Like much of New Zealand, the Nelson/Marlborough area is home to many established family-owned businesses with long-standing supplier relationships. Mike Edridge Contracting is one such company and it has a history of commissioning unique and head-turning Scanias in heavyhaulage roles. The latest addition to the fleet ticks that box once again.

Located between Havelock and Rai Valley in Marlborough is the poplar camping spot of Pelorus Bridge, also the home base of Mike Edridge Contracting (Edridge Contracting), known locally for its fastidiously presented fleet of Scania trucks and Caterpillar machinery.

Established by Mike Edridge in 1987 with a small excavator and Bedford truck, the business is a major player in the top of the south, supplying earthworks, roading, drainage, quarrying and heavy-haulage services to the civil and forestry sectors.

Today, Mike’s son Malcolm is managing director, and Edridge Contracting has a staff of 80. It operates more than 50 major items of plant from bases at Kaituna (near Blenheim), Pelorus Bridge, and Nelson.

Since the beginning, trucks have been an integral part of the operation and the current heavy-truck fleet numbers nine – three Mercedes-Benz and six Scanias.

This month’s New Zealand Trucking magazine Top Truck is a Scania R730 A6X4HB 6×4 tractor unit put to work by Edridge’s, predominately on heavy-haulage work.

Behind the prime mover is a TRT 3×8 Swing Wing Widening low-loader trailer, with a TRT 2×8 widening load divider able to be added, giving the combination the ability to carry a payload of about 64 tonnes under permit conditions.

REM Ltd in Rai Valley repurposed a surplus fuel tank into a handy toolbox and access step. How cool is that?

Motivation is provided by an all proprietary drivetrain. The Scania 545kW (730hp) DC16 108L01 engine produces a peak of 3500Nm (2581lb/ft) of torque, while an Opticruise-equipped GRSO926R transmission with standard, power and off-road performance modes turns horsepower into tractive effort via a pair of 4.21:1 ratio RBP835 hub-reduction rear axles riding on air suspension. Hold-back is provided by Scania’s proven R4100D retarder.

Antony ‘Hud’ Huddleston drives the R730. He’s passionate about the Scania product, having clocked up 18 years in Scanias with Edridge’s.

A low-roof CR20 sleeper cab was specified for extra clearance when manoeuvring around obstacles, particularly in the forest. Inside, ‘Hud’ has all the usual Scania in-cab comforts, including leather seats.

A farm electric-fence connector mounted under the cab allows Hud’s gloves to dry in the draft from the engine.

The R730 left Scania’s Zwolle assembly plant in the Netherlands painted in the yellow and green fleet livery, and Power Signs of Nelson added the company’s eye-catching graphics.

Edridge Contracting maintenance manager Ben Todd managed the local portion of the Scania’s set-up with REM Ltd of Rai Valley fitting the fifth wheel, fabricating a cab-protecting headboard and turning a surplus Scania fuel tank into an extremely tidy combination toolbox/ step arrangement. Bigfoot central tyre inflation was also fitted to aid traction and tyre wear.

Antony Huddleston ‘Hud’, has clocked up 18 years in Scanias with Edridge’s.

The R730 is one of two heavy-haulage units Edridge Contracting operates, shifting the company’s own equipment plus that of outside clients predominately around Nelson and Marlborough.

When questioned ‘Why Scania?’ Malcolm replied, “Hud likes Scania – they’re a driver’s truck”, and it’s about looking after good drivers.

Good staff and good equipment are modern business benchmarks. If you’re in the Nelson Marlborough region, keep a lookout for the Mike Edridge Contracting Scania R730. You won’t be disappointed.

Hud’s previous ride in the foreground. This time they’ve gone for the flat-roof variant to improve overhead clearance.