Unless you have been living under a rock for the last ten years, you will be aware of the critical workforce shortage facing our industry.
As New Zealand’s economy continues to expand, the comparative advantage of road transport means that trucks will be needed to keep the country growing.
According to the Ministry of Transport’s 2014 National Freight Demands Study, it is expected that trucks will still carry over 90% of all domestic freight in 2042 and in that time total domestic freight will increase from 236 million to 373 million tonnes.
The Road Transport Forum’s most up-to-date estimate is that on an annual basis New Zealand is around 4000 drivers short, 2000 through natural attrition and 2000 due to the expansion of the freight task.
New Zealand is not alone in facing this issue. According to the American Trucking Associations, the US trucking industry is facing a labour shortage of up to 48,000 drivers, which is expected to increase to more than 170,000 drivers over the next 10 years.
The British Parliament carried out an inquiry into its truck driver shortage and discovered that the shortage is fundamentally a lack of people wanting to work as truck drivers rather than a shortage of people who are qualified or licenced to do so.
The committee put the onus on the industry to improve the terms and conditions under which drivers are expected to work. It also emphasised the need for far greater investment in recruitment, training and driver welfare.
Simply put, pay and conditions for British commercial vehicle drivers are not good enough and do nothing to assist the industry transform its image and potentially attract people from outside the usual demographic. The same is very much true here.
A recent study by global workforce company ManpowerGroup estimated that by 2020 baby boomers will make up only 6% of the global workforce, while generations Y and Z (born since 1982) will make up nearly 60%.
These younger generations have different career expectations. They want career advancement, continual opportunities to upskill and the flexibility to consider different roles and where, when and how they work.
While these expectations may not fit in with how we, as an industry, have traditionally done things, the reality is that we have to move with the times.
The 21st century labour market is extremely competitive and globally road transport is struggling to stay relevant in it.
The Road Transport Forum, with support from our associations, has recently produced a career pathways booklet that aims to introduce young people and particularly school leavers to the road transport industry.
The booklet briefly introduces the five major career pathways in the industry – professional driver, automotive service and repair, warehousing and distribution, administration and support services, and transport engineering – all of which are facing major skills shortages. The booklet sets out the qualifications and future opportunities available through each pathway.
We felt that it was important to emphasise the importance and value of the industry to New Zealand and the opportunities that exist within it. Therefore, we introduce road transport as having more impact on the economic success of New Zealand than any other single industry:
Everything people need in their daily lives is delivered by trucks – the goods in shops and supermarkets, our agricultural and manufacturing products and all the services we take for granted.
Whether you are a high school leaver, a tertiary education graduate or just looking for a change of career, the road freight industry offers professional opportunities to suit most people.
If you or your organisation would like some copies of the booklet, please send us an email at forum@rtf.nz, or alternatively contact your local association.
Finally, let me remind readers that the Road Transport Forum’s annual conference is fast approaching. To be held at Baypark in Tauranga on October 27 and 28, it will consider the dual issues of innovation and change and what the future holds for the road transport industry in New Zealand.
Conference registration is now open and easy to do online or by printing off the registration form and mailing it to the address provided.
Sponsorship packages are also still available and, with over 400 delegates expected at the event, it is a really good opportunity to promote your brand.
Please visit the conference’s website (www.rtfconference.co.nz) for further information, sponsorship opportunities and registration.
I look forward to seeing you there.
