Ben Gordon has been trucking since the age of 15, after getting a special dispensation heavy-traffic licence. Ben first worked for his father in the family company Overland Express, which handles general freight specialising in abnormal, oversized loads and truck- mounted crane jobs – which are often delicate.

He feels privileged to have had that start straight out of school and to be born into the transport industry as a third- generation driver.

Trevor Inwood Transport was the next workplace for Ben, where he drove a Kenworth W924 on a variety of work, including block truck work and refrigerated goods. Ben then moved to March Construction, again driving Kenworths, mostly on demolition and construction work. Another move saw Ben at Ashby Concrete, driving concrete agitators and their concrete pump. He recommends that young drivers drive concrete trucks for experience with ‘live’ loads and to gain off-road and on-site experience.

About 10 years ago, Ben started working for Gerard Daldry at Pro Tranz and watched the company grow enormously with its involvement in the Christchurch Earthquake recovery.

Ben says no two days are the same in his line of work, shifting plant around the greater Christchurch areas with frequent trips to most regions of the South Island.

Ken Bell caught up with him while he was parking up in Invercargill recently. He had just delivered a new Case excavator to a farmer at Heriot in West Otago, then travelled south to collect another treasured gem for Gerard Daldry’s growing assortment of classic trucks.

When asked the vexing question “Kenworth or Mack?” Ben replied: “Kenworth. I really had to say that because Gerald was kind enough to place me in one. It’s a good workhorse in a pound of Macks.”