Australia risks returning to the days of empty supermarket shelves unless National Cabinet shows leadership to address the nation’s growing truck driver shortage, said NatRoad.
The peak trucking body said there are more than 26,000 unfilled driver positions threatening the nation’s supply chain and economic stability.
The situation is projected to get worse, with road freight projected to increase by 77 percent from 2020 to 2050, according to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
According to the 2024 International Road Transport Union (IRU) Truck Driver Shortage Survey, almost half of Australian freight businesses (49 per cent) are already facing severe or very severe difficulties filling driver positions.
The survey also found 38 per cent of businesses expect the shortage to worsen in the next 12 months. Smaller businesses in particular are struggling with a lack of access to training programs and diversifying their workforce.
In response, NatRoad has proposed a National Road Freight Workforce Action Plan with eight key elements:
- Create a national truck driver standard
- Implement the national truck driver apprenticeship
- Develop a National Heavy Vehicle Skills Hub
- Introduce training incentives
- Reform licencing and training
- Deliver key actions in the ISA Workforce Plan
- Recognise driver skill levels
- Address other road freight industry skills shortages
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said the lack of truck drivers affects all Australians.
“Many Australians learned during Covid what happens when the supply chain is disrupted – empty shelves,” Clark said.
“The heavy vehicle industry really is the backbone of the nation’s economy, providing essential services in transport, logistics, and supply chains across the country.
“If left unchecked, this driver shortage will disrupt every aspect of life, from grocery shop shelves to construction, industrial production and exports.”
Clark said the issue needs urgent coordinated action and leadership from National Cabinet.
“We need all levels of government and industry to work together to resolve the current and future driver shortages and ensure that Australia’s road transport network remains safe, efficient, and sustainable.
“Together, we can secure the future of Australia’s road freight industry and ensure the continued delivery of essential goods and services.”
There is a reason for driver shortages wages are shit and the fines nhvr are throwing out why the hell would anyone want to become a truck driver.
Not only that but the roadhouses are just getting worse and more expensive to eat and shower. And long periods away from home. 25 yrs behind the wheel and I am done with it. Will not return either. Working and living conditions on the road are crap.
I whole heartedly agree, wages versus responsibility just don’t match up !!!? And the fines that truckers and industry have to are just ridiculous, you can thank the vote catching pollies for their ignorance and the transport government for the idiotic ways they dream up ideas to stuff it up for all and sundry with absolutely no experience or common sense only to themselves so don’t become a truck driver until some one with a brain gets to deregulate the stupidity in the industry and common sense prevails to entice the right people to drive.
Like usual these CEO’s and alike are far from why we are losing experienced operators and why no wants to be a truck driver when they grow up as per say. We the Australian Transport Industry is the heaviest and most Enforced in the world. Who wants to go to work at the start of your week and one little hiccup you could lose half of your weeks wage or for what I think is funny (NOT) jail for doing overtime. We the Australian Transport Operators that are Essential only when the Government says we are. But you ask the NHVR or any of the State Heavy Vehicle Taskforce we are just criminals to them and a cash cow to the NHVR and Government. The constant operations to target heavy vehicles never ends. If you go back in history every time there is about to or juring a heavy vehicle operation more drivers die as stress of losing license for a silly spelling mistake or 15 mins over your hours adds to fatigue. I can understand why good operators are leaving and no one wants to do this job. I am a 28 yr operator and this industry has changed for the worst and it’s not going to get any better.
So well said , I get anxieties everytime I get on the hwy and its not just if the truck is going to make the trip its more worries about if I’ll be put off the road or fined both of which would end my business due to the fact I’m an owner operator with 1 truck and its hard to keep the maintenance up with the crap income
heavier fines and more nhvr officers to make the industry less appealing its a joke who would bother
So the owners of the businesses have gotten together to talk about increasing the number of drivers? They have a 10 point plan but in that plan there is no mention of increasing wages??? What a surprise. What I am genuinely surprised about though is the fact that they just didn’t decide to import third world truck drivers like every other industry would. Points there. Well done.
