Christchurch based Charter Transport have a long affiliation with the Nissan Diesel/UD brands, not just on account of the product‘s reliability and suitability to their work, but also their long standing relationship with local UD dealer, Commercial Vehicle Centre.

Currently 31 trucks in the fleet are from the Nissan Diesel/UD stable, in fact the only other brand to have any real presence in the charter fleet is Volvo with four of the Swedish brand present. This also is no coincidence considering the obvious linkage between the marques.

Charter Transport run a varied fleet, and whilst the work is predominantly centered around metro and regional Canterbury, the red and white trucks can often be seen around all parts of the South Island. The diverse fleet is made up of most configurations, including flat decks and curtainsiders, crane trucks, concrete panel trailers, and trombone trailers capable of carrying up to 30 metre long products. Several HPMV units operate within the fleet, however standard weight and dimension units are still common place as maximum loadings are not always relevant, not to mention access issues experienced in some local metro work.

This month‘s Top Truck is one of the HPMV units, a UD Quon CG31470 8×4 tractor unit powered by the Japanese maker‘s own 470hp engine and running an 18-speed manual Roadranger gearbox.

The truck was put on the road towing a new 15.75 metre TMC super quad semi-trailer. The unit can be seen carting anything from machinery to steel beams to roofing iron, and in six months of operation has ventured to most points of the South Island.

Tare weight for the whole unit comes in at a little over 17,000kg (including all gear and a full tank of fuel), making a 30,000kg payload easily achievable under route specific HPMV permits, and close to 27,000kg at the lesser nonpermitted 44,000kg maximum.

The operator of the new unit is Hayden Lewis who at just 22 years of age is justifiably proud of his new mount. Hayden was born and bred in Auckland where he worked as an apprentice mechanic prior to applying for a Class 2 driving job with Charter Transport in Christchurch early in 2013.

Charter Transport‘s policy of employing new team members on attitude and not necessarily experience, quickly found Hayden on a plane to Christchurch for an interview, and before he knew it he and fiancée Tatiana were moving to the garden city.

Hayden started off his truck driving career in a 4×2 UD curtainsider on local pickup and delivery work and progressed quickly through to his Class 5 licence. He benefitted from Charter Transport‘s in house driving instructors and licensing assessors who provide on the job driver training and licensing.

In less than three years Hayden is more than happy with what he has achieved in the transport industry and his motto of “If it doesn‘t shine it ain‘t mine,” should ensure the UD Quon remains a Top Truck for some time to come.