Some names in trucking circles are synonymous with the machines they run. Head north to Kerikeri and mention JJ Klinac, and among the first words you are likely to hear could be ‘immaculate’ and ‘customised’. That’s just what we expected – and found – of JJ’s latest Hino 700.

In his five decades of trucking, JJ Klinac has always emphasised immaculate gear. Known most recently for his two- axle Hino 700 and custom submersible hydraulic boat trailer running under the Exclusive Boat Haulage banner, JJ decided another truck was in order to celebrate this gold anniversary.

“It’s probably more of a toy – I’ve done my 50 years and wanted to do up a truck,” JJ explains of his new-generation Hino 700 and Domett quad-axle trailer combination.

An opportunity with The Produce Connection came up, so JJ commissioned the Hino from Shane Kemp at Hino Whangarei to supplement the boat-haulage business carting avos and kiwifruit from the Far North to Whangarei.

“Lyndon Andrews sold me my first Hino 12 or 13 years ago. Lyndon’s not a pressure salesman, and his backup is fantastic. Since then, he has moved up the corporate ladder to Hino in Auckland and Shane took over Lyndon’s role in Whangarei, and I have found him to be the same to deal with. Hino has given me 100% support, and I’ve stuck with them,” JJ says.

In typical fashion, JJ’s new 700 has been done up to just the right degree. It’s not over-the-top, but the more you look, the more you see… right down to the chrome caps for the chassis bolts.

Gorgeous gold pinstriping offsets the deep maroon-and-white colour scheme, and the whole rig comes together with just the right amount of stainless, such as the custom skirts and corner covers on the cab that JJ designed and had made. On the back wall of the truck is an excellent ‘50 Years in Trucking’ motif.

The signwriting is by Wrapped Auto Signs in Tauranga, and the paint is by Peak Panel & Paint in Te Puke. “I can absolutely swear by Wrapped Signs, and Peak Panel and Paint were once again faultless,” says JJ. The artwork on the back was by Brad Walters of Brad’s Custom Paint Shop, Whangarei.

“I left it up to him, and he did a bloody good job,” says JJ. The curtains on the truck and trailer are by Structurflex.

“We didn’t want to go overboard. It had to look nice but still be a workhorse.” JJ pauses, then adds: “Yes, in the interior I might have gone overboard… but that’s what I wanted.”

JJ commissioned RVE Vehicle Enhancement to create an entirely custom interior – one unlike any other new Hino 700 you’re likely to come across. Driver and passenger perch in custom seats covered in diamond-quilted leather, while the driver has the pleasure of directing the rig with a re-shaped and leather-covered steering wheel. The door cards, armrests, instrument hood, dash mat, sun visors, roof lining, cab wall and mattress have also all had the leather and orange stitching treatment.

“It’s the whole nine yards,” says JJ with a grin. “RVE were great. They stood by their word all the way through. Personally, I think what I’ve done to the interior has put a totally different look on that truck. When you jump inside, it’s not just a workhorse, it’s your pride and joy.”

JJ says that one of the best things about the new 700 is its ride comfort. “I can’t get over it, for an eight-wheeler. With the load-share front axle and a fully air-suspended cab, it’s faultless.”

If you haven’t surmised yet, JJ’s a fussy operator when it comes to his gear. “We like the truck to go out clean every day – that’s a massive thing for me, presentation is my No.1,” he says.

The man in charge of keeping JJ’s Hinos spotless is Rata Nikora. He and JJ go back to the days when JJ operated Dune Rider buses. “He hasn’t lost his skills, and I have never seen such dedication to a job. If the truck is going out at 7am, he will show up here at 3am or 4am. Then he goes to his day job! It’s hard to find someone like that these days.”

We couldn’t end this story without acknowledging JJ’s significant trucking anniversary. His working life started at the Ministry of Works when he was 18. “I bought an old Austin four-wheeler, petrol, with pushout windows, and carted the men around the roadworks.

“I used to clean a truck for Frankie Zivkovich, and after about a year, he offered me his business as a general carrier. I started that with a Perkins Commer. I would do everything and anything and built it up to six or seven trucks. We were one of two transport companies in Kerikeri of the day, up against United Carriers and Kerikeri Transport, which was sold to United. I sold out of that after losing the old man at work one day; he was only 50 at the time,” JJ says.

While JJ still had trucks running produce to Auckland, he backed off a bit and went into the coaches for a few years. “I think we brought in one of the first Ford Louisvilles out of Australia. We set that up with two curtainsiders and had that for four or five years before two young guys bought me out.”

JJ’s move into boat haulage came about over a few years. “I helped out a gentleman in Kerikeri one day. His name was Peter Jacob, from Levin. All I did was make him welcome, wash his truck for him, and he obviously never forgot that. A couple or three years down the track, I was coming out of Wellington one Friday night with a load of wine on, and Peter rang me up. He said, ‘J, I want to sell out, but I want you to have it.’ I said to him, ‘I don’t know anything about boats, mate,’ and he said, ‘It’s purely common sense and being careful. I want you to do it.’

“I thought about it for all of 15 minutes before I rang him back to take it. That was more than 12 years ago, and we still have a fantastic relationship.”

Although Exclusive Boat Haulage has no direct competition in Northland, JJ works with everyone in the industry when he can. “It’s been successful, and I always put it down to if you give the business 100% and look after your customers, there’s no such thing as failing.”

RVE BESPOKE INTERIORS

As we alluded to in the story, JJ’s new Hino 700 has had the full interior makeover treatment by the craftsmen at RVE. The name RVE may be new to many within the transport industry, however managing director David Stanners explains the company is now 55 years old.

“The business was started by Dad, Victor in 1968. Dad had a real passion for the automotive industry and working with leather, he created some of the most bespoke car interiors in the world. You could say he brought couture to cars. Dad was born on the back seat of a Model A Ford, maybe that’s where his passion for car interiors stemmed from,” David says with a laugh.

Victor’s skillsets were fortunately handed down to sons David, Mark and Jim, strengthening the family business into the next generation. “We have honed the trade that Dad taught us, staying true to the core business. However, as markets have opened, we have seized those opportunities to offer our clients the complete package.

“It’s this philosophy that has opened the doors to the heavy-transport sector. We were approached by OEM truck dealers looking to offer a ‘next level’ interior option, so not dissimilar to the interiors we were doing for OEM car dealers. That was all we needed in the way of an invitation, the next thing we had Ivecos and Scanias rolling into our workshops. Now word is getting around the streets, we have the likes of JJ’s new Hino project coming to us for the leather treatment. Working with the owners and drivers of the trucks you truly feel the intense level of passion they have for their ride,” explains David.

“That level of pride goes hand in hand with what we have to offer at RVE. Bottom line, we allow our clients the opportunity to customise an interior for their rig. RVE prides itself on designing packages that go above and beyond the mainstream constraints of mass production.”