The road transport industry welcomes Labour’s decision to boost the role of careers advisors in schools, says Road Transport Forum (RTF) chief executive Ken Shirley, as New Zealand faces a chronic shortage of truck drivers.
“Our most recent estimate is that we are around 4000 drivers short every year; 2000 through natural attrition and 2000 through the overall expansion of the economy,” says Shirley.
According to the Forum, trucks transport more than 91% of New Zealand’s total freight and predictions are that there will be very little change in modal share over the next 30 years. yet freight volumes will grow up to 58%.
“The workforce shortage in our industry will, if not addressed soon, start having a really negative effect on the overall economy,” says Shirley.
“While RTF, our associations and road transport companies are working hard to recruit young people into the industry, one of the biggest challenges we face is getting information about the exciting careers pathways within road transport in front of young people, particularly school leavers,” he says.
“A major boost to careers advice in schools as well as establishing better links between schools and businesses is a really good long-term strategy to begin addressing this issue,” says Shirley
“RTF would also welcome the opportunity to discuss with Labour its ideas for how the apprenticeship scheme might work and how that can be broadened to include our industry,” he says.
