In 1966 FTL was established as an unlisted public company, Hawke's Bay Farmers Transport Holdings Ltd. This company acquired R Sherwood (Mobil Oil Distributor), Sherwood Transport Ltd, and David Walker Ltd, rural transport companies.
1970 Saw the name changed to Hawke's Bay Transport Holdings Ltd, and the long established rural service companies Waipawa Transport Ltd and Central Hawke's Bay Transport Ltd were acquired. Central Hawke's Bay Transport Ltd was established in 1939.
1973 The established contracting and aggregate supplier business of John Fraser & Sons Contractors Ltd was acquired. This included the Omahu Road transport depot - a 6 acre site which became headquarters for the transport businesses, workshop and administration facilities operated.
In 1977 the 64 kilometre limit which road transport could compete with rail was extended to 150 kilometres.
Hawke's Bay Transport Holdings Ltd listed on the NZ Stock Exchange in 1981.
A period of acquisitions ensued:
- Bambry Bros Ltd a Hastings based rural transport business.
1983 - Gunn Transport Ltd (Pahiatua and Woodville) Gray Sargent Transport Company, Gisborne. With an operating base covering Hastings, Feilding, Gisborne, Waipawa, Pahiatua, FTL became the largest transporter of livestock in New Zealand.
1985 - Road Freighters Ltd, and T J Cook Ltd (rural transport operators in Feilding). Gisborne Transport Ltd, and Cassidy Transport Ltd - a Waipukurau based rural transport company.
1992 - Bright Brothers, Gisborne.
1993 - D L Worsley Ltd rural transport operator based in Wanganui / Waverley, Transport Wairarapa Ltd located in Masterton, Dannevirke, Eketahuna and Feilding. G G Ranger Ltd based in Putaruru.
2000 - 2008 - Aquired MacDonalds Transport based in Taradale, Hawke's Bay, the rural division of Robert Monk Transport and re-branded to Opotiki Transport Limited in the Bay of Plenty.
Acquired 50 % share in Bushetts Transport Limited - 20 truck business operating out of Hastings and Waipukurau with a stock holding yard north of Dannevirke.
Sale and Purchase agreed with C.L. Drager and Son Limited for their Rural Transport Division based in Wairoa.
These acquisitions strengthened the rural network in contiguous areas, and enabled FTL to meet the changing patterns of livestock movements as a result of changes in buying patterns by meat processing companies.
