The small moving the big
It’s a small team, but they think pretty big.
Husband and wife Joe and Hollie Howland began their piloting business out of their home in Whitby nine months ago.
The duo, who are little people, admit it’s been a steep learning curve.
Joe doesn’t fly planes, however - he drives the lead pilot vehicle for trucks moving large loads around the region, such as houses and culverts.
They helped moved Portacoms - small cabins - to Taupo recently and helped deliver the beams for the Kapiti Expressway, with Joe in charge of planning the route and ensuring all bases are covered.
So far so good for the fledgling business, which the Howlands are not quite running fulltime yet, still keeping up their other day jobs.
‘‘I’ve worked in the trucking industry for a long time, in quite a few different areas, so I’m comfortable being in it,’’ Joe said.
‘‘I wanted to be a truck driver and got my licences, but because of my height, I would need a truck that had to be adapted, which no one else could then use. It made it a bit tough, so I worked as a despatcher, forklift driver, in sales, even as a yard boy.’’
Last year, he and Hollie, who does the administration and bookkeeping, took the plunge and set up their own business.
They have to juggle their other jobs, and the demands of a 5-year-old son, but are determined to make it work.
‘‘You need to keep a balance in your life,’’ Hollie said. ‘‘I’m a mum and I work and we have the business as well, so things can get busy, but you just need to learn to be organised.’’
It took about four months to secure their first piloting job but the work had been steady since, Joe said.
‘‘There’s a real sense of satisfaction when you get something big moved from A to B. I love the fact my office changes every day and enjoy being on the road.’’
Joe’s advice to anyone looking to start a business is do your research.
‘‘When I knew piloting was something I wanted to do, I spent a good six months studying and reading about it, talking to people.’’
‘‘Be well-prepared before you take the plunge.’’
Check J Howland Piloting out on Facebook.