ABOUT US

The Forest Freighters Group of Companies consists of:

• Forest Freighters Ltd
  • Log Cartage Contractors
  • Heavy Haulage Contractors
• Forest Freighters Parts & Services Ltd
  • Heavy Mechanical Services
  • Public Weighbridge
  • Manufacturers of Safety Twitch Extension Handles
  • Log Purchase Agents

Forest Freighters began as a family business in 1976, with the purchase of two logging trucks and commenced a contract with Ellis and Burnand Sawmill based in Putaruru.

The following year we purchased another local company, Rutherfurds Transport, along with their timber and pre-cut housing cartage contracts for PTY. 

By 1980 we had three trucks working for Ellis & Burnand, who at that time were paying all their cartage by a lineal measure, so the decision was made to purchase a piece of land on Domain Road in Putaruru, where we could install a weighbridge, workshop, office and managers residence.

We then found there was a demand for heavy vehicle maintenance, so began outside repairs, mainly for other local firms.

Carter Holt Harvey then approached us to weigh all their logs which were loaded and destined north of their own weighbridge at Kinleith.

In 1998 a local forestry company was looking for more reliable transport for their machinery in the Kinleith forests, and the decision was made to add a heavy haulage transporter to the fleet.  We now have a wide client base in the forestry and earthmoving industry.

After an injury in 1999, caused by a pipe slipping off a twitch, our Safety Twitch Extension Handles were developed.  Initially created for in-house use, they were soon spotted round the forest, and word of how good they were spread quickly.  To date we have manufactured and sold over 4,000, to customers carting goods ranging from logs, timber, heavy machinery, concrete pipes - anything that uses a twitch.

Forest Freighters Parts & Services was created in September 2001 to undertake the service and sale of spare parts to in-house and external customers, service the weighbridge, manufacture Safety Twitch Extension Handles and to purchase logs from suppliers on behalf of Carter Hold Harvey Forests Ltd as a key supplier.  We are now also key suppliers for Pacific Forest Products, Rayonier and a number of local sawmills and firewood merchants.

Currently we have a fleet of five Foden Logging trucks, with two working full time for NZ Forest Managers and three dedicated woodlot trucks, and a Foden Heavy Haulage Unit and Pilot Vehicle.