HISTORY
Starting from humble beginnings in the 1970’s as a combine harvesting contracting business by brothers Trevor and Maurice Wilson, bulk cartage was later added to the mix as an extension of the original business. As their clientele grew so did their business, whereby Trevor decided to go it alone and formed Wilson Bulk Transport. Initially Trevor carted bulk grain and this still remains a core part of the business today. Trevor may have been a ‘gentle giant’ and a quiet, hard worker, but he also possessed the ability to be highly innovative and forward thinking in terms of the transport industry.
Back in the late 1980’s he recognised that the advent of shipping containers used for the transportation of goods worldwide, presented an opportunity for Wilson Bulk Transport to provide a service to the exporters of Mid Canterbury.
This part of Wilson Bulk Transport’s business has shown the largest area of expansion from two truck and trailer units to now operating twelve units plus two 20/40 sidelifterst for lifting containers onto the truck and trailer units for delivery to the ports of
Lyttelton and Timaru.
While originally many of the containers were loaded with peas, lentils and grass seeds from the arable sector the change in farming practice has seen a major growth in vegetable crops which in turn now sees containers of onions, potatoes and frozen vegetables transported.
Recent years have seen an increase in importers bringing products in from overseas which has resulted in Wilson Bulk Transport increasing their fleet to include equipment to tip bulk containers of grain and stock food supplements.
Following Trevor’s untimely death in 1991, the Trevor Wilson Charitable Trust was established in order to achieve his vision of distributing the profits from the company to local organisations supporting the community, primarily the Ashburton Order of St John and Ashburton Presbyterian Support Services. At that time there were just eight drivers and eight trucks, however today that fleet has expanded to 34 trucks and 40 trailers. In part, the growth of the company has been due to the very loyal support from many of Trevor’s original clients as well as new clients who recognise and appreciate the service we provide. August 2018 saw the company purchased by the Wareing family, bringing us into a transport group incorporating Philip Wareing Limited, Rural Transport Limited, NZ Express Transport (2006) Limited and Trans West Freighters 2011 Limited.