An electric truck is a delivery vehicle powered solely by batteries that drive an electric motor as opposed to a diesel engine. Feasible truck sizes are small and medium-sized curtainsiders, hardside delivery vans and tippers; it’s not yet feasible to…
A curtainside truck or trailer has canvas curtains on rails down the side that can be drawn back to allow easy loading and unloading by a forklift from either side. Behind the curtains is a flat deck truck. The roof…
Trucks often have attachments or features that need power to operate. For example: A truck loader crane has both the crane and a mechanical grabber attachment A lines truck has a knuckle boom crane with a bucket for lifting someone…
If you’ve seen a modern sleeper cab then you’ll know how luxurious they can be. It’s not uncommon for drivers that do long journeys to have a flat-screen TV, microwave, gaming console, refrigerator and laptop available to them. Keeping the…
To be able to transport temperature-sensitive products, trucks and trailers must be able to keep a consistent temperature regardless of the outside weather and windchill. In hot weather, a unit must be able to cool, while in very cold weather…
The first priority when carrying loads is to ensure that they are secured properly, whether that’s tied down with ropes, secured with canvas straps or chains, or in a curtainside truck on pallets. Loose loads can fall off a truck…
To keep a competitive edge many trucking companies turn to aerodynamic add-ons for their tractor and trailer units to help improve fuel economy. It has the added benefit of reducing the environmental impact of trucking by burning less diesel. When…
Air suspension on trucks has huge advantages, and a few disadvantages. Most new trucks come with an air suspension option (if not as standard), and it’s available on trailers, too. If you’re considering air suspension on a truck or trailer, here…
This is the essence of the new Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016 rule and it saves you reading the whole document: It replaces the 2002 VDAM rule and came into effect on 1 February 2017. If you need to know…
Trucking is competitive and, when you’re piloting a 30,000kg vehicle through cities, villages and rural roads, saving fuel can make the difference between a route being profitable and not. If you’re a driver and you can drive economically you are…
Trucks are heavy vehicles that carry goods on New Zealand’s roads. If you’re looking for a career in trucking, these are the types of trucks you could be driving. And remember to check out our guide to getting a job…
If you get a speeding ticket you’ll have 56 days to pay it from the time it was issued. If you lose it in the first 28 days, don’t worry as you will get a reminder notice with all the…
Demerit points are given for various traffic offences such as: Some alcohol-related infringements and offences (e.g. courts might allocate demerit points if a disqualification is less than 6 months) Having an alcohol reading between 250-400mg/litre of breath, or between 50-80mg/100ml…
When you come up to an intersection you should always leave your wheels pointing straight ahead until you start to turn into the intersection, i.e. as you start moving forward to make the turn into the intersection, turn your wheels.…
It’s obviously incredibly dangerous to take your eyes of the road while you are driving and, in an ideal world, we would keep 100% of our attention on the road, too. But that’s not realistic for some of us who…
On July 8, 2015 changes come into effect to the VDAM rule which introduce graduated penalties for minor infringements and a revised definition of three critical conditions which attract a higher penalty: Exceeding the gross weight on the permit Exceeding…
While it’s a bit more challenging to learn to drive or ride in winter, there are advantages to it. We’re fast approaching the shortest day, and there’s going to be more rain and possibly ice or snow (depending on where…
Whether you are studying for your heavy vehicle licence or are already a heavy vehicle driver, you can often get invaluable advice from those already in the industry by participating in social media groups and pages. Bear in mind there…
This article explains what hazardous goods are, how to transport them, whether you need a D endorsement on your drivers licence to do so, and how to get a D endorsement. What are hazardous goods? Hazardous or dangerous goods are…
You are more likely to see deer on the roads in autumn as April and May is the main mating season for deer. There are 8 types of deer in New Zealand (if you include the potential for some elusive…
