NZ's trucking shortage – why no one's behind the wheel

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News Hub  /  April 18, 2016

Seventy-five-thousand trucks move goods across New Zealand every day, but we're short on people to drive them.

The unions put the 2400-person shortage down to low pay and long hours.

The Government's calculated the average wage for a truck driver at around $16-$25 per hour.

Ken Shirley, Road Transport Forum Chief Executive, says the lengthy and expensive licensing process doesn't help. He says it can take two and a half years and thousands of dollars to complete.

Mr Shirley says big clients are "trying to screw down the freight rates", but "there's no more juice in the lemon."

Lower Hutt driver Harley Tripae works four days on, two days off. Each shift is 12- to 14-hours long. He drives a fuel tanker, and says those carrying dangerous goods can earn close to a six-figure salary.

He says like any industry, you start at the bottom and make your way up.

"Once you're at the top, you can't beat it. The freedom; the open roads. It's great. It really is."

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