The recent 2024 Global Truck Driver Shortage Report by The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has predicted Australia will have a huge driver shortage problem, with 78,000 unfilled positions by 2029.
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Following the federal election in early May, NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says the Labor Government is in a good position to build a road freight industry that’s safer, more productive and sustainable but warns progress is needed or else Australia will be dealing with the consequences of a crippled trucking industry by 2028.
“The Government made clear progress over the last three years, including reforms to industrial relations and critical investments into rest areas and safer roads,” he says.
“In 2025, trucking operators are already dealing with close to 28,000 unfilled driving positions in Australia.
“The ageing workforce is at the heart of the issue. There are simply not enough young people entering the truck driving profession to replace those leaving at the end of their careers.”
Clark says more needs to be done to get young people interested in the trucking industry and that nationally consistent training pathways and heavy vehicle licencing reform will be essential.
In NatRoad’s reform agenda “Road to 2028”, developing a skilled workforce is one of the priority areas it has outlined. NatRoad’s five priorities are: safer roads, skilled workforce, defined costs, increased productivity and lower emissions.
“We need action on the national truck laws and fixing road access, with the ambition of eliminating 90 per cent of access permits by the time of the next election in 2028. This will depend on national leadership in co-ordination with the states and territories,” he says.
“There is a pressing reform case for building better roads and addressing the broken road user charging system.
“We are running out of time to adjust course and avoid failing to meet Australia’s 2030 road safety targets. The Government should move quickly to implement no-fault independent safety investigations of road crashes.”
Clark says the pathway to lower emissions transport must also be addressed, with a $3.5 billion Clean Transport Fund and legislating a Low Carbon Fuel Standard to enable a cost-effective transition.
“We will need a mix of solutions, including improved efficiency, electrification, renewable diesel and hydrogen where the technology case stacks up,” he says.
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