From under to on top

Eurico Stork’s journey in the transport industry began not behind the wheel, but under the bonnet. Starting as an apprentice truck technician at Hino Pietermaritzburg in 2014, he swiftly climbed the ranks, qualifying and stepping into a workshop supervisor role within two years.

But ambition had other plans. By 2019, Stork traded his wrench for entrepreneurship, launching JKK Transport with a single Hino 700 financed through Hino Financial Services.

Fast-forward five years, and the 34-year-old now helms two companies — JKK Transport and EJS Transport — with a combined fleet of 17 trucks. Thirteen are Hino models, including 11 Hino 700s acquired from his former employer, where he maintains a close partnership with New Vehicle Sales Manager Vivek Orie.

The remaining four trucks in his fleet come from rival brands, but Stork’s loyalty to Hino remains clear: all 13 Hino vehicles are serviced exclusively at Hino Pietermaritzburg, backed by extended warranties and genuine parts.

“Regular dealer servicing isn’t optional for me—it’s peace of mind,” Stork emphasised. “Downtime is the enemy in this business, so sticking to Hino’s protocols keeps my trucks running smoothly.”

Specialising in perishable goods on long-haul routes like Durban-Johannesburg and Cape Town, his tautliner-equipped fleet caters to a handful of dedicated clients. Stork credits his success to both pragmatism and mentorship. “Early on, seasoned fleet owners in Pietermaritzburg shared invaluable advice,” he noted. “That guidance, paired with prioritising maintenance and ROI, has been key.”

Beyond logistics, Stork takes pride in his role as a job creator. Since 2021, his workforce has ballooned from two employees to 25 — a figure he aims to grow further. “Starting with a technical passion and ending up here? It’s surreal,” he reflected. “But the real win is building something that sustains families.”

With Hino Pietermaritzburg still servicing his trucks and Orie managing his accounts, Stork’s story circles back to where it began—proving that sometimes, the road to growth starts with a trusted pit stop.

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