Heavy Truck Driver

Kaitaraiwa Taraka Taumaha

Heavy truck drivers drive trucks with or without trailers. They may transport materials, livestock, general freight, and hazardous substances or spread fertiliser.

Pay

Heavy truck drivers usually earn

$23-$35 per hour

Highly skilled heavy truck drivers can earn

$35-$45 per hour

Source: careers.govt.nz research, 2023.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a heavy truck driver are good due to high demand.

Length of training

1-2

1-2 years of training usually required.

Pay

Pay for heavy truck drivers varies depending on the sector, size and type of vehicle and class of licence, location and company.

Heavy truck drivers usually earn between minimum wage and $35 an hour.
Highly skilled heavy truck drivers can earn up to $45 an hour.

Source: careers.govt.nz research, 2023.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

Heavy truck drivers may do some or all of the following:

routinely check their truck
weigh their truck before and after it is loaded
supervise or help with loading their truck
check the condition of the load and that it is secure
follow correct safety procedures
keep records of, and check invoices for, goods they carry
plan the best delivery route
pick up goods and make deliveries
keep a logbook of the hours they work.

Truck drivers working as groundspreaders also spread fertiliser on farmers' land.

Skills and knowledge

Heavy truck drivers need to have:

excellent driving skills
basic knowledge of the mechanics of their truck and how to maintain it
knowledge of how to secure loads using load binders, chains and strops
knowledge of transport and related industry laws
knowledge of emergency procedures and how to handle hazardous conditions
ability to use satellite tracking equipment and on-board computers
basic literacy and numeracy skills for accurately completing log books and measuring and weighing loads.

Working conditions

Heavy truck drivers:

work varying hours depending on what kind of truck driving they do. The number of hours they are allowed to work is governed by New Zealand Transport Agency regulations
work in conditions that may be stressful, including poor weather and heavy traffic
may work locally or travel long distances, which can mean spending nights away from home.

Entry requirements

To become a heavy truck driver you need to hold a licence for the size and type of truck you intend to drive, and pass drug and alcohol tests.

Some employers may employ you if you have a car licence and pay you to gain the licences you need.

A New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Level 3) may also be useful.

MITO oversees qualifications for heavy vehicle operators (truck drivers).

The New Zealand Army also trains and employs heavy truck drivers.

More information about heavy truck licensing is available from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but English, maths, and construction and mechanical technologies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.

Additional requirements for specialist roles:

Groundspreaders may obtain a Spreadmark certificate.

Personal requirements

Heavy truck drivers need to be:

punctual
reliable and responsible
able to follow instructions
able to remain calm in emergencies
able to work well under pressure
courteous and law-abiding on the road.

Useful experience

Useful experience for heavy truck drivers includes work:

as a driver
as a truck driver's assistant
at loading and unloading facilities
in goods handling and management
in warehouses or stores
in an industry related to the materials being transported – for example, farming experience before driving livestock.

Physical requirements

Heavy truck drivers need to have good general health and good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses).

Find out more about training

MITO: 0800 882 121 - info@mito.org.nz - www.mito.org.nz
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand: (04) 472 3877 - info@transporting.nz - www.transporting.nz
NZ Trucking Association: 0800 338 338 - info@trucking.nz - www.nztruckingassn.co.nz
National Road Carriers: 0800 686 777 - enquiries@natroad.co.nz - www.natroad.co.nz

Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

Your chances of securing a job as a heavy truck driver are best if you:

are based in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty or Christchurch
hold heavy rigid and combination vehicle licences, allowing you to drive larger trucks
are an experienced, reliable driver with a proven track record.

Good demand for heavy truck drivers

More than 7,000 new truck drivers will be needed by 2022, according to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, because of:

increasing demand
retirement of existing drivers.

As a result:

Heavy truck driver appears on Immigration New Zealand's construction and infrastructure skill shortage list
Truck drivers primarily driving vehicles that require a class 4 or 5 licence appear appears on Immigration New Zealand's transport sector agreement.

This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled heavy truck drivers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

The Te ara ki tua Road to Success traineeship matches people who want to become truck drivers with employers who can offer training.

According to the Census, 34,560 heavy truck drivers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

September to February peak time for heavy truck driver opportunities

Demand for heavy truck drivers is usually highest between September and February. This is due to increased activity during spring and summer in many industries that rely on trucking, such as infrastructure, agriculture and forestry.

While demand is generally higher during this time, some sectors of the transport industry have different peak times.

Heavy truck drivers can be self-employed

Some heavy truck drivers are self-employed contractors who own a vehicle and contract their services on a long or short-term basis.

Heavy truck drivers also work as employees for a wide range of industries and organisations such as:

freight companies
fertiliser spreading companies
trucking companies specialising in particular industries such as forestry, dairy and petroleum
large companies with their own transport fleets
local and regional councils, and contractors working on their behalf
the New Zealand Army.

Sources

Hyslop, R, executive officer, Groundspread New Zealand, careers.govt.nz interview, January 2023.
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand website, accessed 19 October 2021, (https://www.transporting.nz).
Immigration New Zealand, 'Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List', 27 May 2019, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
Immigration New Zealand, Transport Sector Agreement Finalised and Green List Changes Confirmed, 26 April 2023, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2014 Occupational Data' (prepared for Careers New Zealand), 2015.
MITO, 'Commercial Road Transport 2016', accessed January 2018, (www.mito.org.nz)
Ngatuere, M, senior policy advisor, Road Transport Forum NZ, Careers Directorate – Tertiary Education Commission interview, January 2018.
Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

Heavy truck drivers may buy their own vehicle and become self-employed. They may eventually run a fleet of trucks and employ a number of truck drivers.

It is also possible to move into:

distribution or haulage management
transport and logistics planning.

Heavy truck drivers may specialise in a particular area of truck driving such as:

line haulage (city-to-city driving)
driving trucks within town or city centres
driving trucks for specific industries such as forestry or petroleum
groundspreading (spreading fertiliser on farms).

Heavy truck drivers may assist with loading their truck. Photo courtesy of Groundspread NZ

Last updated 7 August 2024

Heavy Truck Driver

Kaitaraiwa Taraka Taumaha