Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the road freight industry, according to the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey.

The survey of 194 industry participants across 128 road freight businesses was run by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in more than a decade.

A total of 78% of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72% said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance.

Finding new drivers and an aging workforce were also big issues for the sector. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47%) indicated that “up to 25%” or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.

The survey painted a gloomy picture for business at the moment – only 34% of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins.

Concerns about the state of New Zealand’s roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93%) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84%), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79%).

However, one bright spot in the survey for truck drivers is how the public sees them.

While freight industry people believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case. A poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52% saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7% expressing a negative view. (Only 20% of industry people thought the public viewed them positively.)