66 | Running a diverse fleet of trucks Family owned and operated rural transport firm Dannevirke Carriers continues to adapt its services to meet the changing demands of Tararua farmers, as it strives to provide ‘anything the farmer wants’. Since Covid, East Coast farmers have suffered with extreme weather events and now a recession. A severe drought three years ago has since given way to cyclones and floods, and now another drought is forecast for summer. “There is a bit of concern that there is a recession and rural New Zealand is going to struggle,” says Dannevirke Carriers director Nigel Castles. RURAL SERVICES » Dannevirke Carriers “We’ve got to be ready to do what our clients want and if anything changes, we’ve got to be able to cope with it.” Nigel says Dannevirke Carriers runs a diverse fleet of trucks ranging in numerous sizes and configurations of vehicles, which has helped access farms as required. The extreme wet conditions have required more careful consideration into what size or type of vehicle is best suited for the clients’ requirements. “Whatever we can do to look after our customers has always been our thing,” Nigel’s sister and codirector Lina Day says. Dannevirke Carriers is now helping out in the fertiliser supply chain as the pressure comes on to get fert on the paddocks as quickly as possible. While Dannevirke Carriers is still busy carting fert from local Ravensdown and Balance stores, rising costs and stock on hand issues have now forced local farmers to start sourcing their fert from further afield. In attempt to help farmers and fellow rural suppliers, Dannevirke Carriers has recently installed a small fert storage bin at the yard. Now, when fert has to come in from out of town, it can be stored for a day or two at the yard before going to the farm. “We’re following the trends that our farmers are going through,” Lina says. “We have been getting more orders from out of town as people start looking for more options. Our new fert bin makes it easier for the whole supply chain and also the planes, which haven’t been able to land on wet ground. Now it’s a bit drier they can land, and they want to get the fert on straight away.” Dannevirke Carriers is also adapting to a changing wool market, where farmers want their wool carted to whichever merchant is going to pay the best price. Depending where the wool needs to go, it might not be an economical trip, so Dannevirke Carriers now has the capacity at the yard to store wool until a bigger load has been built up, then truck several farmers’ wool to the highest paying merchant at the same time. Lina and Nigel are now adding new trucks to the fleet in quick succession, having gone three years over Covid without getting any new trucks. A new Volvo Globetrotter joined the fleet six months ago with a further one arriving in 2024, and a new bulk tip truck is set to arrive in October. With a fleet of 11, Dannevirke Carriers likes to replace one truck every year, backing up its team of great drivers with a modern and reliable fleet. Kelly Deeks Lor em ipsu To learn more about the BIGFOOT CENTRAL TYRE INFLATION SYSTEM visit WWW.BIGFOOT.CO.NZ TM Monster any surface with Bigfoot! Made right here in NZ, the Bigfoot Central Tyre In ation System is your best bet for in-cab tyre pressure control so you can achieve more traction, more of the time. Tread lightly and stay sure-footed with a Bigfoot on board. Talk to Grahamand the boys now about turning your spreader or tractor into a traction beast: 07 347 7066 or info@bigfoot.co.nz ‘Proudly Supporting Dannevirke Carriers’
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