The Road Transport Forum has welcomed today‘s announcement that the Government will be investing $2.8 million into expansion of the driver training facility at Manfeild Park in Feilding.

“It is well known that New Zealand is lacking in skilled commercial drivers. RTF has estimated that the road transport industry alone is around 4000 heavy vehicle drivers short, a situation that is duplicated in many other developed economies,” says RTF chief executive Ken Shirley.

“The Government‘s announcement of investment in a national commercial driver training programme is an acknowledgment of the importance of skilled commercial drivers to the economy and the employment opportunities available to those who undertake such training, especially in the regions.

“RTF and the road transport industry welcome this investment and look forward to working with the Government in other policy areas, such as immigration, to find further solutions to the current workforce shortage,” says Shirley.