While visiting Pio Pio on a blistering late summer afternoon, Craig McCauley had the good fortune to come across Seth Warren, who was giving the Kenworth K108 Aerodyne he drives for Progress Transport a once-over in preparation for an early start the following morning.

The Warrens are a well-known family of truck drivers, particularly in Taranaki and the King Country. Seth is among the fourth generation to join the industry, and before joining Progress, he worked as a machine operator for Inframax Construction.

He spent a lot of time in the passenger’s seat of a Progress Transport truck while growing up and leapt at the chance to drive for the firm when the opportunity arose. He started on PTL1, a Cummins Signature- powered Freightliner Argosy, before going onto the K108.

When the topic of negatives about the industry was raised, Seth reckoned that everything about the job was pretty good. However, he doesn’t enjoy waiting when stock is being prepared for pick-up – but that goes with the job.

Living close to the well-stocked waterways of the North Island’s West Coast, Seth was asked if his preference was for whitebait or paua. The “ocean’s bounty” was his reply.