Eru Graham was crossing the Kaimais in Blue Genesis, the Dynes Kenworth K220, when Gavin Myers came up behind him, heading in the same direction. Luckily, Eru stopped in Te Poi for a quick bite, so Gavin pulled over, too, to say G’day and have a quick yarn.

Eru is based in Mt Maunganui and was on his regular run to Auckland, though he says he’s been “all over” in the K220. The day before, Blue Genesis had clocked over to 160,000km. It went on the road in early 2023.

“It’s a good truck. The digital dash took getting used to after the K200s, but it’s still a Kenworth, you know?” he says.

Eru has been driving for Dynes for four years now. “I’m enjoying it. Dynes is a good crowd. There are a lot of worse places to work. These fellas are all right … I was lucky walking back into a good job at a good company and with good work.”

Before that, Eru spent 15 years in Australia. “I was a fencer by trade, but I injured my back twice and had to have surgery – which meant I could no longer do my old physical work. Work Cover in Oz made sure my employers found other ways for me to earn a living, doing less physical, manual work. So, I ended up driving. It was by fluke, really. I’ve been doing it since – a good 15 years or so now.”

Eru says an industry positive is that the community is so close. “Although that could be a bad thing too,” he adds with a laugh. “The only other thing we really have to deal with that’s an issue is the quality of the roads.”

He reckons another positive for the industry is electronic logbooks. “The older guys don’t like it, but my family shares the roads with these blokes, you know?” Eru adds. “I can only speak for myself, but thankfully, I don’t have any unreasonable deadlines. I’m left to do things slowly and safely.”

Eru’s vexing question was a breakfast of bacon and eggs or fresh fruit and muesli. “Bacon and eggs, that’s an easy one!” he says with a hearty laugh.