Kenworth’s traditional top-of-the-line cabover, the Aerodyne, has been a long-time favourite of many New Zealand livestock carriers. Opotiki Transport holds the honour of being the first operator to bolt a set of crates on an Aerodyne-cabbed truck during the 1990s. From the turn of the millennium, catching sight of a Kenworth Aerodyne loaded with livestock on Kiwi roads was to become more common.

More than 20 years later, livestock moves from all corners of the country on the back of an Aerodyne.

Many company owners have put a great deal of thought into creating a unique look for their trucks, using a mix of custom paintwork, graphics and the addition of individual accessories.

Choosing to wind things back a step, a new K200 Aerodyne that recently went on the road in Central Otago proudly displays a ’less is more’ approach when it comes to the truck’s look.

At the southern end of the Teviot Valley in Central Otago is Millers Flat, known for the blue heritage-listed steel truss bridge that connects the town to SH8.

The primary sector provides most of the valley’s industry, with substantial land harbouring pip fruit orchards or traditional sheep and beef farms. The latter provide plenty of work for a rural carrier.

Established in 2004 with three trucks, Millers Flat Transport is one such operation. It is owned by the Beel and Johnston families, and the fleet currently numbers 12 trucks.

For most of the business’ existence, Freightliner Argosys have filled the front-line role, and today, three still wear the blue and silver livery.

Desirable traits of the trucks include a simple chassis layout, reliability, durability and ease of maintenance.

Steer axle position is also important for the operation – experience shows that the US-style cabover trucks are better suited to the area.

With the front-axle position being further forward than many comparable trucks of European or Japanese origin, less potential exists for the bumper (and the components protected by it) to contact rogue obstacles when accessing areas off-road.

Graeme Beel, a son of one of the founders, explains it is advantageous in the territory where the trucks operate to have the short wheelbase and a decent rear overhang.

In combination, these features, plus a full lock-up rear bogie, simplify access to properties on the hill country surrounding the valley.

With the sun having set on Argosy production in 2020, Freightliner no longer had a cabover truck available and Millers Flat Transport was in the same boat as many other Kiwi operators: wondering where to go next.

MAN 4×4 trucks have formed the nucleolus of Millers Flat’s ground-spreading operation from the early days. A TGX 35.540 joined the fleet during the post-Covid new-truck supply situation, and it’s done a good job.

Kenworth was able to provide a truck that would fulfil every category on Millers Flat Transport’s wish-list that had made the Argosy such a great fit for the operation originally.

A K200 Aerodyne was purchased from Chris Grey at Southpac Trucks. It arrived in the country factory-painted in Millers Flat’s colours, and Custom Signs of Dunedin added all the subtle but sharp graphics.

Jemtec Engineering of Balclutha fabricated the stock deck and fitted it to the Aerodyne chassis, while Balclutha Auto Electrics looked after all the electrical work.

A new Delta four-deck sheep/two-deck cattle truck crate was built for the Kenworth, and a Domett five-axle trailer and matching Delta crate, previously towed by one of the Freightliners, was tidied up to go behind it.

In terms of appearance, the truck has been kept as simple as possible. Its two-colour paintwork mixed with a minimal amount of polished metalwork creates a stunning, almost retro, look.

Graeme drives the Kenworth and spends his days carting sheep, cattle and deer over much of the South Island.

Motivation comes from a Cummins X-15 producing 447-458kW (600-615hp) and 2508Nm (1850ft/lb) of torque, while an Eaton-Fuller RTLO- 20918B 18-speed transmission turns a Meritor MT21-165GP rear bogie, fitted with diff locks on each axle.

Graeme’s sons, Callum and Andy, were on hand when New Zealand Trucking visited Millers Flat. They were justifiably proud of the new addition, saying bringing it home (for the first time) was better than Christmas.

A locally owned and operated business servicing a traditional rural clientele with equipment that is modern yet traditional in appearance.