Our Team
Our People Are The Best Of The Best & Expertly Trained Team Members!
Fruehauf NZ Ltd is a company proudly New Zealand owned and operated by people with a deep knowledge of truck trailers and truck bodies for the New Zealand transport industry.
Jeff is a member of the National Road Carriers Association, and have a keen understanding of the competitive, regulatory and commercial realities of working in the transport industry.
JEFF MEAR
Managing Director
Jeff understands trailer and customer requirements better than most. He was sales and marketing manager for Roadmaster for 17 years before becoming co-owner of Fruehauf. In that role, he was closely involved in the design of new trucks and trailers for the Orix national rental and lease fleet. Jeff manages sales and customer relationships, and has championed innovation and customisation as a strategic imperative for Fruehauf.
The results of his drive and passion are evident in developments such as the innovative chicken trailer and walking floor functionality for improved load / unload efficiency.
General Manager Finance
Homelife is taken up with extended family, having grandson and granddaughter living at our lifestyle block. What they say is true. It is a lifestyle block, as it wrecks your lifestyle. I enjoy gardening aspect, cooking a mean slow cooked brisket, walking, and a keen member of the Omaha Golf Club, when time permits.
PHIL POLE
MARK MADELIN
General Manager Commercial
Mark started with Fruehauf NZ Ltd as Auckland Operations Manager responsible for Auckland BranchService/Repair and Manufacturing. Mark has progressed quickly within the organisation and has taken on more responsibility as National Operations Manager, overseeing both Auckland and Feilding Operations.
Originally from the UK, Mark transferred to New Zealand in 2001 whilst working for a U.S. based multi-national Hydraulic and Motion Control Company. The move was, to lead the engineering support function in a high speed, high precision manufacturing plant in Auckland. After almost 20 years service spanning UK,Europe, U.S. then New Zealand, Mark joined another U.S. multi-national as Manufacturing Manager for an iconic New Zealand brand of Commercial Refrigeration. Overseeing the full end to end process from procurement through production to final hand over, to installation. From there Mark spent the last decade before joining Fruehauf NZ Ltd as an Upper North Island rolling stock maintenance Manager for KiwiRail. This involved multi-site Management and maintenance of an active fleet in excess of 2800 units, as well as field service and incident response teams.
Outside of work:
Mark enjoys time with family and also restoration projects in his workshop, having an old motorbike that might get completed one day……
RORY O'SULLIVAN
General Manager Manufacturing
As General Manager Manufacturing, Rory oversees product design and manufacture, ensuring that Fruehauf design standards are met, and regulatory compliance is achieved. Originally from the emerald Isle Rory moved to New Zealand in 2006. He has worked in a variety of mechanical engineering roles and has specialised in Heavy transport for the past 12 years. Rory has worked as a consultancy for all things mechanical while gaining the NZTA Certification authorities and also as a Fleet Project manager for Waste Management. Alongside the role at Fruehauf he is heavily involved with industry support groups such as Heavy Vehicle Engineers (HVE) having spent time as chairman and 7 years on the committee and New Zealand Truck Trailer Manufacturers Federation (NZTTMF) offering technical support.
Outside of Work
Rory enjoys playing and watching football (Soccer) and spending time with his family.
Certifying Engineer
Andrew oversees product design and manufacture, ensuring that Fruehauf design standards are met, and regulatory compliance is achieved. Andrew has worked with Fruehauf, and its predecessor, Dometts, at various times since the 1970s. His skills in engineering and design have been enhanced through experience outside the transport industry, helping him to see challenges from different angles. This includes the design of high power motor controllers for PDL Electronics, meat plant design for Pro-And Feilding, and restructuring of power charges for the Hawkes Bay Power. He has also been a consulting engineer and NZTA certifier with Randalls, based in Palmerston North.
Lessons in Law:
Training under my dad, Russell Law, has stood the test of time and proven over many years that a methodical system is essential for both design and record. I’ve enjoyed variety in my career that has helped me to be receptive to other points of view. I love it!
