Heavy lifting and cartage
Swinglifts, flat decks, hiabs, and curtain siders. The truck is matched to the load, and the site is checked before anything is lifted.
Les Harrison Transport Group
We can move it.Anytime, anywhere.
The expertise and machinery to get the job done — from a single lift to a full freight movement, out of Hamilton and Tauranga.
- Hubs
- Hamilton and Tauranga
- Coverage
- Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty
- Hours
- Weekdays, 7am–5pm
About us
One truck, then a group.
Les Harrison spent his first years on the road as an owner-operator, then started Les Harrison Transport. Building materials led to concrete, steel, containers, cabins, and the awkward loads that still need a truck.
Since 1999, Les Harrison, Chris Flavell, and Craig Foster have directed the group from Hamilton and Tauranga. More than 35 years of work in Aotearoa sits behind the fleet.
The commitments stay close to home: local supply chains, partnerships across the Tainui rohe, and enough capacity to stand behind larger Māori enterprise and construction projects.
01
The start
Les Harrison drove as an owner-operator, then put his name on Les Harrison Transport. The first loads were building materials.
02
Crane trucks
HIAB units joined the fleet so a delivery could be placed on site, not just dropped at the gate.
03
Containers
Container Movers was formed with Craig Foster once that work outgrew a crane. Chris Flavell built the Tauranga side.
04
The wider industry
Craig Foster chairs the Port and Intermodal Sector Group, pressing on third-party fees and practical cost tools for operators.
05
The group today
Heavy lift, containers, freight, hire, storage, and waste, still run from Hamilton and Tauranga.
The group
Several companies. One job.
The group grew as the work did. A lift, a container, a freight run, and a hire unit can stay inside the same yards instead of being passed between strangers.
Container Movers
Swinglift, flat-deck, and skeletal units for import and export containers and structural steel, across Hamilton, Tauranga, and Auckland.
Freight and regional hiabs
L C Freight runs curtain siders into Auckland and Tauranga. Les Harrison Hiabs covers crane work through the Bay of Plenty, the Coromandel, and Hawke’s Bay.
Hire, sales, and devanning
10ft, 20ft, and 40ft containers for hire or sale. Hamilton has an approved transitional facility for devanning, with storage and power for reefers that need a temperature check.
How we work
Safe, practical, and close to the job.
The aim is straightforward transport: safe for the people doing it, sensible on cost, and finished without handing the customer a puzzle. Local knowledge in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty is what makes the timing hold.
People
Founded by a member of Tainui, the company is now a multicultural team. The work still depends on experience, a clear plan, and people who talk to each other.
Safety
Safety is how a job is taken on, not a form at the end. Cabs carry fatigue and distraction tools. Toolbox talks are regular. The company is a member of the Container Safety Council and SiteWise.
Technology
Newer trucks, transport systems that cut double entry, and Power BI dashboards for customers who want the numbers.
Whanaungatanga
Connection and accountability
Manaakitanga
Respect for people and culture
Kaitiakitanga
Care of land, resources, and culture
Haumarutanga
Safety for the team, partners, and the public
Kotahitanga
One team across both branches
Rangatiratanga
Training, ownership, and a high standard
Founder and directors
Les Harrison, Chris Flavell, and Craig Foster
A hands-on board, with a family culture and a fleet shaped around safety, reliability, and the work New Zealand actually puts on a truck.
Services
Machinery for the job in front of you.
Seven services from the same yards. Choose a lane, or combine them — we move, place, store, and clear.
01
HIAB Transport
Mounted crane trucks across Hamilton, Tauranga, and the wider Waikato.
02
Container Movers
Container handling and cargo transport in Hamilton, Tauranga, and Auckland.
ImageContainer yard with 20ft and 40ft units
03
Container Hire & Sales
20ft and 40ft containers for hire or sale, matched to the job.
ImageCurtain sider on a freight run
04
Freight Forwarding
Depot-to-door freight for local businesses across the upper North Island.
