The Christmas holiday period is always a great chance to reflect on the year that’s been: Its highs, lows, successes and challenges. 

The COVID-19 Delta rollercoaster ride was, for many individuals, families and businesses, an extremely tough time and has placed significant strain on our economy, our mental wellness and our communities. 

Vaccine mandates and various restrictions now divide the country and we have seen some pretty ugly protests as such measures have been implemented.

For Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, 2021 also presented a year of significant change. Not only did we change our name and our brand to better reflect the modern face of the industry and the diversity that is starting to come through in road transport, but we went through a restructure after Auckland-based National Road Carriers and Christchurch-based NZ Trucking Association decided to walk away from the national organisation. 

We are confident that RTANZ members and the broader industry will begin to see the benefits of the single organisation approach, with a much more responsive and flexible approach to our advocacy work.

A real highlight of 2021 for me was the launch of Te ara ki tua Road to success.

From little more than a concept it has become an active and functioning traineeship that has already brought over 30 new people into our industry. 

I am really proud of the way Road to success has developed and the operators and trainees who have helped keep it going during what was a very tumultuous year. 

We have learnt many lessons during Road to success’ first year. One is that road transport, despite its sometimes rough and ready reputation, is indeed a viable career pathway for young people. Another is that Road to success requires the ongoing support and commitment from the industry to ensure that opportunities remain available to new people. Without that, not only would the programme fail, but we would be no closer to alleviating our driver shortage.  

By working with those responsible for driver training in our sector, we have now developed a much better understanding of how to best assist operators to make Road to success part of their recruitment and human resources planning. 

The first phase of this has been to run a workshop with a group of leaders from across the industry, identifying what a new recruit needs to be trained in, and the pathway and time required to develop a safe, productive and professional Class 5 driver. 

The workshop was highly valuable and I thank Brad Darling of First Pass Driver Training, David Jenkins of TR Group, Bill Bamber of KAM Transport, Jim Wilson of Conroy Removals, Paul Gardiner and Andy Moon of MOVE Logistics, and Roddy Wood of the Waireka Group, for taking the time out of their businesses to contribute.

When reflecting on the first calendar year of Road to success, I am really encouraged by stories of how experienced drivers have stepped up to take part in training a new driver and acting in mentoring roles within their businesses. 

In any high-performing environment, whether it’s a professional sports team or a busy transport business, it is absolutely critical that knowledge is shared freely and new recruits are made to feel part of the team. If you can do that, you are already halfway to securing their loyalty for a long time to come. 

It has also been encouraging to see a number of Road to success trainees already graduate to piloting Class 4 and 5 vehicles. Ultimately, that is the payoff for operators, so I am pleased that after only a short period of time they are now reaping the benefits of their investment. 

We know from consultation with a number of careers experts over the years that the new, 21st Century jobseeker is far more about an employment opportunity being the beginning of a career pathway that will include qualifications, the chance to climb the ladder and experience different roles in the organisation over time. 

Making micro-credential qualifications a part of the Road to success traineeship has meant trainees are taught the theory side of the industry while continuing to work, and this means they will be in a better position for career advancement when those opportunities arise.

I am confident that 2022 will see Road to success go from strength to strength, both as the uncertainties of the previous year give way to a post-lockdown recovery and operators and trainees come to understand the benefits of the programme. 

I can also assure the industry that Transporting NZ will continue to improve what we do to make things as easy as possible for operators, so if you need new blood in your business, get in touch. 

More information on Te ara ki tua Road to success and how trainees and operators can join the programme is available at

www.roadtosuccess.nz.