ANDREW LAW
AMANDA COTTER
Sales Account Manager - CARGOBULL
Amanda’s professional journey commenced as a dedicated truck driver in the UK, where she honed her skills and climbed the ranks to eventually serve as a dispatch supervisor and senior recruitment consultant at Driver Hire UK.
Relocating to New Zealand in 2012 with her family, Amanda transitioned into Truck sales, promoting Fuso and Mercedes-Benz trucks for Road life/Keith Andrew’s Trucks. Her tenure in this role solidified her expertise in the transport industry and enriched her understanding of New Zealand’s unique market dynamics.
Demonstrating adaptability and a drive for excellence, Amanda pivoted to specialize in refrigeration sales at Transcold Group Ltd. Progressing she assumed the role of Sales Manager, where she cultivated a profound understanding of truck refrigeration systems and tail lifts.
Her comprehensive knowledge of the New Zealand refrigerated transport industry, coupled with a steadfast commitment to meeting customer requirements, underscores her ability to navigate complex market landscapes while striving to achieve client satisfaction.
Sales Account Manager Upper North Island
After many years managing our Service & Repair facilities at Wiri, Paul has now transitioned into the role of Sales Account Manager for the upper north island based in Head Office Wiri, Auckland. Paul has worked in the transport industry since 1989, and most of this time has been in the manufacture of truck bodies and trailers for both Fruehauf and Roadmaster. He has all-round experience spanning the manufacture of fabricated parts, sales, engineering and production management. Experience in construction fabrication for a company that made balustrades and staircases, has broadened Paul’s knowledge of the process and people management
PAUL CRANSTON
CHAD THOMAS
Sales Account Manager Central
We are delighted to welcome Chad back to Fruehauf for a new and exciting personal challenge. Chad is our Account Manager for the Lower North Island, based in Feilding. Chad works with customers in a range of transport sectors, with a focus on new trailer design. Having worked his way up from a fitter welder apprentice drawing on his wide range of technical skills and experience with the company. Chad joined Domett Fruehauf in 1995 as a parts assistant (and smoko boy). He worked his way up into an apprenticeship and completed trade certification in 2005. He then left Fruehauf to broaden his engineering skills and returned in 2009 as a fitter welder. He was appointed Team Leader of Fabrication then took on a new role as Service and Repair Manager. Chad left us briefly but has since returned to take on this new challenge in his career.
Outside of work:
I enjoy keeping fit, playing cricket and rugby, and spending time with my amazing family.
Sales Account Manager – South Island
Phil Hawkes is our Sales Account Manager – South Island who brings a strong background in Transport and Logistics. Prior to joining the Fruehauf Team, Phil worked for another prominent NZ based trailer builder, beginning his journey with them in 2020 in Business Development and more recently, looking after their sales for the upper North Island.
Phil’s early sales career began with the global shipping line CMA CGM as their Sales Executive back in 2011 where he was tasked with growing new business and retaining their existing cliental throughout the South Island. Since then, Phil has gained further sales success working for global logistics and domestic freight companies here in New Zealand and Australia.
Outside of work, Phil enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, and the odd hunting trip.
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PHIL HAWKES
DAN AUKETT
Operations Manager Auckland
Dan has always enjoyed Engineering and started off by working school holidays and weekends for a small Engineering business in Bombay, McKenzie Engineering in South Auckland.
He left school to join the NZ Army in 1986 and served 8 years in the Electrical and Mechanical Corp. He served his Fitter Welder apprenticeship while in the Army and left with Advanced Trade qualifications.
Since leaving the Defence Force Dan has worked extensively in the Manufacturing and Service/Repairs industries with some of the country’s premier companies.
Dan brings many years of Engineering and Management experience to Fruehauf and is looking forward to many more years at Fruehauf NZ.
Loves spending time with friends and family, hunting and fishing, and a good game of rugby league.
Operations Manager (Feilding)
Alan Kentish joined Fruehauf NZ Ltd as Operations Manager Feilding in October 2021. Alan is responsible for the day to day operations of the Feilding Branch and brings with him 20 years of Management knowledge within the engineering and steel industry. Alan has been living in the Manawatu for the last 17 years and out of work Alan enjoys playing Golf and Gardening and spending time with his family.
