| 81 to Kings Rural Transport Allan McLean operating a blower unit, filling a feed silo. RURAL SERVICES » Kings Rural Transport Southland comprising several different sizes and types of aggregate, as well as providing cartage for all types of gravel and rock, and can crush clients’ quarry material on request. The company also operates a lime quarry at Clifden, which provides a great resource for river protection or when large rock is required. This quarry provides lime feed material for the lime works to turn into lime dust for spreading. Kings Rural Transport runs a modern and wellmaintained fleet of bulk fertiliser spreaders which are equipped with TracMap GPS technology to enable precise spreading, proof of placement, and historical information. The company also runs a modern fleet of excavators, graders, rollers, and bulldozers ready to tackle any job. “We try to provide a complete service for our clients,” Taylor says. “It’s not uncommon for us to be building a dairy lane at a client’s place and at the same time we’ve got a bulk unit there spreading lime that has come from our lime works.” As general manager, Taylor now has a few more things to worry about than trucks going from A to B. He is now making decisions that affect the livelihoods of 40 staff and their families. “That’s 40 people who are reliant on us as a management team to make sure there is food on their tables.” One of the most immediate tasks for the new management team is developing the same familyoriented company culture that DT Kings enjoyed before outgrowing it. “The big thing our board wanted to get back to was a family oriented outfit where everyone knows everyone and everyone is the same. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a director or the last person we hired to be a labourer, we’re all pitching in and driving a team culture.” Providing engineering and mechanical services to Western Southland and Invercargill, Kings Mechanical is now independently owned and operated by former workshop manager Craig Ward and his wife Abby. Kings Mechanical is one of four divisions of long-established transport and haulage rm DT Kings Transport to have split o and be run independently. Kings Rural Transport, Riverton Rural Transport, Kings Log Transport, and Kings Mechanical are all now owned and operated by the people who have been managing them for many years. Craig was workshop manager for more than 25 years. “I’ve always wanted to have a go at running a business,” he says. “This is a golden opportunity and I’m thankful for it. It’s a big learning curve for me, as owning a business is quite di erent from running a workshop, and for Abby who has left her job at the bank to come and manage our o ce. But we’re adjusting to it well, and we’re fortunate to have good workers and good supervisors in our four workshops at Invercargill, Pukemaori, Riverton, and Otautau.” Andrew Murch is supervising in Pukemaori, Steven Wilson in Riverton, and Trevor Jones in Invercargill, and Craig says without them and their Independently owned and operated support, he and Abby would never have been able to take over the business. As much as he wants to be, Craig isn’t on the tools as much in his new role as owner, but these supervisors are so trusted they don’t even need to be checked up on. Craig aims to continue to build Kings Mechanical up on its rm foundations and keep providing employment opportunities for people from the local community where possible. Craig currently runs 17 sta across the four workshops, including three apprentices. The team predominately services transport eets, but also o ers a range of other mechanical and engineering services to other contractors and new clients Kings Mechanical has also taken over the daily freight service going between Invercargill and Tuatapere which was formerly run by DT Kings Transport. “We’ve enveloped that service into the workshop side because we used it more than anyone else in the group. It’s an extension of the workshop and helps us to be more productive because we’re not having to go and get parts from town.” The run services each Kings Mechanical workshop as well as collecting mail for New Zealand Post and providing freight services to the public. • Owned by Craig and Abby Ward • New clients welcome • Heavy & Light Mechanical Servicing/ Repairs • Pre COF checks & COF repairs • Workshops located at Pukemaori, Riverton, Otautau & Invercargill • Daily Freight service from Invercargill - Riverton - Otautau - Tuatapere Proud to support Kings Rural Transport 03 225 5803 or 027 2651905 craig.ward@kingsmechanical.co.nz
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