Despite a low barrier to entry and pay rates between $26 and $40 an hour, there is a serious shortage of truck drivers in New Zealand.

NZ Trucking Association chief executive David Boyce says the

industry is short of about 4000 drivers. There is also an ageing workforce,

with the average driver being 54 years old.

He said the industry offered a great opportunity for

school-leavers. They could theoretically get their class two licence at 18 and

progress to be earning around $80,000 by age 19.

Warkworth trucking firm Transcon has addressed this by offering

an “all-expenses paid” cadetship programme.

Managing director Blake Noble said the only way to hire skilled

staff amid the shortage was to invest in training them himself.

The cadetship is a paid six-month training programme to assist

new drivers to get their class two licence.

Noble

said truck driving “isn't for everyone” but it could be a rewarding career.

“The bulk of the guy’s love driving, and it is genuinely how

they want to spend their week.

“They take satisfaction in delivering product from growers,

brewers and manufacturers to market. It's an essential service and people

really appreciate it.”

The hours are long at about 50 hours a week, but the pay rates

are also favourable.

Noble said rates begin at $23 an hour for drivers starting out

on a class two licence, but within a year to 18 months they could progress to a

class five licence and earn $30 an hour driving a truck and trailer.

Drivers over the age of 25 can theoretically progress even

faster by taking an accredited driver training course.

The courses permit drivers to skip the waiting periods between

licence classes, meaning they could obtain a class five licence in a matter of

months.

“However, most employers would want to work with you for a bit

before they let you lose in a truck and trailer,” Boyce said.

“It is an industry that will give you an opportunity regardless

of background or what qualifications you got at school.”

Transcon’s Blake Noble said the supply shortages caused by the

pandemic had awakened New Zealand society to how important truck freight is.

However, he said he was still trying to counteract the stigma that society had placed on career truck driving.

“School Counsellors would warn children that if they don’t do

well at school, they will have to be a truck driver. Now I’m having to combat

that attitude.”