Keeping it in the family’ is the theme for both of this month’s Bridgestone New Zealand Trucking magazine Million Mile Club inductees, having motored to their milestone mark in the livery they’ve worn from the showroom floor.

Our first recipient is extra special, so we’ve given this machine a bit more show and tell. ‘Darth Tater’ is an ex-Top Truck (New Zealand Trucking, April 2007), and the truck upon which a young business owner entrusted his hopes and dreams. Phil Collinson started his Invercargill- based Eden Haulage in December 2005 with a brand-new International 9800i Eagle bought from Straun Syme of Southern International. The first Eden truck was also the first to wear a catchy produce-inspired name, something that’s become synonymous with the fleet.

Towing a five-axle Total Transport Engineers ex-Cadbury B-train, the big new Inter was driven by Phil for the first three years of its life.

Powered by a 525hp ISX Cummins, backed up by an 18-speed Roadranger transmission and Meritor rears on International Nav-Air suspension, Phil hoped it would be a bullet-proof spec. It has proven itself to be every bit that and beyond.

“The truck had an in-frame at 1,300,000km, which was purely preventative. The gearbox and diffs haven’t been touched,” says Phil. “Darth is currently sitting at 1,700,000km travelled.

“I’ve had three Internationals, and they’ve racked up 5,700,000km between them. They are a very under-rated brand in New Zealand and have been the lowest cost-per-kilometre trucks in the fleet.”

Darth Tater no longer has a full-time driver and is used seasonally, towing either a quad-axle Fairfax reefer or Roadmaster quad-axle curtain semi. There’s no question, though, that when it’s on, it’s on, and Darth’s duties can include carting stone fruit, fresh produce, meat and fish between Southland, Central Otago, and Christchurch, with even the occasional foray into Marlborough.

Today, Eden Haulage is a brand known the length of the country for its sharp fleet of golden rigs. That image is in no small way attributable to this grand old Tater.