What TRT does

TRT (Tidd Ross Todd Ltd) is a 57-year-old New Zealand-headquartered manufacturer and distributor specialising in heavy transport and construction industry equipment, founded in 1967 by Jack Tidd Ross Todd. The company operates three integrated divisions: (1) Parts Distribution, supplying OEM and aftermarket truck and trailer parts from branches in Hamilton, Auckland, and Christchurch with same-day/next-day delivery; (2) Service, Repair and Maintenance, providing mechanical service, COF compliance testing, authorised service for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, and IVECO, plus 24/7 emergency call-out; and (3) Manufacturing, designing and producing proprietary TIDD pick-and-carry cranes (PC25, PC28, PC28-2, PC28-3G), the TractionAir Central Tyre Inflation system, TIDD Crane Borers, Electronic Steering System trailers, and specialised heavy-haul trailers (low loaders, drop decks, house trailers, crane support trailers, modular platforms). TRT also distributes tier-1 international brands including HIAB loader cranes, ZEPRO tail lifts, Manitowoc, Grove, Potain, and Kobelco cranes across New Zealand and Australia.

The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of manufactured and distributed equipment, supplemented by professional services revenue from mechanical repair, truck fit-outs, and authorised OEM service work. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (12 representatives on the road), its own branch network, and exclusive distributor/dealer relationships. Pricing is quote-based with no public pricing disclosed. Core customer segments are heavy transport operators, construction and infrastructure, and defence (NZDF and ADF), with secondary exposure to agriculture, forestry, and industrial/mining. Notable enterprise customers include CPB Contractors (purchased the 100th TIDD crane in 2022), Fulton Hogan, Calder Stewart, Watercare, Transpower, Qube Heavy Lift, and MacTrans QLD.

TRT's competitive position rests on its integrated design-to-aftermarket capability, a 220-person skilled workforce supported by apprenticeship programmes, a 33,000 sqm Hamilton manufacturing facility with robotic welding and CNC machining, and proprietary technology including TractionAir, Slew Safe, ESS, and the Versa-Lock trailer system. Regulatory credentials include ISO 9001:2015 certification and NZDF defence supplier cage code EM778. The company is privately held, with a major ownership change occurring in 2023 alongside the creation of TRT (2021) Pty Ltd for Australian operations, followed by a full rebrand in 2025. Operations span New Zealand, Australia (Brisbane), and reach into Asia Pacific, South America, and PNG through international logistics.

Name

TRT

Legal name

Tidd Ross Todd Ltd

Website

https://trt.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TRT (Tidd Ross Todd Ltd) is a New Zealand-headquartered manufacturer and distributor of heavy transport, trailer, and crane equipment, serving fleet operators, construction, defence (NZDF/ADF), and utilities across New Zealand and Australia. The company manufactures proprietary TIDD cranes and TractionAir systems in-house while distributing HIAB, Manitowoc, and Kobelco brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Transport Equipment

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Trailer & Heavy Transport Equipment Providers (SPMT, Lowboy, Multi-Axle) (TLADAGAM), Material Handling & Industrial Lift Vehicle Manufacturing (Forklifts/Telehandlers/Reach Stackers) (IMACAFAD), Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)

Keywords

• Heavy transport equipment
• Crane manufacturing
• Trailer manufacturing
• Truck parts distribution
• Construction equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Truck and Trailer Parts Sales: Sale of genuine OEM and aftermarket truck and trailer parts including engines, transmissions, brakes, axles, hydraulics, seats, and accessories. Operates from warehouses in Hamilton, Auckland, and Christchurch with same-day/next-day delivery.
2. Crane Sales and Distribution: Distribution of TIDD, Manitowoc, Grove, Kobelco, and Potain cranes in New Zealand and Australia. Includes new crane sales, used crane sales, and parts.
3. Trailer Design and Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom trailers including low loaders, house trailers, crane support trailers, and specialised builds. Both one-off custom solutions and standard models.
4. Service, Repair and Maintenance: Mechanical service, repair and maintenance for trucks and trailers including COF compliance testing. Also includes crane service and 24/7 emergency call-out support.
5. Truck Fit-Out and Engineering: End-to-end engineering, fabrication and repair solutions for trucks and trailers including new OEM truck fit-outs, chassis modifications, and hydraulic installations.
6. Defence Manufacturing and Supply: Design and manufacture of defence solutions for NZDF and ADF including tipper systems, specialised trailers, and MRO support for military vehicles and equipment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TRT designs, manufactures, sells, and distributes heavy transport equipment and cranes — including TIDD pick-and-carry cranes, TIDD crane borers, TractionAir central tyre inflation systems, and custom heavy-haulage trailers — for the road transport and construction industries. The company also distributes branded truck/trailer parts (brakes, axles, seats, hydraulics), distributes cranes and equipment under brands such as HIAB, ZEPRO, Manitowoc, Grove, Potain, and Kobelco, and provides mechanical service, repair, COF compliance testing, and 24/7 emergency call-out support across branches in New Zealand and Australia.

