As if it had fallen from the pages of an early American transport magazine, this month‘s Top Truck proudly wears classic stripes and signage that salute its pedigree and lineage.

Back when Fred Botica was manning the Radio Hauraki studio from the top of Caltex House, spinning a vinyl pressing of Daddy Cool‘s‘ Eagle Rock on 1476AM, young truck nutters were drooling over the centrefold images of American Overdrive magazine; those well-stacked models sporting classic curves and lines that would cause many young hearts to race. The International TranStar 4070, Peterbilt 352, Mack Cruise Liner and Kenworth K100 would all etch images into the minds of young truckers around the world, dreaming of owning their own all-American cabover rig one day. This month‘s Top Truck owes its place as pride of fleet with Counties Bulk Haulage to owner Boyd Young‘s very own aspirations brought about by those images he vividly remembers. “As a kid I would pore over the pictures in those magazines, and when it was finally time to stripe up the Eagle I knew how I wanted it to look, and with John Moulden from The Sign Shed‘s help, I feel we have captured the old skool American cabover look,” he said. Boyd‘s interest in trucks and the transport industry has its roots firmly placed in the Franklin district. Boyd‘s father was a local stock agent and had connections with the resident rural carriers and transport operators, the likes of RW Howard and Tuakau Transport. “There was always a passenger‘s seat to fill, and no phones back then, so at the end of the day I would head straight to the Tuakau Cossie Club because that‘s where you would catch the stock agents after the sales, so it wasn‘t hard to find Dad to grab a lift home,” Boyd shared with a laugh.

Riding shotgun in the stock units led to an opportunity working for Vernon Farms, where at the age of 18 Boyd learnt to drive both a J4 Bedford and a D series Ford. Passing his H/T licence, Boyd worked his way up to a new Mitsubishi stock truck. It was 1990 that saw a move to work for James Chapman and Colin Irvine at Pukekawa Bulk Fertiliser. This shift found Boyd driving a mix of spreaders and bulk units, including a stint on a Ford N5032 and then a W924 Kenworth. In 2000 James presented Boyd with the opportunity to purchase Pukekawa Bulk Fertiliser. This began a five-year journey that transitioned the business into Counties Bulk Haulage as it is known today. Boyd‘s fleet has grown organically as the needs and opportunities presented themselves. As well as the International there are two DAF 6×4 units, both with 4-axle trailers, a 460 Isuzu 6×4 with a 3-axle trailer, and a Fuso Enduro 6×4. The business of moving bulk commodities places the fleet in many challenging situations and this in part is the reason for the addition of the 9870 Eagle.

Photo: Owner Boyd Young (left) and driver Adrian Norris are both extremely pleased with the new ride in the fleet.

Photos: Another crisp build by the team at Transfleet Trailers.

Photo: Every bit an iconic American place of work, with modern day twists.

Photo: Classic American stripes and signage, straight from the centrefolds of the 1980‘s Overdrive magazine.

“I was looking for a unit that could cover all the bases for us,” said Boyd. “Carting off the wharf this configuration with the 6-wheeler and the 5-axle can be heavy permitted, as well as giving the flexibility and agility of the 6-wheeler for when we are running fert to airstrips or metal and aggregates into hoppers. I was also looking for the torque and horsepower that the Cummins X15 offered, alongside the ease of operation speccing the Eaton UltraShift MXP 18-speed AMT transmission. For tight situations and around town city traffic it just cannot be beaten; it takes the sweat out of driving and allows you to concentrate on what‘s up ahead. It really does have everything we needed.” Chatting with full-time driver on the Eagle, Adrian Norris, we receive a big thumbs-up from him as well. “I have been with Boyd here at Counties Bulk Haulage for seven years now and this is my third new truck and I love it. I had both the DAFs from new and now have moved on to the Eagle; you won‘t get me out of it,” he says with a smile.

1) Owner Boyd Young (left) and driver Adrian Norris are both extremely pleased with the new ride in the fleet; 2 & 3) Another crisp build by the team at Transfleet Trailers; 4) Every bit an iconic American place of work, with modern day twists; 5) Classic American stripes and signage, straight from the centrefolds of the 1980‘s Overdrive magazine.