Everything changed on March 25, 2020, when New Zealand went into Level 4 lockdown for COVID-19.
Over the first few days there was significant confusion as to what could and couldn't be done during the lockdown in regard to magazine printing, distribution and retail sales.
At first it appeared that most of our suppliers would be able to deliver – but, one by one, more and more business activities were ruled non-essential by MBIE….until we ended up in a situation where there was no possibility of producing a printed magazine.
We talked to our industry partners – namely the Road Transport Forum NZ and its member associations, as well as the NZ Heavy Haulage Association – and it was decided that we should try and keep the lines of communication open within our industry….so the decision was made to produce a digital magazine.
Thanks to NZ Truck & Driver magazine's circulation being heavily via direct mail, and by working with each of the major industry organisations, we will still be able to reach all of their members through their email membership lists.
We also have a good number of our subscribers' email contacts and will distribute directly to them – as well as running a social media campaign to make contact with as many readers as possible and link them to the digital magazine.
This commitment has not been undertaken lightly: This digital magazine will be extremely marginal financially – in fact, it will not cover expenses. But our commitment to the road transport industry is to be there through good and bad.
We'd like to thank all those advertisers who have stood by us and supported this issue and hope that the industry consumers recognise this support when all this is over and they're back making buying decisions. 
It has been a tough time for all businesses through the shutdown and some will not survive the financial shock that it has caused, so we understand that many companies have completely shut down their spending over this period.
Looking forward, we are optimistic that we will be printing a June issue and will hopefully be back to something close to normal – but who knows what normal will be after all this is over.
Many sectors of the road transport industry have been recognised as essential services and have continued to deliver their usual high standard of service. And the men and women who have been out there, still working through the shutdown, must be recognised for their commitment.
Also going forward after the shutdown, road transport will play a major role in getting the NZ economy back on track – with log exports, agriculture and horticulture and increased infrastructure spending, as well as getting our industry's own manufacturing sector back up and running. 
Road transport will be the pivotal service provider for all aspects of our economic recovery and once again it will highlight the important part it plays in the NZ economy.
NZ Truck & Driver magazine is already working on a programme to highlight the important part transport will play – and to recognise the men and women of our industry. 
Let's all work together to bring our industry out of this trying time as quickly as possible.