TR Group has appointed some new faces to the Master Drive team, further extending its ability to offer world-class driver training throughout New Zealand.

Husband and wife team return to TR Master Drive Taranaki

Bill Kidney                                                                                   Margaret Kidney

The Taranaki branch of New Zealand‘s largest and oldest private driver training provider has a distinctive family feel about it these days following the appointment of husband and wife team, Bill and Margaret Kidney.

For Bill and Margaret, both long-serving Master Drive staffers, it is a welcome return home, as Bill was born in Taranaki, and the couple have extended family dotted throughout the region.

The return home has been a long time coming for the couple. Bill is TR Master Drive‘s most senior trainer, and one of its most travelled. In his 18 years with the company, he has worked in the Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin branches, as well as helping out when required in other regions.

He also has the role of national trainer mentor and support manager for TR Master Drive.

Now he is back in Taranaki, Bill and his team with be offering the region‘s transport operators the full portfolio of TR Master Drive services, comprising more than 200 courses and sub-courses, covering everything from heavy vehicle licensing to dangerous goods handling.

Bill will be heading up the Taranaki operation as its manager while Margaret will handle office administration for Taranaki as well as continuing various other roles she has with the company nationally.

Senior trainer appointed in Tauranga

Dale Brunskill

Dale Brunskill, who has more than 30 years in the transport industry as an operator, trainer and business owner, has been appointed to head TR Master Drive‘s Tauranga operation.

In announcing the appointment, TR Master Drive regional manager Geoff Wright said Dale brings a wealth of experience to the job and knows the region well.

“Dale has spent the past couple of years helping out our team in Christchurch. But he was raised in Tauranga, knows the Bay, and jumped at the chance to return to his home turf.”

Matt Wildbore joins TR Master Drive Palmerston North

Matt Wildbore

“A Palmy boy, through and through” – that is how the latest addition to TR Master Drive‘s Palmerston North team describes himself.

Matt Wildbore might also describe himself as a husband, father, farmer, former truck driver and an accomplished drummer in a rock band – all of which is true.

However, these days Matt is also a specialist driver trainer. Like all of TR Master Drive‘s trainers, Matt is steeped in trucking. He has ‘been there, done that‘ as a driver, serving two stints with Uhlenberg Haulage. However it was the training capacity and potential that interested him most.

When the opportunity came to join New Zealand‘s largest and most experienced driver training provider he didn‘t hesitate.

Today Matt is a fully-fledged member of the TR Master Driver team. The former driver is now training other drivers, drivers who share his passion for the industry.