Transporting New Zealand is calling for a five-year, $5 million government fund to help freight operators train an estimated 2000 to 3000 additional heavy-vehicle drivers.
The proposal is among five recommendations in its new Supporting New Drivers report, produced with support from Teletrac Navman.
The report examines the pathway from obtaining a Class 1 car licence through to Classes 2 to 5 and the practical and financial barriers preventing people from entering transport careers.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the industry’s ageing workforce presents a significant challenge.
“Our 2025 Road Transport Workforce Report found there are almost twice as many truck drivers aged over 65 as there are aged 24 and under,” Kalasih says.
“A lot of highly skilled drivers will retire over the next decade. At the same time, the freight task is projected to grow by 55% over the next 20 years.
“We need to make it easier for young New Zealanders to see road freight as a genuine career option and give them a practical pathway into the industry.”
The association wants the Ministry of Social Development to administer the proposed fund, with $1m annually allocated to subsidising Class 2 and higher licence training for freight operators upskilling employees.
It also wants targeted financial support for low-income licence applicants doubled from $20m to $40m annually.
Other recommendations include establishing a school-based licensing pathway and increasing funding for mobile and community licensing services to $20m a year, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas.
Transporting New Zealand also wants insurers to use telematics data when assessing younger heavy-vehicle drivers, potentially allowing safer drivers to qualify for lower premiums and excesses.
Barriers to gaining a licence include access to a suitable vehicle and instructor, the cost of professional lessons and testing fees, and transport to testing centres.
“A car licence is about much more than being able to drive,” Kalasih says.
“It can open the door to education, employment and greater independence. For our industry, it is also the first step in the pipeline towards becoming a professional driver.”
The report highlights community-based driver-training programmes and licensing initiatives established through Budget 2022.
It also profiles 24-year-old driver and fleet administrator Zivana, who entered the transport industry at 18.
“New Zealand already has community programmes successfully helping people become safe, legal drivers, find jobs and increase their earning potential,” Kalasih says.
“The problem is that these programmes can only reach a fraction of the people who could benefit from them.
“Investing in driver licensing is an investment in employment, independence and New Zealand’s future workforce. For road freight, it also means building the skilled workforce we will need to keep the country moving.”
Transporting New Zealand says road freight carries 93% of the country’s freight by tonnage and 75% on a tonne-kilometre basis.
The industry employs more than 34,000 people across over 4700 businesses and has annual turnover of about $6b.
The association says it will continue working with operators to create work-experience and employment opportunities for younger drivers and promote road freight as a long-term career.
