It’s political... WHAT THE POLITICIANS THINK ABOUT TRUCKING THE NEW ZEALAND TRUCKING INDUSTRY FACES many challenges – many of them influenced by Government policy. Apart from the many problems currently created by the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s the ongoing driver shortage, the worsening state of the nation’s roading network and looming emissions reduction legislation… So, who among our political parties offers any
salvation for the industry in these situations? To have some insight into what politicians are thinking about issues impacting the road transport industry, NZ Truck & Driver has offered each of the major political parties the opportunity to voice their views on trucking matters each month. This month the National and ACT parties offer their views on the transport industry. T&D
DRIVER SHORTAGES MUST BE ADDRESSED By Simon Court, ACT Party spokesperson on transport
FULL RUBBISH BAGS AND WHEELIE bins lined my street when I returned to West Auckland in late October after a week in Parliament. I was trying to remember if Monday had been another surprise public holiday which would have delayed collection by a day, but no. The following day the bins and bags were still there. It was early Saturday evening when I heard the comforting sound of a rubbish truck lifting bins, averting a potential public health emergency. According to the Waste Management Industry Forum, we should prepare for more late collections – there is a shortfall of 400 drivers for waste collection vehicles. The forum, along with the Bus and Coach Association and National Road Carriers wrote to Immigration Minister Michael Wood asking that drivers be added to the green list of skilled workers who can help fill shortages. The letter stated: “The sectors we represent are facing a shortfall of over 9,000 drivers. At least 8,000 for freight vehicles of all sizes and classes; up to 600 bus drivers; and around 400 drivers of waste collection vehicles.” They go on in their letter to say: “We cannot overstate the degree of strain this is placing on the businesses we represent. It is resulting in unsustainable increases in cost, uncertainty and stress, and businesses
are being stretched to breaking point in order to uphold commitments to clients and customers, and to the New Zealand public. We are receiving reports of burnout on an unprecedented scale.” If the shortages aren’t addressed, the country was likely to experience a “significant and sustained decline in economic activity and in living standards”, they said. “Increasingly, it will become impossible for businesses to get goods and services to and from market in the way that, until recently, they have been able to. Public transport and waste collection services, which are taken for granted in a modern, developed economy like New Zealand, will inevitably be pared back.” The transport operators agreed that developing the local workforce is part of the solution, but that takes years to produce qualified drivers based on current licensing requirements. And at the current development rate there will not be enough trained to fill the gap. The request made by these groups was simple. Sort out the immigration settings so workers can actually get into the country. Drivers provide an essential service to New Zealand and are working massive and unsustainable hours to keep things going. Instead of taking the request seriously, Immigration and Transport Minister Wood
Simon Court
responded with a political retort, blaming the industry for not providing good enough working conditions. The Government loves a scapegoat for the labour shortages caused by its immigration policy. The go-to response is usually to blame the industry for the shortages it is experiencing. The barriers to recruiting staff from overseas are not the wages – truck drivers are typically paid well over the median wage, and much more to drive the bigger rigs. The problem remains stifling red tape and anti-immigration ideology from the Labour government. The steps that have to be completed to employ from overseas might have made sense when we didn’t have enough jobs to go around, but when employers are begging for workers, they are ridiculous. The months it takes to work through each stage are incredibly stressful for transport operators already under pressure. ACT would let skilled workers like heavy truck drivers come into the country to help solve the chronic labour shortage, while the industry works on local driver training. Immigration policy should be simple to navigate and welcoming so that the New Zealand economy can grow. Once we have achieved that then more locals can be employed through job creation and investment. T&D Truck & Driver | 97
