Comment: Trucking Summit a success

Date: 13.09.2022

More than 360 transport operators, industry representatives, and Government officials came together for the 2022 Trucking Industry Summit

Teletrac Navman Legends Lunch

It just shows you when transport comes together, great things happen. More than 360 transport operators, industry representatives and Government officials descended upon the newly opened Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in Christchurch recently.

The NZ Trucking Association (Inc) and Nationa Road Carriers Association (Inc) joined forces to show the industry it’s better to work together and organise the 2022 Trucking Industry Summit.

A discussion document was established and circulated prior to the event. This set the tone for the presenters to focus their presentation. The big issues facing the industry over the next few years include workforce shortage, decarbonisation, safe roads, road to zero, and productivity.

The under-investment into roading and increasing compliance costs were a focus but there was recognition that finding solutions is not going to come quickly.

Conversations were around infrastructure and regulation—all of which need to work hand-in-hand to ensure that the New Zealand economy can prosper now and in the future.

Looming large is the fact that New Zealand has a target to reduce emissions from freight transport by 35% by 2035, while at the same time the national freight task is set to increase by 40% by 2052.

From left: NTA event and communications manager Rebecca Dinmore, NTA general manager Carol McGeady, and Mark Williams of Spartan Finance

Industry and Government recognise that the status quo is not working. Despite increased investment and funding, the roads are in an increasing state of disrepair, largely because the capacity to deliver the work is just not there.

And this is being exacerbated by global issues such as inflation forcing the cost of everything up and significant labour shortages. The Trucking Industry Summit was never going to be able to solve all these issues, but it did bring people together to start the discussions.

It was pleasing to see the regulators buy into a fresh style of collaboration with our industry. Minister of transport Michael Wood recognised some of the challenges the industry is facing especially in terms of some of the supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic.

In terms of climate change, there’s recognition that New Zealand is always going to be shaped by the response of other countries. We have a growing population, competition for land use and the international and geopolitical landscape is increasingly difficult.

The theme of collaboration remained with discussion around the regulatory ownership of solutions sitting with industry, especially in terms of harm prevention programmes and compliance monitoring.

Brett Aldridge from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency acknowledged that commercial transport must be successful for New Zealand to be successful. Powerful words that are 100% on the money.

The feedback from the event is that while it was a short, sharp packed day, it achieved more than what a normal industry conference would over two to three days. COVID has kept people apart, and this event enabled old friends and colleagues to reconnect.

The social event prior to the summit was co-sponsored by Marsh, BP, and Castrol. Cascade bar and courtyard helped create a vibrant atmosphere. As people travelled from all over New Zealand, for many, this was the first catch-up in a long time.

The summit gave the associations an opportunity to showcase some initiatives they are both working on together. The updating of the Road Safety Truck to install the SafeT360 virtual reality road safety programme and the refurbishment of the graphics and interactive activities is coming together and will soon be on the road.

The new Careers Transport programme is coming together and will launch later in the year with proposed pilots of the programme in early 2023. The Careers showcase event at the TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show is a fantastic opportunity for companies to get involved in to showcase the opportunities in their own business.

Rebecca Dinmore gave an update on the TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show and said it’s nearly sold out for exhibitors. A record number has booked space for the show. Further display space has been added.

The TR Group Driving Competition heats in Auckland are happening on 15 October and there are steady bookings. The Palfinger truck-mounted crane competition has attracted a lot of entries. This will be the first time this competition has taken place.

The NZ Forklift association has joined in and is holding a national forklift competition. Rebecca urged people to make sure they purchase their tickets for the Teletrac Navman prize giving and awards function at the show, otherwise, they might miss out.

An exciting new initiative was announced by Kelly McLuckie from Success Formula (NTI). She has been part of a collaborative group that includes NTA, NRC, Autosense, and Fit For Duty to design and implement a Transport health and wellbeing programme.

An announcement is pending. The Trucking Industry Summit was designed to connect people with regulators and the Government and start conversations. It achieved all of that and more.

The sponsors enabled some enjoyable networking, the Teletrac Navman Legends lunch, Mito morning tea, Z Energy networking function, and Marsh/BP/Castrol for the pre-summit social event. TR Group, Hiringa and Waka Kotahi, a big thank you. 

Find new and used heavy machinery for sale in NZ

Keep up to date in the industry by signing up to Deals on Wheels' free newsletter or liking us on Facebook.