Product overview

TRT (Tidd Ross Todd Ltd) is a New Zealand-based heavy transport and lifting solutions company operating as both a manufacturer and distributor. The company operates across three interconnected divisions: (1) Parts Distribution - supplying genuine OEM and aftermarket truck and trailer parts including Traction Air CTI systems, seats, brakes, hydraulics, and accessories from branches in Hamilton, Auckland, and Christchurch; (2) Service and Repair - providing mechanical service, COF compliance, and authorised service for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, and IVECO; and (3) Manufacturing - designing and producing TIDD Pick and Carry Cranes, TIDD Crane Borers, Electronic Steering System trailers, and specialised heavy transport trailers, while also distributing HIAB loader cranes, ZEPRO tail lifts, Manitowoc/Grove/Kobelco cranes, and related equipment. The portfolio is unified through TRT's in-house design and engineering capability, ISO 9001:2015 quality systems, and comprehensive aftermarket support for both manufactured and distributed products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TractionAir: NZ's leading central tyre inflation (CTI) system, manufactured by TRT for on/off highway applications with a 3-year, 500,000km warranty.
• TIDD
• TIDD Crane Borer

Products and services

• TractionAir CTI System Central Tyre Inflation system manufactured by TRT for on/off-highway heavy vehicles. Semi-automated intelligent control adjusts tyre pressure to improve safety, reduce wear, and enhance fuel efficiency. Backed by a 3-year, 500,000 km warranty.
• TIDD Pick and Carry Cranes Articulating pick and carry cranes manufactured in-house by TRT, including PC25, PC28, PC28-2, and PC28-3G models. Designed for construction and industrial applications with Slew Safe operator safety technology.
• TIDD Crane Borer Pole borer manufactured by TRT with an advanced 6-sided boom design for enhanced lifting and boring capacity. Designed for the power industry with hydraulic/mechanical auger stow mechanism for safety and reliability.
• Custom Trailer Manufacturing Design and manufacture of trailers including low loaders (Tri Axle 3x4, Quad Axle 4x4, Rows of 8), drop decks, house trailers, crane support trailers, modular platform trailers with Electronic Steering System, and specialised heavy haulage trailers for mining and infrastructure projects.
• Truck and Trailer Parts Distribution Distribution of genuine OEM and aftermarket truck and trailer parts including seats (KAB, Bostrom, Pilot), brakes, axles (ROR, Meritor, BPW, SAF, Hendrickson), hydraulics, drivetrain, suspension, couplings, and accessories. Same-day/next-day delivery from Hamilton, Auckland, and Christchurch branches.
• Service, Repair and Maintenance Mechanical service, repair and maintenance for trucks and trailers including COF compliance testing, authorised service for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner, and IVECO, crane service and parts, and 24/7 emergency call-out services.
• Truck Fit-Out and Engineering End-to-end engineering, fabrication and repair solutions for trucks and trailers including new OEM truck fit-outs, chassis modifications, deck fabrication, hydraulic installations, and crane installations. Includes 12-month guarantee on all workmanship.
• Defence Solutions Design, manufacture and MRO support for defence applications including tipper systems (Land 121), HX77 truck conversions, HET programme, MHOV low loaders, specialist transporters, and military vehicle modifications. Supplier to NZDF and ADF under cage code EM778.
• Cranes Distribution (HIAB, Manitowoc, Grove, Potain, Kobelco) Distribution of HIAB truck loader cranes, Manitowoc and Grove all-terrain/rough terrain cranes, Potain self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes, and Kobelco lattice boom and telescopic crawler cranes across New Zealand and Queensland, Australia.
• ZEPRO Truck Tail Lifts Distribution of ZEPRO brand truck tail lifts including Z 45/75 (750 kg), Z 100 (1000 kg), and Z 15/20 (2000 kg capacity) models.
• VersaLock Crane Trailer System Trailer system enabling easy reconfiguration to carry components for any crane make or model with positioning in 50 mm increments. Includes semi trailers, B-Doubles, and counterweight trailers for crane set-up procedures.
• Crane Outrigger Pads Locally manufactured crane outrigger pads made from high tensile Hardox steel in honeycomb design to minimize tare weight and deflection. Available in standard sizes from PAD-014 to PAD-143.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12-month warranty on all workmanship
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• KobelcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020TRT appointed as official Kobelco dealer in Oceania for crawler cranes including lattice boom, heavy duty, and telescopic boom models.
• HIABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018TRT appointed as HIAB's NZ partners for HIAB truck loader cranes, ZEPRO truck tail lifts, JONSERED and LOGLIFT log cranes, MULTILIFT equipment, and MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts. TRT is Auckland distributor for HIAB and ZEPRO equipment.
• ManitowoccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2002Manitowoc purchased Grove and Potain, extending the range of cranes sold by TRT to include Mobile, Crawler and Tower Cranes. TRT is Queensland distributor for Manitowoc and Grove cranes.
• IvecocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1994TRT appointed as Iveco Parts and Service Dealers for Waikato region since 1994. TRT Auckland also became IVECO Parts Dealers in 2017.
• Mercedes-Benz TruckscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTRT is authorised service agent for Mercedes-Benz Trucks in New Zealand, providing truck fit-outs, service and parts support.
• FreightlinercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTRT is authorised service agent for Freightliner trucks in New Zealand.
• Rheinmetall AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRT contracted to design and manufacture tipper systems for Australian Defence Force under Land 121 contract. Also involved in Rheinmetall tipper body integration for HX77 trucks.
• RMMVA (Rheinmetall MAN Vehicle Applications)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract signed to supply Tipping Bodies to Australian Defence Force under Land 121 contract. HX77 8x8 Truck Conversion partnership.
• BAE SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAE Systems in-country support in NZ for FMTV and M1089AO military vehicles.
• TIDD Service Agents (Australia)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of authorised service agents including JDM Services Victoria, RONCO Western Australia, RMB Services South Australia, Complete Crane Solutions Western Australia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Manitowoc Company: Global crane manufacturer whose Manitowoc, Grove and Potain brands TRT distributes in NZ and Queensland. Comparable as a broad incumbent across mobile, crawler, and tower cranes — overlapping with TRT's crane distribution and TIDD pick-and-carry product.
• Cargotec (HIAB): Parent of HIAB — the brand TRT distributes in NZ. Comparable as a global incumbent in loader cranes and material handling equipment; TRT is simultaneously a channel partner and a competing manufacturer (TIDD), making the relationship both cooperative and competitive at the brand level.

