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The trucking industry is calling for all hands to the pump as New Zealand faces an indefinite length of time at the Red traffic light, which will strain the supply chain, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett says.
“We know there are New Zealanders out there with a Class 2, 4 or 5 licence, suitable for a heavy vehicle, who are not currently working as truck drivers,” Leggett says. “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 says that overseas experience shows that that Omicron can decimate the driver workforce, through drivers getting the virus and/or having to isolate because they have been exposed to it.
“We are already seeing the anticipation of this disruption to the supply chain, ironically, start the disruption prematurely with people panic-buying goods and stockpiling.
“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 some of the gaps if and when the supply chain flow becomes critical.
“We are an industry that was short of drivers, pre Covid-19, and that has only intensified as our border has been closed for years and labour pressures have increased.
Leggett estimates that one in four transport companies has vehicles parked up due to driver shortage. Omicron is likely to compound that issue.
“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.”
According to the Census, 34,560 heavy truck drivers worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Meanwhile, Transcon managing director Blake Noble says he appreciates that road transport can be a costly and difficult industry to gain licensing and experiencing within without working your way up from the inside.
“We have opportunities available now which might appeal to a school leaver looking at a first career opportunity, or someone already in another career looking for a change or opportunity to develop new skills in a new industry,” Noble says.
He says in his book, attitude trumps experience and this is the platform for someone relatively ‘green’, but in possession of a stellar attitude, to jump aboard and gain their class 2 truck licence, and the opportunity for further progress into a rewarding career with many potential applications.
