Southern Transport Co. Limited

17/05/2026

Back in 1987, Bill Richardson purchased a very special truck, the 1,000th Mack sold in New Zealand. It was only fitting that this iconic Mack joined the Southern Transport fleet. Bill was one of Ron Carpenter’s earliest and biggest Mack customers after assembly began in Palmerston North in 1972.

The Mack 1000 was driven from new by Bill “Billy Grump” Gilbert, who remained at the wheel right through to the truck’s sale. Billy Grump was famously the only driver ever trusted with the truck and now sits proudly on the back window.

During the 2025 inaugural Bill Richardson Truck Rally, the idea was raised to return the Mack 1000 to its original Southern livery in time for Southern’s 80th anniversary.

What followed was something truly special. With the help of Transport Engineering Southland, Bob Christie Auto Painters, and Vital signs, the truck was lovingly restored right here in Invercargill. This truck is widely considered one of the most iconic Macks in New Zealand now also serves as a tribute to Billy Grump a trucking icon in Southland and an important part of Southern Transport’s story.

12/05/2026

We featured on HW Richardson Group Monday on the move this week. 🤩

Monday on the move!
Southern Transport Co. Limited in the spotlight this week with a beauty of shot!

22/04/2026

We were pretty chuffed to see this beautifully crafted wooden replica of an old Southern livestock unit pop up in our feed.

A big hats off to Just Add Diesel Wooden Replica Trucks for capturing a piece of our history so well.

09/03/2026

We are celebrating 80 years this year, a huge milestone for us.

A vision brought to life by the late, great Bill Richardson. What started out as just two trucks has grown into a true pillar of transport for Southland.

Our signature green and yellow still marks our trucks today, a symbol of hard work, reliability and pride. This journey has been shaped by generations of dedicated staff, loyal customers and a community that has supported us every step of the way.

As we look back with gratitude and ahead with optimism, we honour our past, celebrate our people, and remain committed to carrying Southland forward for many years to come. 💚💛

05/03/2026

We love receiving feedback like this from our community. One
of our drivers was recently commended for courteous, safe driving along North Road, including maintaining a sensible speed and giving clear, early indications.

Safe driving is something we take very seriously, and it’s
always great to see our team recognised for doing things the right way.

Your kind words mean a lot to us and to our drivers. 👏🚚

24/02/2026

We had a fantastic time at the Southern Field Days and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along to visit the Southern Transport / Clearaway site. The atmosphere across the event was brilliant, and it was great to connect with so many of you. It made it even more special as we celebrated 80 years of operating.

A big thank you as well to everyone who entered our competition. We’re pleased to announce our competition winners below. Congratulations to you all!

Winners:
F Adam
Cohen D
A Langley
Ollie T
M Parish
M Ladbrook
D Stewart
Alana T
L Brunton
A Hunt
C Adam
L Stewart
T Palliser
R Parish

B Hawkes

Head into Southern Transport at 3 Spey Street to collect your prize. We are open Monday - Friday 8am-5pm or give us a call on 03 216 9059.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make a special year an even more memorable one. Here’s to many more years ahead!

29/01/2026

We’re celebrating a big milestone; we turn 80 this year! 🎉

From our early days carting timber to the diverse transport operations we run today, Southern Transport has been proud to play a role in shaping Southland’s economy and community. Eight decades of hard work, good people, and great stories

Make sure you stop by our tent at Waimumu Field Days!
Enter the draw to win a copy of Wheels & Deals, a fantastic book capturing the history and stories of one of New Zealand’s most iconic transport families.

Clearaway is joining us with their event skip on display. Tow it away yourself on Friday, bring it back Monday, and the Clearaway team will take care of the rest. It’s the ideal solution to keep any event clean and stress‑free.

Want to know more? Give the Clearaway team a call on 03 218 8848.

📍 Find us at Site 520
📅 11–13 February, Waimumu Field Days 2026

Come celebrate 80 years of Southern Transport, we will see you there!

24/12/2025

Wishing you a safe and Merry Christmas! As the year comes to a close, we want to thank you all for keeping us trucking.
If you’re hitting the road this holiday season, please take extra care, stay alert, and be responsible. Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and together we can make sure everyone gets home safely.

Enjoy the festive season and we will see you again in 2026!

29/10/2025

Southern Transport was proud to roll through Invercargill in last weekend’s Truck Parade taking out the awards of Best Bulk Tipper and Best Hino! 🎉

It was a fantastic day celebrating the transport industry with the community, and we’re honoured to have been recognised among so many impressive vehicles.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the event.

📸 Here’s some photos from the day! Credit to Kade Duncan

19/12/2024

A very important message for this holiday season!

Stay safe and drive smarter out on our roads 🚚