The Rock Dog is one top dog

4 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJune 24, 2017

It‘s Volvo Group seventh heaven at Road Metals! Two immaculately presented pieces of plant as only Road Metals can do it.

A company known for a history of being home to immaculate bulldogs continues to improve the pedigree with the latest generation.

This month‘s New Zealand Trucking magazine ‘Top Truck‘ can trace its lineage back to 1974 when North Otago Road Metal put their first new Mack trucks to work hauling aggregate on the South Island hydro projects of that era.

It wasn‘t long before the company‘s beautifully presented Mack trucks started attracting attention well beyond their home town of Oamaru. Many readers will remember the much sought-after poster of the company‘s immaculate ‘Daddy Cool,‘ an R Model Mack and 2-axle bottom dump trailer that appeared in stationers all over the country in the late 70s.

Hounds in the pound. The latest generation of ‘go‘ and ‘show‘ dogs.

Since those early days a steady procession of award winning Bulldogs have served to elevate the profile of both brands. Fast-forward four decades and the Bulldog still reigns supreme in the modern-day Road Metals fleet, with seven Tridents being backed up by several other Macks in both tractor unit and tipper configuration.

‘The Rock Dog‘ is a 2014 model CMHR6x4 Trident powered by Mack‘s 12.6-litre MP8 Euro 5 engine that produces 401kW (535hp) and 2603Nm (1920lb/ft) of torque. A 12-speed Mack AT2612D mDRIVE automated manual transmission heads a pair of Meritor RT46-160 rear axles and a Hendrickson AP460 Primaax airbag rear suspension rounds out the bulletproof drivetrain.

Road Metals are held in high regard for the immaculate presentation of their equipment, and just like its predecessors ‘The Rock Dog‘ is adorned with many extras, including an Ali Arc bumper, twin air intakes, twin high rise exhaust stacks and plenty of polished stainless.

Kane Scott drives the truck from Road Metals Yaldhurst quarry; he has clocked up more than three years with the company, having previously driven a Mack Granite prior to the Trident‘s arrival.

Kane Scott

For the first part of its life ‘The Rock Dog‘ was fitted with a 1.25-metre high alloy bin and matching trailer, however in the interests of both diversification and future-proofing, the truck returned to Transport & General‘s Hamilton workshop late in 2016 where a new truck bin and trailer were fitted with 1.55m sides – giving an increased cubic capacity – complete with Elliptical covers. A 49 tonne route-specific HPMV permit ensures payload opportunities are maximised.

Road Metals produce products from five Canterbury sites. Bulk drops, stock piling and spreading form the nucleus of Kane‘s work, delivering anywhere from metropolitan building sites to any one of the major infrastructure projects currently being undertaken around the region.

Investing in premium products and presenting them at the level they do implicates not only productivity, but also marketing and staff retention in the return on investment. Road Metals Co Ltd (as the company is known today) – an icon of the south that continues to break new ground.

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