Category: Media Releases

Transport sector cost pressures continue to ease as activity weakens

Transport sector cost pressures continued to ease as activity weakened in the March 2024 quarter according to National Road Carriers Association’s (NRC) cost index tool collated by economics consultancy Infometrics.

Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan said diesel prices were 3.5% lower than in the December 2023 quarter, while finance costs edged lower for the second consecutive quarter. Labour costs recorded their smallest quarterly increase in more than three years, at just 0.4%, and there were signs of moderating pressures across most other cost categories.

Road transport not surprised by extended Brynderwyns closure

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s announcement today that State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills will remain closed until the end of June is not a surprise following two significant slips late last month says National Road Carriers Association CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers.

He said road transport operators will continue to utilise the diversion routes that add between 60 to 140 kilometres to their journey. Increased costs caused by the diversions are being passed through to customers.

National Road Carriers Association welcomes Roads of Regional Significance announcement

According to Justin Tighe-Umbers today’s announcement by Transport Minister Simeon Brown is a welcome return to structured planned investment of the transport network and is in line with what NRC called for pre-election.

A long-term plan for addressing the infrastructure deficit and providing certainty will drive down cost, enabling more to be done to return the network to a state that enables productivity and supports economic growth.

National Road Carriers praises NZTA State Highway Investment Proposal turnaround

National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is pleased how quickly the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has released its proposed delivery approach for the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS).

NZTA released its State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) on Friday 12 April in response to the draft GPS that set out plans for 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS) released by Transport Minister Simeon Brown on 6 March.

“We have a roading infrastructure deficit, so getting on with the design and build with urgency is important,” says NRC CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers. “As well as setting out detail on when the Roads of National Significance will be built, the proposal also sets out the continued response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather events.

National Road Carriers welcomes appointment of Steven Joyce to Infrastructure Agency design panel

National Road Carriers Association, New Zealand’s progressive nationwide organisation representing supply chain companies, welcomes the appointment of Steven Joyce to chair the new Infrastructure Agency design panel.

National Road Carriers Association (NRC) CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers says appointing Steven Joyce clearly shows the Government is expecting this new agency to be a high-performing delivery-focused entity.

Tighe-Umbers said NRC has called for a long-term plan and delivery model for infrastructure and is pleased to see the Government taking real steps towards putting that in place.

National Road Carriers congratulates Simon Bridges on appointment as Chair of NZTA Waka Kotahi

The announcement that Simon Bridges has been appointed as Chair of the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is great news for the sector and on behalf of the industry, we would like to extend our warm congratulations to Simon.

“Simon has stepped down as Chair of NRC’s Transport & Logistics Advisory Group, a loss for us but a real win for NZTA Waka Kotahi and the wider transport industry ” says Justin Tighe-Umbers, CEO, National Road Carriers Association.

TMS Teletrac Navman Exhibition FREE to the public on Thursday 14 March from 5-7pm

The much-anticipated TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition is set to kick off next Wednesday 13 March with the Truck of the Year Australasia winner announcement at 11.00am and the official opening of the event at midday.

With the exhibitor space sold out and tickets flying out the door, opportunities to purchase tickets are closing fast. Anyone hoping to attend is encouraged to get tickets now to avoid disappointment.

A big part of the event is to expose more of New Zealand to the transport industry and the opportunities it offers. Wednesday morning’s Careers Expo has received more than 100 registrations from schools and young people interested in finding out more about the industry.

ACC provides Innovation Funding to Develop Transport and Logistics Recovery at Work Initiative

National Road Carriers partner, New Zealand Trucking Association Inc (NTA) is pleased to confirm they have been awarded an ACC Innovation Fund – Round 2 – grant of $100,000 towards the development of a Recovery at Work Initiative for the transport and logistics industry.

The ACC Innovation Fund programme rewards innovation in the health sector that helps people recover from injury faster. They partner with health providers to support initiatives that improve outcomes and experiences for people recovering from injury. The Innovation Fund is available annually and has specific themes for each round. The Innovation Fund round two focused on ideas that helped injured individuals stay engaged with their workplace and recover at work, highlighting the benefits for both personal health and business efficiency. It encouraged proposals that introduced efficient care pathways, developed accessible services, enhanced processes, utilised impactful technology, or created tailored care packages. Preferred projects were those ready for quick implementation, deliverable within 12 months, accessible to all cultures, supported by relevant New Zealand entities, and had scalability potential

TMS Teletrac Navman event line up brings industry leadership, government collaboration, and international learnings

With doors opening at 9.00am on Wednesday 13 March to the TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition and the Truck of the Year Australasia winner announced at 11.00am ahead of the conference’s official opening at midday, the event is set to kick off with a bang at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.