ImageWarehouse interior at the Hamilton depot
05
Warehousing & Storage
MPI devanning and secure depot storage, ready for dispatch.
ImageCommercial recycling collection
06
Recycling & Waste
Commercial recycling and general waste across the North Island.
ImagePilot vehicle escorting an overdimension load
07
Load Piloting
Certified escorts for overdimension and overweight loads.
01
HIAB Transport
With an extensive fleet of mounted hiab crane trucks, we lift and shift the load — building materials placed on site, steel beams set in position, or a spa pool moved from A to B. Our largest crane truck lifts up to 10 tonnes, and our longest hiab carries loads up to 20 metres.
- Onsite positioning
- Containers
- Portable buildings
- Cabins and sheds
- General cartage
- Frame and truss
- Septic tanks
- Other heavy items
02
Container Movers
A modern container fleet of flat deck, skeletal, and swing-lift truck and trailer units moves goods from the wharf to the customer. We also devan imported containers at our MPI-approved transitional facility.
- Wharf pick-up and drop-off
- Container movements
- Devanning imported containers
- Concrete, steel, and pipe
- Pallet transport
- Other heavy transport
ImageContainer yard with 20ft and 40ft units
03
Container Hire & Sales
We stock 20ft and 40ft containers in a range of grades, including new A-grade 20ft units at competitive hire and sale rates. Office and flat-rack options cover site offices and oversized cargo.
- 20ft containers
- 40ft containers
- Office containers
- Flat rack containers
ImageCurtain sider on a freight run
04
Freight Forwarding
We work with leading freight providers, running depot to door for other local businesses. Curtain siders handle bulk palletised cartage and building-material runs. Smaller trucks cover home delivery with a tail lift and trolley jack.
- Pallet haulage
- Retail delivery
- Construction support
- Specialised covered transport
ImageWarehouse interior at the Hamilton depot
05
Warehousing & Storage
As an approved MPI Transitional Facility, we devan imported containers at our own depot. Offices and warehouses run 7am–5pm Monday to Friday, with storage tied directly into depot-to-door delivery across Auckland, Tauranga, and the Waikato.
- MPI devanning
- Secure bulk and pallet storage
- Transport of devanned goods
ImageCommercial recycling collection
06
Recycling & Waste
Alongside three specialist partners, we remove and process commercial waste so the site stays clean, compliant, and focused on the job — from industrial offcuts to standard refuse.
- Cardboard and paper
- Industrial plastics
- Wood, crates, and pallets
- Commercial glass
- General waste
ImagePilot vehicle escorting an overdimension load
07
Load Piloting
Certified escort vehicles and trained drivers guide overdimension or overweight loads on New Zealand roads, in line with Waka Kotahi rules. Pilots are required when a load exceeds 3.1 metres in width during darkness, or travels over 40 km/h. Pilot vehicles stay in continuous radio contact with the haulage driver.
- Class 2 pilots
- Class 1 pilots
Locations
Two hubs. One network.
Dual yards in Hamilton and Tauranga give LHT coordinated transport, storage, and logistics across the North Island. Each hub has a primary yard with devanning, plus a secure secondary yard, sited for heavy-transport access and port proximity.
ImageHamilton yard at Empire Street, Frankton
Hamilton
Head office, primary yard and devanning
28 Empire Street, Frankton, Hamilton 3204, New ZealandSecondary yard
16 Wickham Street, Frankton, Hamilton 3204, New ZealandImageMount Maunganui yard near the port
Tauranga
Branch, primary yard and devanning
14 Harvard Way, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga 3116, New ZealandVideoWide film of the yards and port approaches
Contact
Tell us what needs to move.
Offices and warehouses are open 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday. Weekend and evening transport is available on request.
Request a quoteHamilton hub
28 Empire Street, Frankton, Hamilton 3204Careers
We are always looking for people who are self-motivated, team players, and committed to striving for the best.
Apply now