Direct peers

• TR Group: New Zealand truck and trailer leasing/rental provider that overlaps with TRT's transport-operator customer base. Comparable because both operate at the intersection of heavy transport equipment and NZ fleet customers, though TR Group is more leasing-focused.
• Domett Trailers: New Zealand-based heavy haulage trailer manufacturer producing low loaders, drop decks, and bulk transport trailers. Directly comparable to TRT's trailer manufacturing line serving NZ heavy haul operators and freight companies.
• MaxiTRANS: ASX-listed Australian trailer manufacturer producing road transport, bulk tipper, and specialised trailers. Direct comparable to TRT's trailer manufacturing business with similar customers across the trans-Tasman heavy haul market.
• Bruce Rock Engineering: Western Australian manufacturer of road trains, side tippers, and heavy haulage trailers for mining and agriculture. Directly comparable to TRT's mine-site heavy haul trailer and modular platform lines for resource-sector customers.
• Holtra: New Zealand-based heavy haulage trailer manufacturer focused on heavy transport solutions for the NZ market. Comparable to TRT's low loader and modular platform products serving similar NZ transport operators.
• Haulmark Trailers: Australian heavy haulage and specialised trailer manufacturer producing low loaders, drop decks, and platform trailers. Comparable product portfolio and customer base to TRT's low loader and modular platform offerings.
• Vawdrey Australia: Australian trailer manufacturer producing tautliners, tippers, and specialised heavy haulage trailers. Comparable to TRT's trailer manufacturing line and shares overlap with transport-operator and freight-company customers across Australasia.

Emerging players

• Pressure Systems International (PSI/TireStamp): US-based manufacturer of automatic central tyre inflation systems for trucks and trailers. Most direct global competitor to TRT's TractionAir CTI system in the on/off-highway tyre inflation category — same end-customer use case (reducing road wear, improving safety) on heavy haulage vehicles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/trtltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tidd-ross-todd-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TRT