84 | Aimee Wilson Amuri Transport is growing from strength to strength, now with 24 staff, and aims to deliver a top-quality service to its customers in the North Canterbury region. Based in Culverden, the majority of its work is in the Canterbury area – consisting of freight & bulk cartage, fertiliser spreading and livestock transportation. Amuri Transport has a freight service operating three times a week from Christchurch to the Amuri basin, bulk cartage throughout Canterbury and livestock cartage delivering across the South Island to processing plants. This keeps the rural transport operation busy with not a lot of down time. Owner operators Eddie and Sandra Swain have recently just bought out the other 50% shareholders of the company, and now the successful transport company is 100% family owned & operated. They have been busy investing in upgrading their fleet quite extensively over the last two years and replacing old truck units - particularly in the bulk & fertiliser divisions. Another hydraulic blower unit will be added to the transport service, and in August a new 6x6 fertiliser spreader will complete the fertiliser division. Eddie said the new hydraulic blower unit used for delivering bulk feed to farmers has been hugely successful, and they could hardly keep up with business. The company places a strong emphasis on the recruitment of experienced drivers, across all divisions in the company. “This is essential especially with livestock where they have to be able to read stock and know about their temperament - especially cattle,” he said. RURAL SERVICES » Amuri Transport Eddie said livestock drivers have increased responsibility especially with MPI regulations and a driver needed to not only have all round driving skills but also common sense. All new spreader drivers and those dealing with stock receive six weeks training before going out on their own, to ensure they are competent in what they do. With the rising cost of diesel, Eddie and Sandra are always looking at different ways to dispatch trucks in a cost-effective manner. They also have their own workshop in Culverden which operates as a separate entity. Amuri Workshop Ltd employees two diesel mechanics and an apprentice, servicing both Amuri Transport and their other transport operation E.D. Swain Ltd - as well as servicing outside businesses with their own trucks. They have an engineer based in Dunsandel who carries out all maintenance and new builds for both fleets. This ensures that downtime for scheduled maintenance and repairs is at a minimum. A born and bred Southlander, Eddie comes from Edendale growing up on a sheep and beef farm, and got involved in rural transport after working on farms. Sandra grew up in North Canterbury and her father owned his own trucking company as well so it’s fair to say trucking is in the blood. Eddie and Sandra set up E.D Swain Ltd in Dunsandel back in 1987 and bought their first truck, a 1970 Mercedes Benz LK 1418 which has now returned to the fleet & been restored to its original state. The future looks great for Amuri Transport as it continues to grow and refine its huge range of services - and continues to make a name for itself in the industry. For all your Rural Transport requirements! 56 St Leonards Road, Culverden | (03) 315 3033 | admin@amuritransport.co.nz Livestock - eddie@amuritransport.co.nz Fertiliser - fert@amuritransport.co.nz Freight - freight@amuritransport.co.nz Bulk - bulk@amuritransport.co.nz Amuri Transport (1989) Ltd Livestock – Bulk Cartage – Fertiliser Spreading & Stores – Daily Freight Service – Quarry Proud to support Amuri Transport robin@totalstockcrates.co.nz www.totalstockcrates.co.nz 06 323 0202 Contact us today Proud to be chosen as the Stockcrate supplier to this iconic company. 5 year guarantee Hydraulic blower unit very popular Eddie Swain (middle) with sons Stephen and Brad. Eddie and Sandra set up E.D Swain Ltd in Dunsandel in 1987 and bought their first truck, a 1970 Mercedes Benz LK 1418 which has now returned to the fleet & been restored to its original state.
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