The 2022 edition of the New Zealand Road Transport Industry Awards held in Invercargill on September 29 put the spotlight onto both lifetime contributions and the recent achievements of youth in the industry.

Staged at Bill Richardson Transport World, the awards dinner ended The Road Ahead Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand annual conference held at the Ascot Park Hotel over September 28-29.

Headlining the awards was the VTNZ Supreme Contribution to the NZ Road Transport Industry award which recognised Neil Reid’s lifetime involvement in the road transport industry.

A recent Road Transport Forum Chairman serving a six-year term, Neil was also named the inaugural life member of Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand at the awards evening.

Achievements over shorter timescales were also celebrated with the EROAD Young Driver of the Year (under 35) being won by Canterbury’s Brianna Wilson who has recently become a Class 5 driver at Philip Wareing Ltd.

And the Castrol Truck Driver Hero Award winner was young Auckland driver Josh Hart who was given a standing ovation for the success of his anti-bullying initiatives. The award also carries a $3500 travel prize.

Hamilton-based Alexander Group was named winner of the EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health & Safety Award for its long standing leadership in the adoption of new safety innovations and consistently outstanding performances among the top of EROAD users globally.

The 2022 recipient of the Teletrac Navman Outstanding Contribution by a Woman in the Road Transport Industry is Jenny McIntyre, CEO of Waimea Contract Carriers from Nelson. In a video acceptance Jenny dedicated the award to her late father Simon.

The awards night also recognised the first group of Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand graduates from the innovative Te ara ki tua Road to Success training and qualification pathway.

Graduates Nadine Rowan-Thomson and Sheryl McGlashan were able to attend in person while Hayden Cockburn and Mark Closel had their graduations to Class 5 licences accepted by the employers who supported their training.