Southpac Trucks South Island manager Mike Gillespie says the company’s ongoing success is directly attributable to having both great products and an extensive service network throughout North Island and South Island.
Gillespie has been with the Colonial Motor Group for more than 25 years, starting out with the Kenworth and DAF truck brands at Timaru Motors, before moving to Southpac Trucks in Christchurch.
“I’ve got the gold watch for 25 years service with Colonial Motor Group,” he says proudly.
“The market is still buoyant, and our customers from Nelson to Invercargill are continuing to buy DAF and Kenworth trucks, and I wouldn’t want to sell anything else.”
In the South Island, Gillespie and his colleague Steve Herring sell around 35% of Southpac’s total DAF volume, and they are responsible for around 20% of the company’s total Kenworth sales volume, according to Southpac Trucks general sales manager Richard Smart.
Smart says the majority of DAF and Kenworth trucks sold by the Christchurch-based duo go into the rural sector, with some dairy and logging applications as well.
“The South Island is a different market, and the customers are different to those in the North Island. They have their particular buying needs, but they are also very loyal to their truck brands,” says Gillespie.
“DAF and Kenworth are both well liked in the rural transport and line haul markets for their blend of power, comfort, and economy, and DAF is becoming a big player in the Nelson forestry market.
“The advantage of the Australian-built Kenworth trucks is that they are built to endure the rugged, hot and harsh conditions of that continent, so they are more than suitable for New Zealand transport applications.”
Gillespie points out that he has a working relationship with many well-established family-owned transportation operations built up over the years. “Many are very loyal clients, but after sales service is still important,” he says. “You might sell the first truck, but your parts and service department will sell the second one.”
The custom-built premises at Columbia Rd in Hornby, which opened in 2007, were purposely designed for Southpac Trucks. Gillespie says it was a big step up from the previous operation at Parkhouse Rd.
Southpac Trucks has a major parts operation within the premises as well as a heavy diesel parts and service which looks after the servicing of the Kenworth and DAF trucks. “Being the Canterbury service dealer for Cummins, it has the workshop attached to the showroom.”
Richard Smart says the company has a strong dealer support structure throughout the South Island, and there are ongoing developments and additions to Southpac Trucks’ network.
“Transport Repairs recently opened an updated $4 million servicing and parts facility in Gore, and is currently working on a massive redevelopment in Invercargill and a new operation in Cromwell, which is a first for the Southpac network,” he says.
Smart adds that Southpac Trucks is appointing a new Blenheim-based dealership, Vent Limited, to service clients in the Nelson Marlborough region of the South Island.
