Leo van der Weerd pulled into the BP Connect Bruce Road truck stop off SH2 for his half-hour break while Gavin Myers was parked up for a coffee. Having popped into the Wild Bean to refuel, Leo was keen to have a chat.

Leo drives for H2 Orchard Contracting based out of Te Puke and was heading back to one of the local packhouses for another load of kiwifruit destined for export. “We have 30-odd trucks and service orchards in the Bay of Plenty, up to Auckland and out to Taranaki. These larger trucks are used a lot for port operations,” Leo explains.

Leo had recently changed companies and had only been on the Freightliner for about a month. “It runs a DD15, which has just been rebuilt, and an 18-speed Eaton Ultrashift. It’s done 1,400,000km, and like most trucks that have done a lot of Ks, it needs a bit of loving. A few bits and pieces need replacing, but it’s not too bad.”

While he’s been in New Zealand driving trucks since 2017, Leo says his main job was as a printer of magazines and newspapers. “When I worked in Australia, we only worked three days a week. So, I’d do a day here and there driving for a mate. I’ve had my licence since I was 18 – I’m 62 now, so a while…” he chuckles.

Having just had lunch, Gavin thought a food-related vexing question would be appropriate. Leo was given the choice of a steak and cheese pie or Maccas. “I’d rather go for the pie, mate. I don’t like cardboard,” Leo replies. “I try to eat healthy, but when you’re starting at 5am and you’re in a rush to grab something to eat, a decent pie and coffee to keep you going is usually what it is. I’d usually have sandwiches and a healthy drink, but I’m entitled to one piece of junk a day.

“Don’t tell my wife…” he adds with a laugh.