Logo
Prev
search
Print
Rotate
Help
Bookmark
Contact
Next
Contents
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
NZ Trucking : June 2017 Issue
Contents
www.goclear.co.nzwww.goclear.co.nz Can history revisit in time to save us? Asaresultofsomeexcellentworkdonelastyear by Jo Wills on behalf of the NRC and broader associations, it’s great to see the industry and the Sector Workforce Engagement Programme (SWEP) coming together in an attempt to address the driver shortage. It’s arguably the country’s single greatest internal threat to achieving our economic growth projections for the coming 25 years. Steve Divers has been appointed project manager for the joint initiative and it’s imperative we, as an entire industry – whether association member or not – swing in behind him and give him every stitch of support we can. It’s imperative we allow him to ask the most difficult questions of us, and it’s even more imperative we give him honest answers, and not just because we need the 1000 drivers he’s been tasked to attract. Its impertive because he also needs to sell an honest proposition to the young considering the industry, and those looking to change career paths. The worst thing would be to attract 300 people, only to have 250 quit within two years on account of ‘it’s not what I was told it would be’. The whisper effect of that could rapidly undo any good. As obvious as this may all seem, the ability of the industry to sing off a different song sheet to that in their shop window is renowned – just ask any carrier who’s tried to get a consensus on bottom line rates. The corporates have been feasting off our Jekyll and Hyde approach with each other for decades. The fact that an industry, so omnipotent in the greater economic equation, has been so strapped for margin that today it’s reeling under a skilled labour shortage, is inexcusable. It will be interesting to see the project develop. The ‘cat’ that is the driver shortage we see in New Zealand was let out of the bag the moment our industry was deregulated; it’s just taken a generation or two to breed sufficiently. The US, Australia and large chunks of Europe are all suffering the same problem, so if we can effect a 180° turnaround in a global trend we’ll have something to sell to the world I’d imagine. I think it’s important to think outside the square and look at what’s worked historically. The industry is convinced the issue has nothing to do with money. People driving trucks evidently feel well remunerated for driving, loading and managing the minute-to-minute situation of the largest device allowed free rein in society under the control of one person. They feel adapted masthead.indd 1 8/02/2012 11:02:47 a.m. Dave McCoid equally well remunerated for working a standard 70-hour week and, in many cases, being away from home three or four nights a week. So that’s not an issue. Neither is the fact that all this goes on without an overarching, recognised, worthwhile national qualification attached. We’re confident that any parent, whether inside or outside the industry, upon hearing their child suggest they may consider a life on the road, would embrace it totally and not for one moment ask them to rethink, so that’s great. What’s missing then is marketing and exposure. It’s timely that this month we’re running an article on the 40th anniversary of Smokey and the Bandit. The 70s and 80s was a great time to be a ‘dieselhead’ kid. American trucks had not long arrived and our roads were a place of majestic beasts indeed. TV shows like Movin’ On, BJ and the Bear, Roche, and cinematic jewels like Smokey and the Bandit glorified the machines and career. With the blessing of their parents, a generation of kids rode their bikes down to the local carrier and climbed aboard. Those who stuck around got to wash the trucks and then move them around the yard, the ember ignited and the deal was sealed. The point is we can’t ignore the pulling power of the machines themselves in the drive to put bums on seats, because quite frankly, selling the employment proposition today is like pissing into a hurricane. Somehow, we have to look death in the face and allow the young access to the greatest tools we have, the machines and the men and women who drive them. Just look at the turnout to any Ride in a Truck day – as sterile and distant as they are from the real diesel and dust we fell in love with! Luckily help might just be around the corner in the form of the next generation of trucks. The sight of a sci-fi Nikola One or whatever the Toyota Project Portal will evolve to look like, may wrench at the heartstrings of the new tech-savvy ‘hydrogenhead’ kids. Whether they’ll be on a yellow brick road to Oz, or more like a lemming to the cliff, depends on how we respect the position on the lead up. 6 New Zealand Trucking June 2017 EDITORIAL HOT TIP FOR 2017! GET A 6T or 7.5T CANTER TIPPER AT UNBEATABLE PRICING OFFER ENDS 31 MAY *Terms and conditions: The advertised recommended selling price of $39,900 applies to the manual transmission Fuso Canter 616 City Tipper and excludes GST and On Road Costs. On Road Costs to be advised upon contacting your dealer. Offer available until 31 May 2017, or while stocks last, from participating dealers only. For full terms and conditions or to find out more, talk to your dealer. Advertised price does not include body lock or load anchorage points; these will incur additional costs if required. †Finance offer available to approved business customers only and not available in conjunction with any other offer. Only available on the Fuso trucks displayed in this advertisement. Daily payments are calculated by 12x monthly instalment/365 days. Payments are to be made monthly. Max term available is 60 months. Standard Fuso Financial fees, credit assessment and lending criteria apply. Vehicles must be registered and settled by 31 May 2017 to qualify. WWW.CANTERTIPPER.CO.NZ Financial 0800 FUSO NZ LimitedSlipDiff $39,900*+ GST + ORC FROM 5.99% finance available (from $30/day)† CANTER TIPPER 30,000km Service Intervals 157/370 Horsepower/ Torque 36 mths Manufacturer’s Warranty GVMs NOW 6T / 7.5T Manual Auto or
Links
Archive
May 2017
July 2017
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
