Westgold is spreading its clean, green and healthy messages far and wide with its bold signage on three new milk tankers, which will be on the road this month.
The new Scania trucks will be the perfect mobile billboard for showcasing Westgold's very clear message, 'plant-based since 7000BC', recognising that the source of all milk is, and has always been, plants.
The message will be very visible given that each Westgold truck is on the road 24 hours a day, seven days a week, travelling around 200,000 kms a year.
They are part of Westland Milk Products' 28-strong fleet, which collects milk daily from around 400 suppliers farming from Karamea in the north to south of Fox Glacier and east to supplier farms in Canterbury. Each truck carries loads ranging from 29,000 litres of milk to 39,000 litres for the bigger units.
Westgold's General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Hamish Yates, said using the trucks, which travel extensively, makes sense to promote the message.
"As a company, we are very proud that our award-winning dairy products are plant-based, given they are made from the milk of cows grazing on the lush green grass on our suppliers' farms. We want people to link our tanker signage that the pastures they drive past around the region are the source of Westgold's butter," said Yates.
The three Westgold trucks are among seven new additions to Westland Milk Products' fleet.
Westgold and the tanker drivers take tremendous pride in their distinctively designed and well-maintained trucks, said Transport Operations Manager Kent Routhan.
"It was very timely to put the Westgold signage on the new trucks before their launch at the start of this month's new dairy season. Each truck is replaced every five years to ensure driver and public safety and efficiency," said Routhan.
The XT Scania trucks joining the fleet are high spec and designed for challenging road conditions, which range from state highways to gravel roads and farm tracks. Their design is advanced and from a safety perspective, and Routhan added that they were exceptional.
Rick Bryan, who has driven milk tankers for Westland for the past 28 years, said that he has a dream job driving around the West Coast, one of the best dairy environments in the world and Westgold's home.
"Although I'm West Coast born and bred, I hadn't been to Karamea when I started driving the tankers. Now I have been all over the coast, and each day or night's drive is different," said Bryan.
Bryan continued that he hoped to have another ten years driving in him, stating that he loved his work and company.
"I would never be able to match a job like this anywhere. You can't beat it."
Bryan's favourite drive is along the Coast Road between Greymouth and Westport, mainly the return trip at dusk when he sees fantastic sunsets over the Tasman Sea. As a driver, he treasures his relationship with the farmer suppliers he meets daily.
Milk tanker Chris Roberts shared Bryan's enthusiasm about life behind the steering wheel. Roberts retired from driving last year after 47 years with the company, 40 of those driving.
Roberts said he valued the friendships he had built up over the years with the farmer suppliers adding that it was a pretty unique aspect of the job, with his favourite drive being up the Grey Valley and north to Reefton.
"I miss it. I loved my time working for Westland. I only have good things to say about the place, the company, the managers, co-workers, the farmers and my job. It was awesome," said Roberts.
