Getting Into Trucking in New Zealand – A Step By Step Guide
The trucking industry in New Zealand has been an attractive career prospect for many people for many different reasons. If you enjoy long road trips and time spent cruising down the highway, you may want to consider getting paid for it!
When getting into a new industry people often wonder if they will actually get a job from their training.
Currently, there’s no better time than the present with a major shortage of qualified truck drivers in New Zealand and Australia.
With more and more companies needing quality drivers to transport their goods, raw materials, and consumables, trucking is more lucrative than ever.
With this being said it’s important to understand what the job entails, its risks, and the qualifications needed in New Zealand to get yourself moving. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with an easy 3 step checklist that will help you understand the ins and outs of getting you on the highway doing what you love the most – Driving!
Step 1 – Get taken on by a trucking company
The best way to climb through the experiences ranks in trucking is to get taken on early in your training.
Many companies in New Zealand are willing to bring in people with little experience, but who possess a great attitude.
Reaching out to companies and expressing your interest in a positive way possible will leave a great impression on your potential employer. Instead of having to pay for the theory and practical tests required by law, many companies will pay for your training all the way through until you are legally allowed to drive every one of their vehicles.
Step 2 – Getting your licence
In New Zealand, there are 6 classes of drivers licences. However, if you are interested in becoming a truck driver you need to focus on attaining your class 5 licence.
This is a heavy combination vehicle licence that allows you to haul over 25,000 kg, which is required by most large transport companies. It is best to familiarise yourself with the steps and how long it takes to reach a class 5. To do this, have a look at the NZTA flier that outlines the steps involved.
Like all jobs there is a learning curve to become proficient. Trucking is no different! To gain a class 5 licence in New Zealand you must first hold a full class 4 licence. To gain a class 4 licence you must first hold a full class 2 licence. A class 2 licence requires a class 1 licence. You can see that this will take time and effort. People over 25 are able to gain each licence quicker than those under 25.
By getting on board with larger companies, they may be able to accelerate you through the process.
Step 3 – Gaining experience… and trust
If you are successful in convincing a larger company to assist you in getting your licence, they will likely have the wide range of vehicles necessary to give you driving experience at each class level. Start at the bottom and work your way up.
Don’t be shy about accepting work on smaller vehicles, as the experience you gain at each stage is essential for a successful class 5 career.
However, driving trucks is only one aspect of gaining experience. Bear in mind that your employers and supervisors will be watching you to see that you have a good work ethic and that you are reliable and trustworthy. They are making a large investment in both your future and theirs, and want to know that it is worth their time and money to keep training you.
Always be on time, work hard, and develop good relationships with both colleagues and customers.
Often it will be feedback from customers that determine whether or not you will be successful in a trucking career.
Driving and expectations
Truck drivers have a reputation of doing long hours. When starting out, the long hours of solitude and concentration can take a toll on your lifestyle. Most transportation companies in New Zealand are now taking steps in the right direction to ensure that these drivers get adequate breaks and time away from the wheel.
With this being said, safety is a huge priority for most companies. Filling out logbooks and taking compulsory breaks are mandatory in New Zealand. Expect to work some long and unusual hours, knowing you will be rewarded by generous remuneration.
With time behind the wheel comes respect. Class 5 experienced drivers are hugely sought after. With a great track record you can expect to be well compensated for your work with both holidays and pay packages.
Pros and Cons of a career as a truck driver
Pros
- Steady and reliable pay
- Opportunities to develop a career and to move forward
- Practical hands on skills
- Little to no student loan
- You get to follow your passion! Seeing the countryside while you work
Cons
- Can be a lonely work environment
- At times there may be high stress situations
- Visiting other towns and places of interest
- Eating nutritious food isn’t always easy
For more information about the process of getting into the New Zealand trucking industry you can simply click the links below which will take you directly to transportation websites and more detailed descriptions about the stages of getting a truck licence.
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/factsheets/70/docs/70-heavy-vehicles.pdf
https://vittana.org/19-biggest-pros-and-cons-of-being-a-truck-driver
