42 | RURAL SERVICES » Johnston Spreading Ltd Bruce and three owner-drivers going strong The brand of choice is Mercedes-Benz which Bruce says he’s found in his driving history to be good reliable trucks. Sue Russell The timing seemed right when Bruce Johnston, of Otorohanga-based fertiliser spreading business, Johnston Spreading, decided he had done his dash driving trucks on the road for a decade and was approached from local farmers to deliver and spread fertiliser on their farms. “It was a case that these two things happened at the same time which gave me the impetus to set up my own fert spreading company. It requires a whole set of different skills to be driving a fert spreading truck over farmland than driving on a road and I found this change refreshing,” Bruce says. Buying a second-hand truck was the beginning of what, 20 years later, has grown into a team of Bruce, and three owner-drivers. With Otorohanga forming part of South Waikato Bruce and the team offer their services across a significant chunk of highly productive land, going as far south as Benneydale, west to Marokopa and Kawhia on the coast and north up to Te Pahu and Te Awamutu. Bruce says business is still growing with more clients coming on. “I have a really good core of farmers I supply. They know they’re going to get their fertiliser placed exactly where they need it, given the sophisticated GPS and Trac Map systems the trucks have on board. It’s always been my standard that the job needs to be done well each and every time,” says Bruce. Regional Councils are also concerned with proof of placement to ensure nitrogen caps are not exceeded, hence the technologies on board the fertiliser trucks, have to be right up to the minute. The brand of choice is Mercedes-Benz which Bruce says he’s found in his driving history to be good reliable trucks. Bruce says he finds Mercedes Benz to be very good on the steeper inclines and ensures all the trucks are well maintained. “Some of the guys are changing to Scania brand which they also find work well in the conditions we face. These new trucks have scales that automatically calibrate for the density of the fert.” Autumn is always a busy time of the year, though there’s generally plenty of work all year round. “One of the things thats great about being an agricultural contractor is that there’s a strong rhythm and flow to how the seasons unfold and the activities we engage in.” Bruce says he doesn’t like it when drivers feel under pressure and work at a pace that isn’t sustainable. “My clients understand there’s only a certain number of hours in each day and we prioritise the work around what’s most important to do, depending on the time of the year and the weather on any given day.” Good drivers, he says, are hard to come by. “It’s not necessarily a given that because you may have been driving trucks on the road for years, that you’re going to have all the skills that working on farm land requires. You have to be able to read off-road conditions.” Other personality traits he looks for is the ability to get on well with the farmers. “My guys do an awesome job communicating with our clients.” • ACCOUNTING SERVICES ( ANNUAL ACCOUNTS, TAX RETURNS, GST, PAYROLL ) • SUCCESSION PLANNING • BUDGETS • BUSINESS SET UP 115 Rewi Street, Te Awamutu | PO Box 10, Te Awamutu 07 8720104 | MEGAN 027 486 8742 | ALASTAIR 027 654 9427 admin@kiwias.co.nz | kiwias.co.nz KIWI ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS LTD So with 20 years now clocked up, Bruce says he’s happy with where the business is positioned in the demanding agricultural contracting sector. “It starts and ends with the quality of the team I have working in the business. They’re all passionate about delivering excellent quality work to our farmers.” Peter Harrison 06 278 3054 or 027 448 0802 Regent Street, Hawera BULK SPREADERS AND TRAILERS Made in NZ with NZ components for NZ conditions • Prompt Backup Service • Drawbeams • Roll Bars • Bumpers • Chassis Alteration • Repairs and Maintenance • Structure Steel Fabrication for Buildings and Houses Proudly supporting Johnston Spreading Ltd Custom built bins and trailers & all associated truck and trailer work
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