1992 - The beginning... purchase of CHEP trailer fleet.
Taking a deep breath, we purchased the CHEP trailer
hire fleet of 65 trailers on 15th November. The
average age of the fleet was eight years and definately
showing its age. The company traded as Trailer Rentals and
was based in the CHEP pallet hire yard at Neilson Street,
Onehunga.
1993 - First new trailer additions. New Auckland
property. First significant lease deal.
The first new trailers were proudly displayed at 'Transport 93'
at Mystery Creek Event Centre. They were a Steelbro tri-axle
skeletal and two new Roadmaster B-Trains.
The property was purchased where TR Group Head Office is
located at 781 Great South Road, Penrose. It was
a Mortgagee sale for a derelict 10-acre site.
A lease deal for 26 trailers was completed with NZL Transport.
An important relationship commenced that lasts through to
today.
1994 - Fleet growth.
The business model worked and customers liked it. The TR
fleet reached 200 trailers!
1995 - TR arrives in the Mainland. Auckland moves to new
Penrose site.
Trailer Rentals began its own rental operation in Christchurch,
taking over from an Agent.
After a lot of work - and some development delays - we
finally moved into the new Penrose site. The yard included a
truck wash facility which
was opened to the industry.
1997 - Palmerston North Branch opened. Christchurch moved onto
its own site. People management skills begin to take
shape.
TR gained a lower 
North Island hub when it purchased
land in Palmerston North and our own
rental operation was established. The yard opened later that year.
Land in Christchurch was purchased and became the new Christchurch
yard - an impressive 5,000m² purpose-built
facility. It included a
truck wash facility open to the public. Systems relating to the
successful hiring and ongoing review and development of our team
began. The TR team totalled eight. And the fleet reached 500
vehicles. We'd come a long way in a short time.
1998 - Purchase of Truck Rentals fleet, including
a Wellington branch.
On 1st August the Truck Rentals fleet of 110 trucks
was purchased from Esanda FleetPartners. The company name was
changed to TR Group Limited. With the purchase
came ownership of the Wellington
rental operation. We were in our fourth New Zealand centre -
momentum was building.
1999 - New Auckland Building, First Truck Leases.
At Penrose we had outgrown the original Keith Hay Homes building
which had served us so well. In its place a new 447m² office
building was built toward the rear of the Penrose yard. In true TR
style, the new triangle shaped building was designed in the shape
of a critical trailer dimension - the kingpin to front
corner and the "swept path‟ TR Group started in the
business of leasing trucks - and the first truck lease deals
were written this year.
2000 - Napier and Mount Maunganui Branches open.
In both Napier (Hawkes
Bay) and Mt Maunganui (Bay of
Plenty) we established our own operation, taking over from
long serving and successful Agents. It was time to move them up to
the next level.The fleet reached 1000 vehicles late in 2000.
2003 - Fleet expansion. Introduction of a new computer
system.
The total fleet size reaches 2,000 vehicles. The rental
fleet alone moves toward 1,000 vehicles. The installation of a
new fleet management and accountancy software package.
2004 - Hamilton Branch opens!
Hamilton was started as a
new branch and provided an important presence in the Waikato
region. The site was purchased in 2002 and required
two years to develop and prepare for our use.
2005 - Refinanced the business. People Care and Development
role introduced. Palmerston North opens its new truck wash
facility.
In one of the most significant, and difficult, steps in
TR's development, all old funding facilities were replaced
with a single, expanded facility. It was provided
by Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the relationship remains
in place today. A new position was established, People Care
and Development, to assist with our focus on looking after the team
of 70 people. The role was charged with considering and
implementing ways to develop the skills within the team for the
future.
2006 - Dunedin Branch opens. Used Vehicle Sales division
established. Office building in Auckland expanded.
Further expansion of the rental network into Dunedin
took the TR network to nine branches (which included
one Agency arrangement in 
Whangarei).
Used Vehicle Sales was growing in importance. All activities
associated with selling ex-rental and lease fleet and other used
vehicles were consolidated into a single point of control, our Used
Vehicle Sales division. A further 600m² of office space was added
to the Auckland
building to accommodate our growing team and leave room for
expansion.
2007 - Purchase of Orix Truck Rentals.
Orix New Zealand chose to exit the Truck Rental business. The
business was purchased by family interests associated with TR
Group. We formalised our values and put them on the wall in each
office. The fleet size passed 2,500 vehicles.
2008 - Christchurch operation to expand, New Plymouth rental
office opens.
A busy and significant year of progress for TR. A new 30,000m²
site in Christchurch is
commissioned. A new branch is added in New
Plymouth (number 10!). Professional Driver Training is
identified as a high value service to assist customers and
operators to upskill drivers. The Professional Driver
Training service begins with the goals of improving driver
safety and the reduction of fuel and repair and
maintenance costs. A formal Skills Development Program is
set in place to assist with the development of our team. The intent
of the program is to turn TR Group into a factory of future
leaders. TR Group purchases Vehicle Tracking
Limited. Providing
GPS vehicle tracking and Engine Management Systems
(EMS) services are an important part of
TR's aspiration to provide total world-class vehicle
management services to our customers.
2009 - Weathering the Global Financial Recession.
A tough year for our rental business with demand for casual hire
at an all time low. Very much a year of all hands to the
pump. We are very proud of how we maintained our profitability and
weathered one of the biggest tests in our companies history. We are
equally proud of our clients and how our working relationships have
grown through this period - Thank you
2010 - Move onto the new Christchurch premises.
Scheduled for July we will finally occupy the land bought in
2008! We are also hoping to commission a new Truck Wash
facility that promises to wash a complete truck and trailer in 4
minutes!