Our second inductee into the club for May ’24 is this tidy 2016 Volvo FH540 Globetrotter for Thawley Orchard Company of Mahana in the Tasman district.

The big Globetrotter began its working career running about the South Island for Heartland Haulage out of Timaru on a Toll contract. Built with the trusty 540hp D13 and I-Shift, the 38-pallet Fruehauf unit running 50 tonnes has been a solid performer, according to logistics manager Aaron Thawley.

The unit is driven by Kevin Borland, and he loves it. Having previously driven a 2006 FH12 480 as well as a 2011 FH540, he has good experience with the Volvo brand. Aaron explains: “The truck mostly runs between Nelson and Hastings for us carting apples, apple trees and packaging, with the odd trip to Auckland and Timaru. It works hard, but has been a good solid runner, and barely been off the road for more than a few days at a time since it joined the fleet, it really has been very reliable. We have the unit maintained by Dean’s Truck Services of Motueka, and they work hard to get it turned around and back out the door for us as quick as they can.”

The truck was purchased by Thawley Orchard Company with the mindset of it doing about 300,000km over five years. Instead, it has churned those out in just over half that time. So, yes, we say, ‘Go the mighty Globey.’