Company founder receives TTMF Award
Managing Director Mike Stevenson presenting the TTMF Award on behalf of the TTMF, to Transport Trailers founder Ian Stevenson in recognition of his contribution to the Heavy Transport Industry.
Within the New Zealand transport industry there are many stories of innovation, determination and perseverance. The latest life member inductee of the New Zealand Truck-Trailer Manufacturers Federation definitely has all of the above in spades.
For Ian Stevenson, his start in transport engineering began in 1951 as an apprentice fitter-turner with W.P Walker Ltd of Hamilton. It was here where Ian learnt and perfected his craft. During his time at W.P Walker Ltd Ian met and befriended fellow apprentice Bill Box. The pair were ambitious, with big dreams of starting their own enterprise. Bill had just completed his apprenticeship, and Ian was still six months away from sign-off. Not deterred the two set about venturing out on their own, this the beginning of Transport & General Engineering Company Ltd, now known as Transport Trailers. Ian remains one of a select few that started a company while still in the process of completing an active apprenticeship.
The first workshop was established in Kent Street, on the outskirts of Hamilton. Much of the early work was general engineering, however within the first year of operation Ian landed his first commission – a single-axle semi for a kauri logging operator based on the Coromandel. This truly was the inception of what is now a longstanding history of trailer manufacturing that now spans the best part of seventy years. A turning point for the business was an aluminium truck and trailer body that was a NZ first in 1969, Ian built for Roose Industries of Mercer. Chatting to Ian he admits they had their reservations about an aluminium trailer, however both Ian and Bill persevered, pioneering technology that would revolutionise the industry. Marketed under the Transport Trailers brand, the duo found by the end of 1972 virtually the entire output of their workshops was aluminium bodied trailers.Today the company Ian and Bill started is thriving, with Transport Trailers now operating from three separate sites, two in Hamilton with a new purpose built service centre situated in Drury, Auckland – part of a nationwide service and support network. A member since 1961, Ian has been an active advocate for technology within transport, with his time and input generously given throughout the industry. Ian served with the NZTTMF council from 1979 through to 1983, also serving on the drawbar safety standards committee. Ian also hosted and convened the first TTMF subcommittee for HV brakes in 1980, and it was in 1981 where Ian sat on the TTMF subcommittee that developed the code of practice for design and manufacture of suspension systems. Fair to say Ian has well and truly earned his life membership, as well as the respect and admiration of many throughout the entire industry. Congratulations Ian from all of us here at New Zealand Trucking magazine.
Article credit: NZTTMF & NZ Trucking
TTMF Members
From left to right: Brian Macdonald, founder of Fairfax Industries; Matthew Gillies, COE Transfleet Trailers; Kate Bucknell, Exec secretary of the TTMF; Dave Gillies, founder Transfleet Trailers; Harry Clark, Modern Transport Engineers; Neil Boys, owner Tanker Engineering; Rob Johnston, Patchell Industries
Congratulations Ian. From all of us at Transport Trailers.
