Road freight needs about 17,000 more drivers within 20 years
The road freight sector asks for licence funding to bring more young people into truck driving careers.
|November 11, 2026Listen to the full interview:
This episode featured as part of the Machinery segment in partnership with Carrfields Machinery.
New Zealand needs about 55% more truck drivers within 20 years as the freight task grows.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says about 33,000 drivers move freight today, so the industry needs 16,000 to 17,000 more.
He says cost holds back young people trying to enter the sector.
“The barrier is the finance required to get it,” he says.
The group asks the Government for a five-year, $5 million fund through the Ministry of Social Development for class 2 and higher licence training, plus $20 million to $40 million a year for low-income applicants.
Dom says most operators are small and lack the resources to train drivers.
“They’re being given huge responsibility. They’re learning a really fascinating skill. They’re getting to travel the country.”
To learn more, visit transporting.nz
This episode featured as part of the Machinery segment in partnership with Carrfields Machinery. To learn more, visit www.carrfields.co.nz
Watch the full interview:
CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.