The Hon. Matt Doocey will be officially opening the event with the Hon. Simeon Brown, Minister of Transport, beaming in remotely. Roading infrastructure and the need to invest in our network is a critical conversation topic – good roading is critical to our industry’s ability to function both sustainability and profitably. Being able to hear directly from Government paves the way for greater understanding of what the Government hopes to achieve and what challenges or limitations need to be overcome to deliver true benefits to both the transport industry and the wider New Zealand public.

TMS Conference and Exhibition set to open with Careers Expo and Truck of the Year Australasia unveiling

The TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition is set to open with a bang at 9am with the much-anticipated Truck of the Year Australasia unveiling scheduled for 11.00am on Wednesday 13 March, just ahead of the conference’s official start at midday.

With over 100 students already registered to attend the Career Expo from 930am to 11am on Wednesday 13 March organisers confirm they are in for a real treat as they will be first in line to get a look at the Truck of the Year and see what it takes to win the much-coveted transport industry prize. Spaces are still available for the Careers Expo with attendance not limited to students – anyone keen on joining the transport industry or looking for a career change is welcome to attend.

Award Nominations closing Friday 16 February

A key part of the TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition is celebrating industry success.

The Awards and Networking Event will be held on Wednesday 13 March at 6pm and is a fantastic opportunity to network with colleagues while celebrating the industry’s success across the technology, maintenance, and safety sectors.

Awards nominations are open until 11.59pm on Friday 16 February

TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition Scholarship Announced

Scholarship opportunities have been announced for the TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition by the NZ Trucking Association (NTA) and National Road Carriers Association (NRC). The TMS Event Scholarship aims to facilitate and support the attendance of young industry talent at the event.

NZ Trucking Association (NTA) CEO David Boyce encourages companies to nominate staff members who could benefit from this scholarship opportunity. Not only does the scholarship cover event costs, but it also signals a commitment to investing in their development and success.

Road freight operators support road taxes being used for roads

Road freight operators support road taxes being used for roads

Road freight operators welcome the Government prioritising funding collected for roading being used for roading and projects that deliver economic efficiency says National Road Carriers Association (NRC) GM Policy & Advocacy James Smith.

Transport industry event line up takes shape

The upcoming TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition is experiencing incredibly strong support not only from industry, sponsors, and exhibitors but also from other New Zealand and Australian-based transport associations.

Organisers view this as a promising indication that the industry is committed to collaborative efforts, showcasing leadership, and implementing optimal solutions. This collective approach is anticipated to contribute to positive outcomes, fostering enhanced collaboration with agencies, regulators, government entities, and the industry at large.

Interest from trade exhibitors has been phenomenal with over 50 exhibitors locked in. Exhibition space is now at a premium. Depending on the service or product some flexibility remains from organisers, though this ability is fast running out.

Technology, maintenance and finance exhibitors well represented at upcoming national transport event

The upcoming TMS Teletrac Navman Technology | Maintenance | Safety Conference & Exhibition continues to draw in quality industry support from sponsors with organisers welcoming Alemlube, Multispares and Spartan Finance as Bronze exhibitors.

Vehicle maintenance is one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful transport business. Keeping equipment in the best possible condition ensures it performs effectively, retains its value and doesn’t incur unnecessary costs. A well-maintained vehicle makes good business sense as it contributes to lower ongoing running costs and a safer working environment.

The 2024 Truck of the Year Australasia will be presented at the TMS Conference and Exhibition

Based on the International Truck of the Year (IToY) jury rules, the annual award will be presented to the truck introduced into the Australasian market in the past year, which has made the most significant contribution to road transport safety and efficiency.

The judgement relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint,’ and the total cost of ownership.

Freight industry bodies NRC and NTA welcome new Transport Minister Simeon Brown

Freight industry bodies National Road Carriers Association (NRC) and NZ Trucking Association (NTA) have welcomed the appointment of Simeon Brown as Transport Minister in incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s newly announced Cabinet line-up.

“We look forward to working with Simeon, who we have established a good relationship with over the last year or two,” said NRC CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers.

Transport costs spike 17% higher in September 2023 quarter

Transport costs have spiked 17% higher in the September 2023 quarter as diesel prices increased 11% from the previous quarter and the Government reinstated full rates for road user charges.

The figures from National Road Carriers Association’s (NRC) cost index tool collated by economics consultancy Infometrics show road freight costs are going up dramatically at a time when the economy is slowing.