Trucking lobby makes desperate plea for more drivers

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has put out a desperate plea for truck drivers to keep supply chains open while the country is at the “red” traffic light setting.

Chief executive Nick Leggett said the industry needed more drivers to keep up with demand.

“We know there are New Zealanders out there with licences suitable for a heavy vehicle who are not currently working as truck drivers. We are asking them to consider making themselves available to drive a truck in the weeks and months ahead as we face the wave of Omicron,” Leggett said.

Leggett said his organisation had been watching the impact of Omicron on supply chains in Australia, the United States and the UK and was aware of how the fast-spreading virus could decimate the number of available drivers.

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Nick Leggett says the trucking industry will need more drivers to keep supply chains open if Omicron spreads wider in the community.

He said the anticipation of disruption to the supply chain had already started the disruption, because people were stockpiling.

Mainfreight managing director Don Braid says he is confident the company's Covid-19 protocols mean it will be able to keep the full capacity of trucks on the road during the Omicron outbreak.

“Thinking ahead, we are appealing to people who have a licence and relevant experience to let us know, so we can link you with transport companies in your area to try and fill gaps if and when the supply chain flow becomes critical,” he said.

Leggett said the trucking industry was short of drivers pre-Covid-19, and that has only intensified as labour pressures increased.

One in four transport companies have vehicles parked up due to driver shortage, he said.

“We might only be talking about a shift or two, but every licence-holder who is willing and able to lend a hand, will help keep New Zealand’s supply chain running. It’s vital that food and medical supplies continue to move at this time. Someone putting their hand up for a shift could help ensure the deliveries keep rolling,” Leggett said.

Don Braid, managing director of Mainfreight, said the company was already making plans for the impact of Omicron.

“Of course we are worried. But we are pushing ahead to ensure we are as well covered as we possibly can be. Our teams are fully vaccinated, a great number of them have had their booster shots, and we are pleased with the operating protocols we had in place. We are taking a methodical approach,” Braid said.

Braid said because Mainfreight drivers were owner-operators, they were likely to have people in place who could step into their roles should they become unwell and need time off.

Any drivers willing to work through this time can register their interest by emailing Transporting New Zealand.

They will be subject to the normal screening and there are no guarantees of work.

The road freight transport industry employs 32,868 people and 93 per cent of all freight moved in New Zealand travels via trucking.