We wish to petition the NZ Parliament House of Representatives on the following issues:

·       Recognise suitably skilled drivers for addition to skills shortage lists.

·       Simplify the current driver licensing regime

·       Recognise skilled driver competence at Level 3 of the ANZSCO classification

·       Financial support should be provided to potential entrants to the freight transport industry as they would for other similar occupations.

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There is clearly a shortage of skilled truck drivers and this can be proved by the lack of suitable applicants responding when skilled truck driving jobs are advertised.

Recent immigration decisions make it more difficult to hire and retain skilled migrant drivers.  We don’t dispute that the industry needs to assist with lowering unemployment and capturing school leavers. But returning highly skilled migrants back to their home countries isn’t the answer to these problems

Lack of Government support and assistance together with cumbersome driver licensing regimes is also partially responsible for the employment and retention problems that the road freight industry has.

We invite a review of the skills shortages lists with particular attention to be given to occupation 733111- Truck driver.

The current licensing regime makes it an expensive and excessively lengthy process to progress through licence classes. The licensing regime should be simplified. This can be achieved without increasing safety risk.

Holders of class 4 and 5 licences should be recognised as skilled to level 3 ANZSCO qualification level. Holders of other licence classes should not. Prospective industry entrants and holders of lower class licences should be incentivised to become more qualified.

Financial assistance is offered to builders and carpenters for modern apprenticeships. The same incentives should be provided for the road freight transport industry.

Closing the door on migrants won’t reduce unemployment. People who were previously considered unsuitable to be employed will still remain so.

We invite the Transport Minister and the Immigration Minister to address the Transport Community at the South Island Transport Trade Show on these issues and other topics on the 6th July 2013 at the Hornby Working Men’s Club, Hornby, Christchurch.

Should you have anything else to add please list in the comments below.

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Thanks for reading

Suzanne Hubball - NZ Trucking Association 0800 338 338

Grant Turner - National Road Carriers 0800 686 777