Dave Carden has been inducted into the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame.
The 87-year-old was honoured by the transport industry at an event in Invercargill on September 29.
The Tidd Ross Todd (TRT) founder and director accepted the recognition with “great honour and pride” and thanked the Richardson Group for its dedication to the national transport industry’s history.
TRT is celebrating 50 years in business, with Carden instrumental in its long-term success.
“TRT has always understood the significant contribution Dave has made to the heavy transport and crane industries in New Zealand,” TRT managing director Kevin Chubb says. “This has now been recognised by his peers and the industry. We are very proud.”
Up to eight people are inducted into the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame annually from nominees. They are chosen from owner operators, large operators with 50 or more trucks, individuals that have made a significant contribution to the Road Transport Association, and suppliers and supporters of the industry.
It’s the latter category under which Carden has been inducted.
At 28, Carden founded Southside Engineering in Putaruru in 1958, followed by Jack Tidd Ross Todd in 1967. He became managing director of Tidd Ross Todd Limited from 1987 to 1997. Now retired, Carden remains active in the business as a director.
Carden has led innovative contributions to many large-scale engineering projects and transport engineering innovations in New Zealand, and more recently Australia. These include modifying a Bedford truck to operate as a mobile crane, to developing heavy transport trailer technology that carries some of Australasia’s largest equipment and cranes.
Other feats include the Putaruru Rail Bridge (1965), tag axle development (1969), Kaimai tunnel beams and logging jinkers (1970), the Tidd crane carrier (1976), the Tidd hydrasteer (1982), the hydraulic house mover (1988), the TractionAir CTI (1998) and platform trailers (2013).
Considered a great character, engineering genius and inspirational leader, Carden is often quoted as saying; “Do it once, do it right”.
He continues to inspire true family values and a comradery that resonates throughout TRT, reflected in the leadership of Bruce and Robert Carden, his sons and executive directors, and TRT’s 200 team members in New Zealand and Australia.
The manufacturing company has its head office and main manufacturing plant in Hamilton, and divisions in Auckland and Brisbane.
Businesses include manufacturing engineering, truck and trailer parts, mechanical service and repair, and crane sales and service.
