Clean tech for top tier New Zealand fleet Tranzliquid Logistics

Tranzliquid Logistics is one of New Zealand’s top tier fleets, a company that has forged a reputation for its immaculate equipment, exemplary safety record and great team culture.

Tranzliquid has been operating the sole Euro 6 Cummins Inc. X15 engine in New Zealand since 2021 which, at the time of writing in September, had just exceeded 600,000 km.

Importantly, it has Greg Pert’s stamp of approval as more stringent emission regulations loom on the horizon.

In Australia, around 350 Euro 6 Cummins X15 engines are running in the lead up to the introduction of Euro 6 – or ADR80/4 – from November 1, 2025.

Greg Pert founded Tranzliquid in Mt Maunganui in 2000 with partner Jackie Carroll following a career as a driver and independent operator in the tanker industry, transporting non-hazardous and dangerous goods products throughout New Zealand.

His formative years in the trucking industry were with Freightways Bulk Services where he started as a driver in 1977 at the age of 18 and went on to become an independent operator with the company, hauling a vast array of liquid products from chocolate to fruit juice, to molasses, to petroleum.

Today, Tranzliquid has 50 Cummins X15-powered Kenworths – mainly T610s and K200s – which operate throughout the North Island and South Island, hauling fuel and liquid bitumen for blue chip customers, while a small number of trucks also do container deliveries.

Performance rating

The Euro 6 Cummins is available in two distinct series – Efficiency and Performance – and both are EGR-free and have a standard wastegate turbocharger. Single module aftertreatment technology integrates both the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and AdBlue SCR system.

Tranzliquid’s Euro 6 engine – the flagship Performance version rated at 625 hp with peak torque of 2050 lb ft – is installed in a T610 Kenworth and stirred by Eaton’s 18-speed RTLO20918 box.

With the Meritor rear axle ratio of 4.10, the 15-litre Cummins is downsped to optimise fuel economy, turning over at 1410 rpm at the 90 km/h speed limit in New Zealand. At this point in the rpm range, peak torque of 2050 lb ft is on tap, all the way back to 1000 rpm, providing the grunt to meet both driver and trip time expectations.

“Southpac Trucks (New Zealand’s Kenworth dealer) asked us if we wanted to be part of a Euro 6 trial and we thought it would be a good idea to be involved due to the benefits that would play out over the longer term,” says Greg Pert.

“After 600,000 kilometres we now have a good working knowledge of the Euro 6 Cummins which will be beneficial as the technology becomes more widely adopted and emission requirements are tightened.”

Fuel efficiency

Performance and fuel efficiency of the Euro 6 X15 are in line with expectations at Tranzliquid which is regularly double-shifting the two-trailer combination seven days a week.

A recent ECM download showed overall fuel consumption at 2.01 km/litre while time spent in top gear was 45%. “We’re operating in some tough terrain in the North Island which eats into the fuel economy,” Pert points out. “Our fully loaded running is generally around the 70 to 80 percent mark.”

The download also showed AdBlue being injected into the exhaust flow at a rate of 8% of fuel burn.

Apart from a couple of minor sensor issues, the Euro 6 engine has basically been trouble-free. The DPF was changed out at 600,000 km in line with Cummins’ recommended maintenance schedule.

Cummins’ support is a key factor in keeping the Tranzliquid fleet running at the required utilisation levels.

“We get very good support from Jade Whiteman and the team at Cummins,” Pert says. “We don’t have to ask for support, we’re offered support. Cummins understands our needs.”

Fuel agnostic

Pert is showing keen interest in Cummins’ industry-first fuel agnostic platform of advanced diesel, hydrogen and natural gas internal combustion engines.

“The diesel internal combustion engine will be around for a long time yet for heavy haulage, as confirmed by Cummins, but the hydrogen combustion engine could definitely be of interest to us for specific applications in the future,” he says.

“One of our customers, Waitomo Group, is establishing a green hydrogen refuelling network for heavy vehicles and has already opened three sites in the North Island.”

One thing that irks Pert is governments’ lack of recognition for the road transport industry’s contribution to reduced environmental impact. “We are moving much bigger tonnages today while using less fuel and significantly reducing atmospheric pollutants,” he states.

Not surprisingly, risk management is a critical factor in the safety record of the Tranzliquid fleet. “We give our drivers all the tools to help them do their job efficiently and safely,” comments Pert.

Both trailers behind the Euro 6 prime mover are disc-braked while all Tranzliquid Kenworths have the full suite of electronic/active safety features such as electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control with engine braking, collision mitigation system with autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning.

There’s great emphasis at Tranzliquid on team culture which revolves around core values such as accountability, delivering on promise, having the right attitude and treating people with dignity and respect.

Greg Pert says they’re constantly looking at ways to improve the way they do business.

“Tranzliquid prefers to be a leader in the industry, not a follower,” he says.