AwardsHeavy Haulage

NZ Heavy Haulage Association awards

NZ Heavy Haulage Association awards

Each year at the NZ Heavy Haulage Association awards the chairman takes the opportunity to recognise individuals or companies that have contributed to the running and the work of the association.

Grant Laing (L) of Laing Properties receiving his chairman’s award from Paul Britten.
Grant Laing (L) of Laing Properties receiving his chairman’s award from Paul Britten.

This first of this year’s chairman’s awards went to Grant Laing, Craig Laing and Malcolm Grant from Laing Properties, a house relocation company that has been a member of the Heavy Haulage Association for over 25 years. During that period Laing Properties has contributed to the association in a number of ways including as an Executive Committee member for seven years and a board member for two years.

The second chairman’s award was presented to a non-member of the NZ Heavy Haulage Association. Kiwirail’s Dennis Edwards has assisted the association with the implementation of the KiwiRail Bypass Supervisor scheme in the North Island, giving members easier access to locked KiwiRail bypass gates. He has also been influential in revamping the rules for transporting overdimension and overweight loads over level crossings, making them less restrictive for all members.

Also presented on the night was the Gus Breen Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in the industry.

Over the many years of his involvement in the industry, firstly as a driver, then as a manager of various heavy haulage fleets, and more latterly as a certified pilot, Frank Riddell has always made himself available to assist anyone who has called on him either as a heavy haulage operator or as the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association’s area representative for his particular region.

Chairman Paul Britten and Frank Riddell, this year’s recipient of the Gus Breen Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Industry.
Chairman Paul Britten and Frank Riddell, this year’s recipient of the Gus Breen Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Industry.

His willingness to assist in any heavy haulage issues has always been beyond reproach and with great integrity. As a result of this many long and respected relationships have been made with association members, company customers, staff of various regulatory bodies and other operators. These relationships have all been built on the base of his wealth of industry knowledge and trust that could be placed in any information received.

Frank served on the Heavy Haulage Association executive committee for 19 years, from 1982 to 2000. He was the president for 1996/97 and he has been the area representative from Nelson / Marlborough from 2000 until the present day.

To be considered for this award, a nominee needs to be able to demonstrate exceptional values and commitment in their approach to every aspect of their role within the Heavy Haulage Transport industry. The association received no less than a dozen letters of recommendation for Frank.

Related posts

Heavy hauling through Northland

Contrafed PUblishing

Consideration of oversize load movers

Contrafed PUblishing

Sorting haulage rules: Jonathan Bhana-Thompson comments

Vijay Naidu