Health, safety and driver wellbeing are key concerns for the road freight industry, according to a major survey.
The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey, commissioned by advocacy group Transporting New Zealand and carried out by Research NZ, surveyed 194 participants across 128 road freight businesses. It was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ.
A total of 78% of respondents said there was a need for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72% said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance.
The sector is also grappling with workforce challenges. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47%) indicated that “up to 25%” or more of their drivers would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.
The survey also pointed to financial pressure, with only 34% expecting their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months. Just one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins.
Roading infrastructure remains a major source of concern. The vast majority (93%) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A further 84% believed regional roads and bridges are neglected, and 79% said delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries posed a major risk to the network.
However, the findings offered a surprising insight into how the public views professional truck drivers.
While only 20% of industry respondents thought the public viewed them positively, a separate poll of 1000 New Zealanders painted a more favourable picture. Conducted by Research NZ, the poll found that 52% of the public viewed professional road freight drivers positively, while just 7% held a negative view.
