78 | Cost of getting goods to market on the up Sue Russell Located in Outram, 28 km west of Dunedin is home-base for Hyslop Rural Transport, a family business run by Derek Hyslop, daughter Nadine and her partner John Broekhoff. It’s a business that has been engaged in the rural transport sector for more than 75 years, a distinction that separates the business from other rural transport entities operating in the region. Founded by Derek’s grandfather Charlie and father, the late Jack in 1946, Hyslop Rural Transport has undergone a couple of changes in name from its original. Derek joined the business in 1980 and together with his cousin Wayne Hyslop, ran the business for 25 years. In 2019, John and Nadine joined the company, taking over from Wayne. Today, four years later Hyslop Rural Transport has four drivers, due to a driver shortage, with Derek still actively behind the wheel. “I still enjoy being out on the road working, meeting our customers and delivering the best service we possibly can.” John takes care of the office management - dispatching the drivers, taking bookings and organising the orders; Derek is mostly out driving but also takes care of management decisions and driver training, whilst Nadine does administration and health & safety compliance. At one time Hyslop Transport had 40 trucks, busy moving logs and bulk materials, fertilisers, vegetables and carting milk. In time, the business has consolidated its activity and its scale to six trucks for carting livestock, bulk fertiliser, wool and baleage, as well as a couple of seasonal contracts. They also have three fertiliser spreaders which all use Tracmap GPS technology to ensure the correct amount of fertiliser is spread exactly where it is meant to be, and farmers have the ability to set maps up ready to go, as well as have the proof of placement on record once completed. When Rural South spoke with Derek he was lamenting the fact that it is becoming seriously difficult to attract keen people to the transporting sector. “They just don’t seem interested to work as much as we used to, when you’re driving though it may be a long day, you’re not working hard the whole day, just for maybe 2 hours. I think it just comes down to old-fashioned work ethic that doesn’t seem to be instilled in young people anymore,” Derek says. Derek thinks this situation, being experienced across many transport operators is something that will take its toll on not only the businesses concerned but on the wider economy - the cost of goods to market and ultimately to consumers. “In fact we are already seeing the beginning now, RURAL SERVICES » Hyslop Rural Transport it will only get more difficult in future if we dont encourage more young people into the rural driving industry,” he says. Derek also believes its getting more difficult for rural transport companies, indeed most transport businesses, to make enough of a profit for reinvesting in new or upgraded machinery, vehicles and people. “Many of our biggest expenses, fuel, insurance and mechanical costs, have almost doubled in the past 2 years and there’s only so much of that cost burden we can pass on to our customers. The freezing companies want to get the very best deal for them on the cost of transporting stock to the works, so our margins now are just so much tighter with minimal areas to increase our prices.” He’s concerned that as fewer and fewer transport businesses are operating successfully, that is, making sufficient profit after costs to maintain their fleets and team, that only the big players will be left; reducing the amount of competition in the market. “If you haven’t got healthy competition then prices increase and stabilise, options for customers will decrease, and the sector will just continue to spiral.” After the unfortunate crash back in November of last year, the company now has about a 12 month wait until a replacement stock truck arrives, just another impact of global issues hitting the transport sector. Hyslop Rural Transport has had a long association with Mercedes and Scania brands. Derek says he finds them good solid trucks, comfortable for the driver, efficient running and reliable. The quiet six weeks between mid June to end of July allows time to undertake necessary maintenance and give drivers a well-earned break. Having a team of drivers, a couple of whom have been behind the wheel for 18 years or more now, adds greatly to the reputation and quality of service Hyslop Rural Transport offers its clients. · Service the North and South Island in our fully equipped workshops · Manufacturers of Aluminium Stock Crates Proud to support Hyslop Rural Transport S T O C K C R A T E S FEILDING TIMARU Ph06 323 3629 • • Blair (South Island) 027 690 0724 Brodie (North Island) 021 0294 1293 Ph 03 688 2274 are proud to be associated with Hyslop Rural Transport Moore Markhams Otago 2 Clark Street, PO Box 919, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand T +64 (0)3 477 0032 | www.markhams.co.nz Moore Markhams is a network of independent firms that are each members of Moore Global Network Limited. Member firms in principal cities throughout the world. Accountants and Business Advisors Hyslop Rural Transport is a family business run by Derek Hyslop, daughter Nadine and her partner John Broekhoff. Phone 24HR 03 455 2005 Email admin@generaltyres.co.nz
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