Road Transport Workforce Report Released
The report explores how the demographic makeup of New Zealand's road freight industry evolved between 2013 and 2023, drawing from previously unreleased census data.
The detailed snapshot of New Zealand's trucking workforce revealed key insights around age, gender, nationality and ethnicity.
Drivers aged over 65 made up more than 10 per cent of the workforce in 2023. This finding echoed that of the recent 2025 National Road Freight Survey, in which almost half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that "up to 25 per cent" or more of their staff would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.
The workforce report also found that the number of female truck drivers increased by 240 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Female drivers made up six per cent of the truck driving workforce in 2023.
Migrant workers are also playing an increasingly important role with almost 25 per cent of drivers being born overseas as of 2023.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says the report provides a valuable insight into the truck driving workforce.
"Truck drivers make up 1.2% of New Zealand's total workforce, making it the 11th most common occupation in the country."
"With nearly 93% of New Zealand's total freight tonnage moved by road, the demand for road freight services will only increase as our population continues to grow. Ensuring that the sector is staffed with skilled, capable drivers is more important than ever."
"As the workforce gets older, more truck drivers will reduce their hours or retire, leaving severe skill shortages. The road freight industry and the government must work together to ensure new entrants are supported through the driver development pipeline".
"The report sets out how Transporting New Zealand has been responding to these challenges, and how the road freight industry can develop, recruit and retain a diverse and resilient workforce."
"We're very grateful to Teletrac Navman for supporting the Road Transport Workforce Report, as part of the multi-year Te ara ki tua Road to Success workforce development programme."
The full 2025 Road Transport Workforce Report can be viewed here.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
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