With a drive to get more people into the industry, Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett says it is time to revolutionise driver licensing.

 “We believe it‘s time for a revolutionary approach that looks to the future and takes into consideration the world we currently live in,” Leggett says. 

 “Our submission to the NZ Transport Agency on the proposed driver licensing amendments says we feel they are merely tinkering with the rules, rather than being strategic about what is actually required for a robust and growing road transport industry.

 “The road transport industry is facing a serious workforce shortage. We estimate that on an annual basis, New Zealand is about 4000 drivers short. While about 2000 of those are through natural attrition, 2000 more are required because of the increase in the amount of goods needing to be moved via road and delivered door-to-door.”

 Leggett says to get young people into rewarding careers in the road transport industry, there needed to be clear pathways to add to their skills and qualifications and to recognise that progression. 

 “Road safety is of course, imperative and is very much part of our suggested approach that better aligns training and experience with vehicle classes in the licensing regime.

 “RTF has been a leading advocate for a review of the graduated driver licensing framework. The road transport sector needs to access competent drivers and driver trainees, while avoiding unreasonable costs.

 “In our view, training and driver knowledge applicable to the job should always be outside the scope of any licensing regime. Occupational training is the responsibility of the employer, and must remain beyond the scope of the driver licensing framework.

 “This draft offers some benefits but, in our view, simply doesn‘t go far enough toward simplifying the heavy vehicle licencing regime. If it goes forward as is, RTF can only see it as an opportunity lost.

 “Our views have gone through the Cabinet process and we can only hope the expertise of the industry using this licensing regime, and that industry‘s future projections and needs, will be listened to.”

 The RTF submission on Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2019 is available on the submissions page of their website: https://www.rtfnz.co.nz/forum-comment/submissions/.