This is a result of businesses having relied for years on cheap imported labour, and not training locals as drivers. I have two friends who are Class 5 drivers, one a crane driver, and they earn nowhere near $100,000 a year, Both do a lot of overtime. Businesses have come to view training as an expense, not an investment, due to the ease of cheap imported workers. PS. They both want to know who to call for those jobs.
- Terry O
"Employers say some experienced truck drivers with a Class 5 licence are paid $100,000 a year with overtime".
Fair enough. But the word 'some' qualifies the phrase to the point that it begs the question: is it only the minority of truck drivers that earn more than 100,000 bucks a year?
Unfortunately, there is also another quote further into the article that uses a different qualifier (ie: 'potential'): "The company employed 50 class 5 truck operators, a role with the potential to earn six figures including overtime" - that begs a further unanswered question: how many hours have to be worked in overtime by Class 5 truck licence holders to reach the magical six-figure number?
Compare that to crane operators. "Migrant crane operators offered a salary at least 1.5 times the median wage" - meaning 40 bucks an hour. Over a 40-hour week that's $1600 per week. But again a qualifier: what percentage of them get offered that wage? Too many unanswered questions by the industry, quite frankly.
- Timothy T
Those saying the driver shortage is a result of Kiwis' unwillingness to work and rely on welfare are either ill-informed or just being disingenuous. While it is true that drivers employed by companies transporting fuel, gas etc can earn reasonable money, the majority are poorly paid. This is not the fault of individual employers but is an industry problem given very low margins as firms/owner drivers undercut one another to obtain work.
- Brian H
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