54 | Christchurch Towing Services AUTOMOTIVE Towing service in demand Christchurch Towing Services are now the low vehicle specialists for sports cars and classic cars. T T Virginia Wright Easing the load for logging crews T T Russell Fredric D&D Heavy Haulage There’s not much the owner of Christchurch Towing Services, Stewart Fitzgerald, doesn’t know about cars after a lifetime of tinkering with engines, following in the footsteps of his mechanically minded father. He bought his first car aged 16, did it up and sold it again six months later. Nine years ago, he was working in a panel shop, buying and selling cars on the side to make some extra money when a cheap 1991 Isuzu Elf low-loading tow truck came up for sale. He bought it thinking he would fix it up and sell it as usual, but word got around among his friends that he had a tow truck, and they were soon asking for tows. Stewart left his job to start Christchurch Towing Services in 2016 knowing nothing about the towing industry, but learning fast thanks to some videos he found online. The company has steadily grown since his first contract for a nationwide hiring company moving scissor lifts, and today they are a team of three, each with their own truck. “We all take pride in our vehicles and we take pride in taking care of other people’s vehicles with every job we do,” says Stewart. Typically, Christchurch Towing Services is working with insurance companies, panel shops, commercial fleets and auto dealerSeeing the need for a more responsive service to the forestry industry was the catalyst for Dwayne Unahi and his former business partner to launch D & D Heavy Haulage. The pair operated a logging crew, and at times faced long wait times – up to two days – before a heavy transporter arrived to move their equipment, with the delay costing thousands of dollars in down-time. Recognising an opportunity, they initially invested in an older MTE (Modern Transport Engineers) Linkwing heavy transport trailer and a Kenworth T404 tractor unit with 500 horsepower. Linkwing trailers are low-loaders that feature hydraulic widening decks, allowing for adjustments to accommodate different load sizes and road conditions. A year later, in 2014, the company purchased a new Linkwing trailer and a new T408 550hp Kenworth. The trailers are able to be expanded from 2.5 metres to 3.8 metres in width. The company was originally based in Tuatapere, Western Southland, but is now solely family owned and operated out of Invercargill, with the backing of three decades’ experience in the logging and agricultural industries. Today, D & D Heavy Haulage operates two Scania tractor units, including a 2024 S-series with an impressive 770hp, which was purchased new last December. The change to the Scanias was unplanned, but Dwayne was sold on them after being offered a demonstrator to drive. Apart from greater comfort levels, they provide a tighter turning circle, which is advantageous on forestry roads and logging staging areas. D & D Heavy Haulage’s truck and trailer combination enables loads of up to 43 tonnes, or 65 tonnes with a front dolly – a bogie assembly that adds extra wheels to support higher weights. ships and manufacturers. While they offer standard tow truck services for accidents and breakdowns, they also relocate campervans, tow motorcycles and transport machinery anywhere in the South Island, explains Stewart. “It’s new for us, but we’re now working in with two other transport companies so we can provide transport for vehicles and machinery from every corner of the South Island.” They have the specialist equipment to safely recover vehicles from challenging locations with minimal risk of damage, and they can transport vehicles of all sizes from commuter cars to heavy trucks, as well as heavy machinery weighing up to five tonnes. Christchurch Towing Services is an important cog in the wheel of Christchurch’s ongoing rebuild. Their machine-transporting capabilities means they work closely with machine hire companies to deliver machinery to major civil projects, such as two of Christchurch’s ongoing rebuild projects, the Te Kaha Sports Stadium and the Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre. Stewart remains a car and truck enthusiast with an eye for beautiful cars. With new specialist layflat low-loading tow trucks, Christchurch Towing Services are now the low vehicle specialists for sports cars and classic cars, which is why they tend to be busy when there’s a classic car rally in the area. The business is very family-centred. Dwayne runs it with his wife, Vicki, who is a certified load pilot, and most of their five children have worked in it at some stage. Son Lewis is currently a part-time driver along with being contracted by the business as a forestry machinery operator, which means he can selfload forestry machinery for heavy haulage. Daughter Sophie has multiple licences and bridge engineering self-supervision (BESS) registration. She worked full-time as pilot and truck driver for six years until 2022. Being honest in communicating with clients and meeting expectations is a hallmark of the business, Dwayne says. However, this ethos can mean declining a job if a commitment cannot be made to meet a client’s needs, and being up front in communicating if there will be a delay. D & D Heavy Haulage is a member of the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association (NZHH), the national trade association for member companies that transport overweight or over-dimension loads for which permission from various regulatory authorities is required. An issue facing D & D Heavy Haulage and other specialist operators is the deteriorating condition of bridges, especially on rural roads, which can create difficulty in obtaining permits and in planning suitable routes. Safety is always foremost when transporting a heavy or wide load, requiring a pilot vehicle front and rear. One of the greatest hazards Dwayne sees is inconsiderate or careless driving by other road users, with some taking dangerous risks by ignoring the pilot vehicles or overtaking recklessly, including on double yellow lines. D & D Heavy Haulage transports throughout the South Island and can also coordinate nationwide transport. Dwayne is happy with the current workload, which offers a good lifestyle balance, while also enjoying his time on the road and the people he meets. “You end up all over the place, and with the networking you soon meet good mates that you work in with each other.” D & D Heavy Haulage transports throughout the South Island and can also coordinate nationwide transport. COMPLETE FLEET SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 710 Halswell Junction Rd, Christchurch Workshop 03 3446173 | Andrew 02108411266 Plant and Machinery WOF COF repairs • Manufacturers of Clifden Dry Lime • Suppliers of crushed lime rock and grey rock • Manufacturers of dry hog wood chip and recycled wood suitable for furnace fuel • Suppliers of hog wood chip, suitable for animal beds and sheds www.dtking.co.nz
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