Business through the past 10 years
Dave Orr is the Owner & Director assisted by Heather Logie (wife) being a significant Shareholder. Vanman was started in the 2nd half of 2020, after Domestic flights resumed following the border closure and cessation of International & Domestic passenger flights in late March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic country wide lockdown.
Previously, Dave & Heather operated for 3 years as a Supershuttle franchisee at the Hamilton Airport, then bought and operated Aerolink shuttles from June 2011 until the March 2020 border closure forced them to voluntarily put the business into liquidation a few months later. During the 10 years they operated Aerolink (Hamilton based), 4 other shuttle businesses were acquired and operated under the Aerolink brand: Go-Easy shuttles (Te Awamutu) December 2013, On-Route shuttles (formally known as BOP shuttles, Rotorua) March 2014, Apollo Connect shuttles (Tauranga) April 2014, Minibus Express shuttles (Hamilton) Dec 2015.
Liquidating Aerolink & Covid 19
It was a very sad day that the decision was made to liquidate the business in 2020. We had nearly 40 friends as staff & drivers employed at the start of 2020 and to have to end their jobs so suddenly was heart breaking for them and Dave & Heather. As we had a 100% drop in income we could not qualify for the 5 year Government loan scheme to keep us afloat, as we had no income to start paying it back and were at that point not considered to be a viable business. To add injury to insult, Dave contracted the Covid-19 virus during the end of the last week prior to the lockdown. Some drivers (quite rightly) were pulling out of driving so Dave ended up driving alot just to help people get to where they needed to go. Of the full team only Dave contracted the virus, which he unfortunately shared with his wife Heather, both were sick during the first 5 or 6 weeks of the lockdown.
Moving forward with Vanman
Vanman is more than just a shuttle business. The business will operate more as a logistics company with 3 divisions that create a more diversified business than Aerolink was, thus ensuring its survival especially in the Covid-19 environment that all of us are having to adjust to.
The 3 divisions or Services offered by Vanman are:
Shuttle Solutions: Passenger Transfers, Private (Exclusive) Transfers, Shared-rides and Dial-a-driver (we driver your car). For trucking and bus companies, we can help get stranded drivers and passengers picked up from broken down vehicles and delivered wherever needed.
Courier Solutions: Freight forwarding: Small parcels and household items, either Urgent or Non-Urgent Pick-up & Deliver.
Towing Solutions: Trailer: We can tow your trailer, caravan, or boat & trailer, even a hired furniture trailer (which we can hire on your behalf and deliver it to you for loading). If your car/van or another company’s taxi/shuttle, has broken down and needs to be towed such as for repair or servicing, we can use a car transport trailer to pick up your car/van/taxi/shuttle and deliver it to your chosen destination, then deliver you or your passengers home.
Contact us by emailing us at info@vanman.kiwi or ph 07 850 5615 or txt 0274 429 252
