Sam’s journey from school holidays to the open road

Sam Kingsbury has always had a deep passion for trucks. As a young boy, he was fascinated by everything related to trucks, and that enthusiasm has only grown.

He recalls how one of his old neighbours in Feilding had ties with McCarthy Transport, which led to Sam spending school holidays in Palmerston North and Wellington, helping out and riding in trucks and machinery with a small bush crew.

“I’d get biffed in the passenger’s side of the truck for the day and I just absolutely loved it,” Sam says. He enjoys the look and sound of trucks, calling it “nothing better.”

When Sam was old enough, his dad encouraged him to get his class 2 licence, and they took the test together. This was the beginning of his trucking career, and he spent four years hauling freight, including driving a brand-new Mercedes-Benz Actros with a set of new trailers. However, his memories of working with the forestry crew during school holidays stayed with him, and he was keen to haul logs.

Four years ago, Sam landed a job with Borlase Transport, hauling logs across the Top of the South averaging around 450km clicked up every day and weighing around 57 tonnes when full. “The winter roads are slippery, and some are pretty steep. It can get a bit hairy, but I enjoy the risk and reward. It’s great fun,” Sam says. His love for trucks and the open road makes every day behind the wheel rewarding.