His truck originated from a country that‘s on top of the world, now Christchurch operator Steve Richards is too. It seems a lifelong passion for trucks and an unfailing desire to keep his gear looking absolutely on point has paid off.

Photo: Here Rochelle Thomas‘s stunning portrait of the Scania is presented to Steve Richards (left) by New Zealand Trucking magazine‘s editor Dave McCoid.

“I remember riding my bike down to the stationers in Timaru as a kid and getting the latest mags and looking at the cool trucks. I never thought it would one day happen to me. It‘s pretty cool,” said Steve.
In what was the closest voting since the annual Top Truck of the year was re-established in 2015, Steve‘s R620 Scania edged out the Mack Trident of Otago based Central Machine Hire Ltd by fewer than 50 votes.

Steve‘s truck won the monthly prize in March this year. The 8×4 Scania and 5-axle controlled temperature unit plies SH1 between Christchurch and Dunedin each day carting Goodman Fielder product. The major sponsor of the monthly top truck and annual competition is Power Retreads, and managing director Dave Leicester was on hand this year to pass over the award.

Photo: Steve Richards (left) receives the New Zealand Trucking magazine John Murphy Memorial Top Truck 2017-18 award from Power Retreads managing director Dave Leicester.

“There‘s no question this is a worthy annual top truck winner,” he said. “It‘s a credit to Steve.” Major prize for the Top Truck of the year winner is a full set of Vipal premium retread drive tyres. The winner also receives a portrait of their truck by artist Rochelle Thomas, as well as the plaque for the office wall.

“It‘s a great competition and we look forward to it every year,” said New Zealand Trucking magazine‘s editor Dave McCoid. “This one was special because we decided a while back to dedicate the top truck of the year competition to the late John Murphy, one of the magazine‘s co-owners, and the response we‘ve had to Steve taking the title this year gave the whole thing the right feel. His gear is recognised throughout the industry as being bang on.”

Power Retreads is the major sponsor of both the monthly Top Truck competition and the John Murphy Memorial Top Truck of the Year competition. The winner receives a full set of Vipal premium retread drive tyres.