Faye Lougher caught up with John Adams late one afternoon in Levin as he was heading to Taylor Preston in Wellington

The 2023 Volvo FH16 700 he drives hasn’t even done 100,000km, which explains why it and the two bulk liquid tankers were looking so sharp.

John says his father was a truck driver with Pan Pac at Whirinaki and he started down the same career path about 37 years ago. He worked for Jackson Transport in Hawke’s Bay for about 12 years, carting animal byproducts. He stayed on when Jacksons was taken over by Bulk Lines and is in his third year, running between Wellington, Levin and Hawke’s Bay.

John works long days, starting at about 11am and not getting home to his base in Napier until about midnight or 1am. He enjoys driving at night, saying the traffic is a lot calmer and more peaceful at that time.

“I don’t have any problems at all, although there are a lot of cowboys on the road. I like being home every night – I don’t want to be staying away.”

John was quick to answer the vexing question of who his favourite singer was. “Bob Marley, of course!”