The road freight industry is urging the Government to reverse a decision to phase out a levy discount for safe heavy vehicle operators, warning it could undermine road safety efforts.
The ACC Fleet Saver programme, which rewards trucking businesses with lower levies for adopting strong safety practices, will close to new applicants from July 1, with a full phase-out by June 2029.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the move was a backwards step and risked eroding safety gains made over the past decade.
“The proposed closure would jeopardise this progress. The Government needs to make it easier for businesses to sign up by reducing barriers.”
Under Fleet Saver, businesses operating five or more heavy goods vehicles can earn bronze, silver or gold status after an audit of their safety systems — with discounts of up to 40% off ACC’s motor vehicle license levies.
But Kalasih says the scheme’s design was outdated and poorly promoted.
“ACC’s claim that the programme is not delivering is based on an assessment they made in 2018, and there have been no improvements or substantial promotion of the programme since that date,” he says.
“The closure of the programme will not support improved safety and recovery outcomes, nor will it produce any material financial savings for ACC.”
Data from the Ministry of Transport shows 55% of heavy vehicles in the road freight industry operate in fleets of five vehicles or less, locking many small operators out of the scheme.
“We want to work with ACC to reform and improve the scheme,” Kalasih says.
Fleet Saver was launched by ACC in 2013 in response to the high cost and severity of truck-related crashes. At its peak, the programme had strong uptake. But an internal review in 2019 found it was no longer fit for purpose and too costly to maintain for the number of remaining participants.
As of early 2024, 37 companies were still in the scheme, covering over 11,000 vehicles receiving a total of $2.15m in discounts over three years — more than half of which belonged to one operator.
According to a regulatory impact statement, ACC would need to invest at least $300,000 to maintain the system, equivalent to about $8,200 per customer, without delivering measurable harm-reduction benefits.
Officials ultimately recommended a staged exit as the most cost-effective approach, while allowing time for the industry and NZTA to develop a potential replacement.
Kalasih questioned the timing, pointing out that NZTA is now moving to introduce its own operator recognition system.
“How one part of government can be closing down this approach just as another one starts off on that path is baffling,” he says.
“The industry deserves some joined up government thinking on this otherwise it appears inevitable there will be an increased compliance cost to industry and ultimately that will show up as an increased cost of living.”
Transporting New Zealand is encouraging eligible operators to apply before the June 30 cut-off, offering support with the application process.
Kalasih says he welcomes the opportunity to meet with ACC Minister Scott Simpson to discuss how ACC and the road freight industry can work to protect and improve the safety benefits offered by Fleet Saver.
