A trucking survey is pointing to low pay, long hours and driver monitoring as reasons why some drivers are leaving the industry.
First Union has carried out its In It For The Long-Haul survey involving 384 truck drivers, union and non-union employees and contractors.
The survey was conducted by person-to-person interviews at locations throughout New Zealand. Results reveal an ageing workforce and a number of drivers who say the job isn’t attractive as it once was.
The survey reveals that 2.9% of drivers are younger than 25 and 73.5% are 45 or older. This is consistent with international trends pointing towards a growing shortage of truck drivers.
First Union divisional secretary Jared Abbott says the results confirm pay, hours and the intensification of driver scrutiny are the reasons people are leaving the industry.
“So many of our sectors rely on truck drivers to keep businesses running, so many of the products and services we use and consume everyday have been delivered by a truck, this needs to be a wakeup call.
When asked why they were leaving the industry, pay, long hours and driver monitoring were the most mentioned reasons (pay 80.4%, long hours, 51.7%, driver monitoring, 41.9%).
Abbott says that truck driving is becoming less appealing and the reasons for this need to be addressed.
“More importantly, we have been warning about the industry becoming less appealing due to pay packets that seem to be stuck in neutral and invasive in cab cameras.
“Pay is not what it used to be and drivers are under more pressure to work even longer hours to make up for the inadequate pay.
“Further, we really need to ask whether driver facing cameras are having a positive effect on health and safety at all. With increased anxiety amongst drivers adding to fatigue and experienced drivers leaving the industry, how can this be positive?”