David Smith, Zachary Whale: Truckie shortage to hurt harvest again

Due to an unresolved lack of manpower the same shortages that delayed some crops getting to market last year are expected again 12 months on.

Farmers preparing to ship winter harvests in coming months will encounter the same truck driver shortages that delayed some crops getting to market last year.

Australian Trucking Association chair David Smith said the unresolved lack of manpower was currently the biggest issue for the logistics industry, alongside spiralling fuel costs – and that “we don’t know what we are going to do in the short-term” to address the problem.

“We’ve asked the government to look at immigration; unfortunately transport is not high enough on the priority list to get people in,” he said.

“So, that’s a battle. I don’t know how long it will take to resolve itself, it will take a while. We are lacking a longer-term picture, the band aids and short-term fixes just have not worked.”

Australian Trucking Association chair David Smith

The 2023 Jobs and Skills Australia Skills Priority List released last month revealed a national shortage of truck drivers for the second year in a row.

Mr Smith said the only option for many companies was “poaching” drivers from other operations.

“We were running borderline with quality drivers before Covid, but Covid stuffed it. I wouldn’t have a conversation with an operator at the moment without talking about driver shortages,” he said.

GrainGrowers policy and advocacy general manager Zachary Whale said the industry continued to battle against a shortage of skilled and qualified heavy vehicle drivers during key harvest periods.

“And this year is no different. Growers already face a limited labour pool, and the current time-based heavy vehicle licensing system is an impediment to both young and local workers looking to obtain a heavy vehicle licence,” he said.

GrainGrowers General Manager of Policy & Advocacy Zachary Whale. Picture: GrainGrowers

“Without prompt government action to address the licensing impediments this problem is only likely to get worse as the freight task rapidly increases.”

Mr Smith said cutting learner driver training times from a minimum of 120 to 40 hours and a driver apprenticeship scheme would accelerate change.

Meanwhile, National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said proposed workplace laws designed to correct unfair contract terms for truck drivers would increase the cost of doing business, especially for small transport businesses.

“Add to that the costly wear and tear on trucks from deteriorating roads and heavy vehicle owners having to stump up an extra 18 per cent across the next three years for the road user charge, it is tough going for trucking businesses,” he said.

National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke. Picture: Supplied