Dave Carden

Dave Carden (born 13 September 1930) is a New Zealand engineer, inventor, and businessman in the New Zealand heavy transport and crane industries. He was a co-founder and long-time owner of Tidd Ross Todd (TRT), based in Hamilton, and introduced several transport engineering innovations over his career.

Carden's contributions include the development of the TIDD Crane Carrier and the TractionAir Central Tyre Inflation (CTI) system, as well as a decision known as "the Game Changer" that impacted the New Zealand crane market. He was inducted into the New Zealand Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2017.

In 1958, Carden founded a general engineering business, Southside Motor Engineering, in Putaruru. He gained a reputation for finding domestic workarounds to customer problems caused by the import restrictions applied to the New Zealand economy.

He stepped down as a director in 2021, taking a new role as a TRT Ambassador. The company is now led by his sons, Bruce and Robert Carden.

Key innovations Carden's work focused on developing heavy transport and lifting solutions tailored for New Zealand and Australian conditions. Major engineering projects and innovations credited to him and his design office include: 1988 - Hydraulic House Mover: A system developed for moving residential structures.

Awards Carden was inducted into the New Zealand Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2017, in honour of his contribution to the heavy transport and crane industries in New Zealand.

Personal life Carden has been a volunteer for the local Lions Club, and a member of the board of St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton.