24 | Introduction of GPS tracking a ‘godsend’ Kings Log Transport employs about 100 staff and provides training and support for people either interested in entering the industry or wanting to upgrade their licence class. T T from page 22 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Southland: Kings Log Transport Kings Mechanical was established as an independently owned business in December last year following the separation of Southland transport irm D T King Transport’s mechanical workshop operation. Kings Mechanical is owned by Craig and Abby Ward who are excited to be operating a business which has the foundation of a signi icant, long established key client which operates 180 trucks, along with providing its services to the wider Southland region. D T King Transport’s change of business model means it is now operating as Kings Log Transport, having also sold o some other parts of its business. Craig had worked for D T Kings for 20 years. “It was a very good opportunity for us to have our own business. I was running it before, so it was a logical progression.” Headquartered from its workshop in Pukemaori, Western Southland, Kings Mechanical also has satellite workshops in Invercargill, Otautau and Riverton and employs 17 sta . Its range of services includes routine warrants and certi icates of itness, certi ied engineering work, a variety of repair work including full engine and transmission overhauls and rebuilds, electronic an electrical diagnosis and repairs. Craig and Abby are also grateful that, in purchasing the business, they inherited a Kings Mechanical ‒ Keeping Things Running skilled workforce who can undertake this variety of work, including certi ied welding and, if needed, some types of specialised work can outsourced. While trucks have become more reliable mechanically over the years, some aspects have also become more “niggly” due to the sophistication in the electrical and electronic components, Craig says. The workshops have managed to retain good sta over the years, he says. Among them are two who recently completed their apprenticeship as diesel mechanics, plus three other apprentices who are working through theirs. Craig sees employing apprentices and committing to their training as essential, not only to the business, but also in making a contribution to the wider industry. “It’s very important. We’ve always trained apprentices, partly for the fact that we work on the theory that if we provide enough apprentices out into the industry, eventually some of themwill come back to you.” Abby’s role in the business involves administration, including invoicing, accounts and wages using Xero accounting, which is integrated with SAM, a specialised industry-related program that includes job tracking, invoicing and record keeping and that connects to trade suppliers and NZ Transport Agency. Proudly supporting Kings Log Transport. 03 225 5803 craig.ward@kingsmechanical.co.nz Heavy & Light Mechanical Servicing/Repairs Pre COF checks & COF repairs Workshops in Invercargill, Riverton, Otautau & Pukemaori Daily Freight service from Invercargill - Riverton - Otautau - Tuatapere New clients welcome for all services! “It’s crucial because it gives the forestry companies live-time data, so they know how much was delivered to the mills or the ports, especially when the wharf is getting full of logs, and they need to keep an eye on how much is coming in. “I remember when I first started dispatching the log trucks for D T King and Co, there were 22 loggers and we just had Navman GPS installed; it was a fantastic tool. We soon grew to over 50 log trucks very quickly and it turns out the introduction of GPS tracking was a godsend.” There has been a decline in the volume of logs transported during the past 3 to 4 months due to their export value being the lowest and for the longest Gordon has seen in his 22 years in the industry, however there are signs of daylight appearing on the horizon, he says. “In the last couple of weeks, it’s just started creeping up again in price and we would be at 85% cartage capacity at the moment. In the next four weeks we should hopefully be back to near 100% for our cartage if the markets keep going the way they are.” As an executive on the New Zealand Log Safety Council, Gordon is frequently out of the province and says the overall state of New Zealand roads is atrocious and the worst he can remember, despite the road taxes that are collected from transport companies. “It’s just a common complaint. There’s just not enough maintenance getting done.” Kings Log Transport employs about 100 staff and provides training and support for people either interested in entering the industry or to upgrade their licence class to drive truck and trailer units. The company offers competitive pay rates, free medical insurance and good conditions and, with about 60% of Kings’ fleet having automatic transmission, the challenge of learning to work through multiple gears and ratios does not have to be an obstacle. “In the last couple of weeks, it’s just started creeping up again in price and we would be at 85% cartage capacity at the moment. In the next four weeks we should hopefully be back to near 100% for our cartage if the markets keep going the way they are.”
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