I drove almost everything in a 35 year driving career. There is no way I would consider returning fines over regulation poor wages less and less places to stop get a feed and a shower then having to worry about what’s on the pads and how much you will be fined this time. The calibre of driver these days is poor at best who can drive forward but not backward I’ve watched it time after time crap gear crap wages crap life style .It used to be a great job were you were proud to be a driver now you are a criminal and a source of fine revenue wake up before there are no decent drivers left
$30 an hour, come on. I don’t know anyone with a government job on that rate. In Europe a speeding fine cost three hours of your hourly rate and no points system. Why in Australia do we have crippling penalties on our citizens for any fine. Remember if you get fined four times your unemployed. We give the aborigines $50 million a year and they’ll say they are disadvantaged. If the government raises the award above the cost of living, every one would be a truck driver. One last thing for the unions, place sanctions on government departments and individuals no strikes
I told my kids to be anything else but truck drivers. The writing was on the wall 15yrs ago. Now look where we are. Nobody signing up for it, and the experienced blokes leaving. The question isn’t why doesn’t anyone want to do it, it’s why are all the old hands leaving? The answer is, most of us have little to no Super, and the fines are ridiculous.
To be fair though, working in the mines is where it’s at for drivers. All legal, decent money, and guarantedd home time without the “quick ones” or “favours” for operations…
None of that actually addresses the driver shortage. Its just another way to add more bereaucracy. Making it more harder to get the licences, more time wasted in so called long training. Its just another way to add more legislation. Make it easier , faster and streamlined to get the licences. Remove red tape such as wrk diaries etc. Drivers scared to touch anything above 12 tonne because they are scared of making mistakes on the wrk diary and get fined 1000 dollars or end up with criminal record literally working for the government. NSw using NHVR as a revenue raising body. These are all the issues. Drivers have more enziety worrying about endless harrasment on the road, vehicles getting defected for small things like lights, wipers which could be advise or reminder type things. People simply choose other jobs because they see the legislation is now ovrr the head.
Way forward
Remove work diary
Worksafe manages standards.
Reduce fines.
Introduce yearly inspections on heavy vehicles.
No stopping heavy vehicles in the middle of nowhere.
Defects categorisation needs restructuring. Minor issues -advise. Major issues-defect issued- selfclearing.
Streamline training. One standard , fast training.
I left the industry cause of crap wages
Gave up road after harassment by over zealous nit picking log book searches going right back thru book book looking for any little mistake 77 years old have had a ecg and full medical still fit to drive intrastate but wouldn’t bother stay out of the game to log books as such go…
I been trying to get into the game since I was 16 now 51 had hc since 2010 but all I get ” you have no experience” and my argument is how the hell do I get experience when
No company willing to give me a go restricted to sycro and auto but willing to learn road ranger even twin stick if need be I sat my hc ,jobs every where no drivers, got licence drivers everywhere no jobs now jobs everywhere no drivers and can’t get a start oh the company’s say ” we will train you ” but back out after a few days been that long I would have to learn the gears again I frustrated with the industry crying ” we need drivers ” but won’t stick to their word I located in tasmania
As per usual you have no idea John Setka Self clearing major defects? How many road users do you want to kill with that idea.
Remove work diaries?
What so we can go back to working 20 hours a day. Do us all a favour and stop coming up with ideas.
Here’s a thought we need one industry body, definitely not the twu, that actually works for the drivers and not their own political interests or big business. A group that will stand up to the government and the nhvr and that aren’t aligned with a political party. One that will work hard to garner the respect of drivers then actually work for us. A group that will be one voice for the industry instead of the laughable amount we have now.
B 6 trailers 80K speed road trains between Port Botany and the Port of Melbourne running each way 24/7 and the same configuration on all duel carriage highways throughout each State would alleviate some of that driver shortage that trailers could be dropped off at each town for a local contractors to deliver a trailer to be unloaded at their destination and then return the trailer to be collected to return to the City .
P.s had MR licence as soon as I was old enough