-one years in the industry, Glen says Orion Haulage has grown with the market, along with providing a great service and looking after the customers’ needs. “At the end of the day all we’ve got is providing a service. I grew up around trucks. “My whole life has been trucks to be fair. It’s the challenge of making it happen, start to finish — getting that feed delivered on time, and keeping up with demand.” “We do a little bit of work directly for the dairy farmer, but most of it is through large businesses that import and market stock feed, and we deliver it to the dairy farmers’ silos.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=