“There’s NZTA certified…and then there’s Joe Culshaw certified”

Expert heavy transport operator Joe Culshaw retired from Quality Roading and Services this month leaving a legacy of driver training education for his colleagues.

Joe was the company’s lead truck driver. Road maintenance manager Anthony (Tony) O’Sullivan says when a new driver was deemed competent to drive for QRS, the company would still ask Joe to oversee his or her final tick of approval.

“There’s NZTA certified and then there’s Joe Culshaw certified!” says Tony.

Joe, Pahauwera, started with QRS 19 years ago as a four-wheeler tip truck driver and later became the grader driver based at Raupunga where he still lives.

Joe earned respect as a driver who possessed the patience, alertness and awareness necessary to operate machines in all sorts of weather on the rugged roads around Wairoa.

“He knew the area inside and out and was an expert at heavy transporting and bottom dumping,” says Tony. “The roads QRS operates on aren’t normal roads. They are narrow and windy. Joe was very good at being aware of all the different factors such as weather conditions, traffic, quality of the road, and how the truck and trailer were doing.”

Tony says whenever the company bought a new truck Joe was involved in discussions. “The quality of our trucks and our truck drivers is one of our highest priorities and Joe was an important part of that.”

Tony says Joe is looking forward to his time away from work and plans to travel to the South Island to see family in between more fishing and golf. He wouldn’t be surprised to get a message from Joe letting him know he’s caught the big one.

“I got one message from him last year that made me green with envy. It was Joe bragging about the 20-pound snapper he just caught!”

The QRS team joins Tony in wishing Joe a happy retirement and they thank him for the skill and dedication he brought to his job and willingness to share his experience and knowledge.

29 July 2020

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