For nearly 100 years, Stevenson has played a major role in developing New Zealand’s roading and infrastructure. We are a major player in the country’s construction industry, supplying aggregates and a very wide range of concrete-based building products. We have strong roots in land-based businesses including mining and quarry management, agriculture and property. We are a trusted provider of engineering and related services among the industries we work in.
Leigh Mansel
Transport Manager
‘I manage the transport division for Stevenson Resources, running a fleet of 22 bulk trucks and two cement tankers. I ensure they’ve got enough work and that we’ve got enough drivers to operate them.’
Leigh has a team of 33 people reporting to her and she manages the sales for the three Stevenson quarries – Drury, Huntly and Kaiaua. ‘It’s a demanding job. People want their aggregates NOW. So we’ve got to constantly feed the demand,’ she says.
‘I love my job. Every day is different. It’s a very social job. I deal with real salt of the earth characters. It’s the people who make it all worthwhile.
‘I have a fantastic team of people around me and a great boss – General Manager Steve Ellis. My team includes two sales representatives and three administration staff, two of whom are women. The rest are male truck and trailer operator drivers or dispatchers. I get to deal with all these boys and their various personalities every day,’ she laughs.
She sits in the same office as the rest of her team. ‘I’m very accessible. I’m in touch with the drivers every day. I also go out on the road calling on our clients to ensure that they’re happy with our service. We’ve always got to make sure we’re a step ahead of our competition. We review fuel costs and how we can reduce them to get the most from our gear and operators.’
Leigh packs a lot into her standard 8.30am to 5pm day once she has dropped off her eight-year-old daughter at school. ‘My role involves balancing sales and transport. On an average day I spend half of my time pricing. I work closely with the sales team to manage the pricing for major projects. We organise servicing for all the trucks. Working closely with our dispatchers is vital to ensure that I’m kept in the loop about what projects are coming up. Dispatchers are essentially the hub of the wheel.
All transport staff are recruited by Leigh. ‘The demand for truck drivers has significantly increased. Retaining top staff is more important than ever. Good gear and remuneration are vital. We’re fortunate that we can provide consistent hours of work. Our operators average 50-60 hours per week. People like to feel valued and part of the business, so I make sure that I give them regular feedback.
‘Stevenson has invested a lot of money into its fleet over the past 18 months, purchasing 15 new truck and trailers. It’s been a good time to come on board with Stevenson. The Stevenson family have been supportive of me and my role. Working for a family business is more personal.’
Outside work, Leigh’s little daughter is her first port of call. ‘My brother and sister both live in Auckland with their kids so we spend a lot of time with them. I also enjoy following V-8 racing.
‘I read to wind down – sports biographies and murder mysteries – a bit morbid maybe, but yeah, I do,’ she says unapologetically. ‘I also love music of all sorts – especially 50s and 60s music. I really enjoy dancing and recently started going to weekly Ceroc classes. My poor partner gets dragged along with me.’
Rotorua-born Leigh moved to Auckland at 17, working first for Fletcher Diamond Industries and then for its forestry division Ramsay Roundwood. She has worked in the quarry industry for about a decade. Her previous work includes stints with Winstone Aggregates and Fulton Hogan.
‘My job is growing all the time. There’s a big focus on transport within the Stevenson group and I’m proud to say that we’ve got one of the best looking fleets in Auckland.
