Modern Transport Engineers (MTE) is back at work under level 3 restrictions and pushing hard to fulfil outstanding customer orders for both New Zealand and Australia.
The Hamilton-based company says it is receiving strong inquiries from customers as people expect to see a burst of infrastructure work to get the economy going again.
The group is the sole importer and distributor for the Chinese truck brand Sinotruk in New Zealand. It’s also the country’s largest builder and supplier of specialised transport trailers and also has the ETL (Equipment Transport and Leasing) hire division and parts division with MTW (Mikes Transport Warehouse).
MTE founder and chief executive Robin Ratcliffe says they’re challenging times but “there is also opportunity”.
“Everyone should look to the positive about what they’re going to do, it is a changing world and there are a lot of things you’ll be able to do, a lot of opportunities while the change is going on.
“We certainly need the highways and the infrastructure for sure and we are lucky to be a part of that.
“We knew that testing times would come, we just didn’t know the form it would take. However the rules remain the same, prepare your business in advance to be strong, react to change and look for opportunities,” Ratcliffe says.
MTW remained open to support essential service customers during the lockdown period with critical parts. MTW holds large stockholdings so any interruption to supply from overseas suppliers is cushioned to the end customer, he says.
Also timely was the recent launch of its online trading which is steadily growing in volumes and acceptance.
ETL (Equipment Transport and Leasing) has brought forward its winter maintenance programme so all plant and equipment is ahead of schedule and ready to be deployed at short notice to clients. It has 700 machines available and continues to support significant projects already underway around the country.
Sinotruk has also seen good sales and acceptance as a cost effective solution to transport needs, Ratcliffe says.
It currently has 160 of the trucks available with the strategy of presenting them on the yard as ready to drive away for customers. There has been a welcoming uptake amongst fleets, particularly when needed as an extra resource for changing customer needs at short notice.
“The tipper models have been very popular with operators feedback noting their comfort and power as very positive factors.
“The new ejector version based on a Sinotruk with a body built by Roadmaster are hugely popular outstripping supply as they answer many concerns the industry had with traditional tippers with regard to confined spaces and health and safety concerns of traditional tippers,” Ratcliffe says.
Meanwhile, Roadmaster (which merged with MTE in 2018) continues to operate independently and holds its place as a premier body builder.
“There is continued investment from the group to give Roadmaster long term stability in the marketplace. The continued success and development of the ejector product sees Roadmaster broadening its customer base and expertise even further.
“In the 47 years I’ve been in business, I’ve always invested back into the company … You’re always trying to get the best result out of your staff.
“We have seen three or four cycles of these harder economic times in my business history, but at these times infrastructure always plays an important role in the recovery of the economy, this time will be no different,” Ratcliffe says.
